Having looked and pondered the quality of the eight seasons of the show, now it's time to break down individual episodes and see which ones reign supreme. There are 73 episodes of the show and going through every single one and placing them in some subjective order is far too tedious an activity. So, if we did eight seasons then I will do sixteen episodes.
There is an issue with 'ranking' or listing your favourite episodes because saying why one episode is better than another is just the same as saying Act I is better than Act III of a play; you need all of them in place for the grander picture and smaller episodes help set up the 'big' episodes, of which this list is largely comprised of. In choosing these I looked at a range of values the best episodes should have: how important they are to the show, how many memorable moments they have, re-watchability and overall craftsmanship and execution.
16. Season 1, Episode 9: Baelor
The first hint that episode 9s are always BIG episodes is here. For the unsuspecting viewers, this was the first time (and not the last) that shocked them to the point where they HAD to continue watching just to see how the effects will play out. Of course, the execution of honourable old Ned Stark becomes a catalyst for a whole heap of events. It's a monumental scene, fantastically directed and acted by both Sean Bean and Jack Gleeson as vicious King Joffrey.
But this episode is more than just a beheading; Varys and Ned's opening dialogue is riveting, Catelyn's negotiation with Walder Frey sets future plot points in motion, Robb's triumph on the battlefield and capture of Jaime also opens up a new point and Tyrion gets a little war speech. Looking back, a lot of characters make important decisions in this episode that are still felt seasons later.
15. Season 1, Episode 1: Winter is Coming
Reshot after a reportedly dreadful pilot episode, the series premiere is arguably the most rewatchable. Going all the way back to see all of the families together and everyone with their heads still on is refreshingly lovely and yet utterly tragic. It opens with White Walkers, setting the real threat and story of the show from the offset. Following this we are introduced to the Starks, direwolfs, the King and Queen, the Targaryen exiles, the Night's Watch, the Lannisters... There is a lot to take in and absorb but the basic protagonists are made apparent and the more nefarious individuals are also displayed. Remember that time you detested Jaime? Or when Tyrion had blonde hair? Or pulling 'yuck' faces to displays of incest? For nostalgia, this episodes deserves a spot. Also worth noting is that over 25 of the characters you are introduced to here will be dead by season 8.
14. Season 4, Episode 6: The Laws of Gods and Men
Season 4 is by far the most consistently brilliant of the 8; offering iconic moment after iconic moment. Episode 6 isn't a spectacle laden episode; Yara's attempted rescue of Theon is a very small flurry of action and sex, but it's Tyrion's trial that accommodates most of the runtime and it does feel like a set piece. We watch as witness after witness testify against Tyrion and his frustration grows. It becomes clear it is a sham of a trial, Oberyn is slouching carelessly and Pycelle lauds the late King Joffrey. Margaery, the only person who knows who really killed Joffrey, stays silent. And then out comes Tyrion's lover Shae to put the final nail in the coffin. What singlehandedly brings this episode onto the list is Peter Dinklage, whose explosive outburst is one for the ages. Four series of pent up rage towards his father and sister is released before his defiant demand for trial by combat. The stare down between father and son is epic and Oberyn's peaked interest is also chilling. Excellent scripting with masterful acting.
13. Season 4, Episode 9: The Watchers on the Wall
Neil Marshall, who so brilliantly helmed the Battle of Blackwater Bay, was brought back to direct this singularly focused episode on the battle between Wildlings and crows. Again, this is another display of Thrones challenging blockbuster movie making but for the small screen. Dedicating an hour to one story is genius for allowing breadth and emotional impact. We have Jon and Sam as our heroes, as well as their friends, and Tormund, Ygritte and Styr the Thenn as the villians. Blackwater has the benefit of inhabiting a greyer, more morally ambiguous area for the battle; this sustained set piece is more clear cut between friend and foe. But there's still a bunch of good stuff: the huge bonfire, Ser Alliser Thorne's speech, the 360 panorama shot of the characters clashing in the courtyard, the giants astride mammoths and the 'drop the scythe!' are all epic. The emotional impact comes from Jon and Ygritte's heartbreaking reunion and the deaths of Grenn and scared Pyp. This also gave us our first taste of Jon as a leader of men.
