Got killed by the first non-mission relevant captain I encountered - Thrak the Sneak.
It turned into a game of switcheroo with me slaying him and him slaying me for much of the first half of the game until he finally stopped returning. I was certain and relieved as a new captain took up his spot on the nemesis window. I squealed with delight, knowing that this monstrosity that had grown strong alongside me had finally died.
I make my way through the rest of the game, making a point out of killing every uruk that could turn into a new nemesis before they become trouble.
...then, the end of the game draws nearer. I sail out to confront the Tower of Sauron. At the gates of his fortress, he stood. It made no sense but there he stood.
Thrak, the Sneak. Mutilated beyond recognition, skin bleached and dried out by my mindfire, but his poisoned crossbow brandished at me, ready to fire. I knew that if I did not put him down quickly, he would end my assault on the gate.
So I drew my bow - he was skilled enough to deflect an arrow, but that was not my intent. I closed the distance with a shadow strike, struck his face and drove my blade into him again and again as he stood there, stunned. Again and again, I lashed out against him and beheaded those uruks that attempted to stop me from putting him down for good.
The bastard finally went to his knees, dared me to show mercy again. My blade swung true, separating his head from his shoulders, ending him once and for all.
For me, that was the end of the game. That was the finale. What followed was filler. As far as I had been concerned, I had just destroyed the final boss of the game and nothing that the game could throw at me then would eclipse this one moment of final, sweet, glorious revenge.
And that was Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor for me.