Just rewatched the season five finale, and the portrayal of Stannis's last battle stood out to me. For ages both in book and show we're told multiple times by several characters Stannis is the best tactician in the seven kingdoms.

Yet the way he blindly marches his men, out of formation, right up to Winterfell before even ordering a scouting party out. Instantly Bolton's cavalry falls upon him and the wide landscape shot shows his heavily outnumbered men completely out of formation as they're surrounded by the Bolton army on both flanks.

My question is this doubling down on the fact his blind faith of the Red God has caused him to abandon what made him a worthy king and leader directly causing his downfall. Or do you think his tactical greatness was simply overlooked for the dramatic shot?

I'm personally torn, I feel there's enough set up already in the build up to show his time is up, for example half his army deserting the night before, that they could have shown him still being a strong tactician and still be hopelessly overwhelmed.

What do you all think? Is it a good show of his character's demise or the show runners putting visuals above consistent character work?