12. Season 4, Episode 10: The Children
Following on from the struggle at Castle Black, the season 4 finale gives us even more death in what was already a bloody set of episodes. The Children of the title explicitly refers to the Children of the Forest that Bran meets, but Daenerys has to lock her 'children' up, Tyrion proclaims that he has and always will be Tywin's son, Arya leaves Westeros and leaves childhood behind whilst Cersei also tells Tywin the truth that his children are incestuous lovers. There's a lot going on. Amongst the deaths (Jojen Reed, Tywin, Shae and The Hound at the time) there is a good scrap with some undead, and a titanic clash between Brienne and the Hound. It ends with hope for some characters: Tyrion and Varys are shipped away to Essos whilst Arya looks ahead to Braavos. A fitting end to the strongest season.
11. Season 3, Episode 5: Kissed by Fire
Perhaps not the most immediately memorable episode, especially for one ranked so highly, but thanks to several scenes it is a true classic of the show. Fire is the common theme in this episode; Jon and Ygritte, who is 'kissed by fire', consummate their relationship in a tender scene in a cave, the Hound is put on trial and has to face his fear of fire in order to defeat Beric Dondarrion and his flaming sword, and, in what I consider the most quintessential scene in the show, Jaime confesses to Brienne that he killed the Mad King to save 500,000 people from being burnt alive. It's this scene to focus in on: Jaime goes from the villainous and arrogant Lannister to a humanised person who broke his oath to do something honourable for the greater good, hoping to impress Ned Stark. What he got was scorn from all other knights and lords and he has had to put up with that ever since. In one dialogue we learn so much about someone and go from hating to understanding them. That's the beauty of Game of Thrones: the ability to carve a grey area between the goodies and baddies and to deliver on multi-dimensional characters who have a lot more to them than meets the eye. The character of Jaime and his arc might just be George RR Martin's greatest achievement, and it is this episode that begins that.
10. Season 6, Episode 5: The Door
There is some good stuff for the majority of this mid season finale, but it's the last ten minutes or so that delivers another shocking and emotional twist for the ages. What makes it so unsuspecting is that it revolves around poor Hodor, a supporting character who was always more of a plot device than an actual character and who I thought was the safest character in the entire show at one point. For the fans disillusioned with the show's direction and writing now it is off books, this is perhaps the best scene to highlight that Thrones does have brilliant writing still. The time travel paradox stuff is mind bending, but it does slot together. Much like Hardhome, this is a White Walker sequence that came out of nowhere and had me on tenterhooks. It is a bloodbath of minor characters: Three Eyed Raven, Summer and Leaf are all killed just before our darling giant Hodor (real name Wylis) gives it his all to hold the undead at bay. As the Stark theme kicks in and we see his face getting torn and scratched, you can guarantee all viewers were crying. A horror set piece but with the emotional impact of a full speed train.
9. Season 3, Episode 9: The Rains of Castamere
Similar to The Door, season 3's penultimate episode is a reasonably strong episode until the final ten minutes, where the shock twist uppercuts you and leaves you lying on the floor aghast at the carnage. The episode is called The Rains of Castamere, but to everyone it will forever be The Red Wedding. This is the episode that, if you are getting a friend into the show, you really, really want them to watch. For the non-book readers this sealed Game of Thrones as its own genre of merciless butchery of loveable characters. Forget the antics in Yunkai or with the Wildlings, the massacre at a family wedding of the entire Stark army will have you watching the credits mute. As tough as it is, you can't help but praise the scene's execution: Michelle Fairley sells it perfectly as Catelyn, her awareness of the Lannister victory song being played, the chainmail under Roose Bolton's sleeve... And then out comes a dagger to Talisa Stark's pregnant belly, crossbow bolts strike down Robb and throats are slit everywhere. It's carnage, and in minutes Walder Frey springboards up the list of most hated characters. Unforgettable.
*At this point in the list, these episodes below all rank as television's finest hours. A lot of the previous entires had genius scenes or moments but might have lacked consistency throughout; the remaining 8 episodes I would argue are all pristine hours of television throughout their runtimes.*
8. Season 4, Episode 8: The Mountain and the Viper
Death is on the cards for a lot of people in episode 8. A group of ironborn are flayed alive by Ramsay, the inhabitants of Mole's Town are massacred, and in its final minute Game of Thrones serves up the single most brutal and gruesome death thus far. But there are also the great character moments: Ygritte choosing to spare Gilly and Baby Sam, Sansa lying in order to have leverage over Littlefinger and at last playing the game, Roose legitimising Ramsay and a heartfelt and philosophical conversation between Tyrion and Jaime. In it they discuss their cousin Orson Lannister who crushed beetles with next to no reason. Swap Orson for George RR Martin and the beetles for characters, and you have a juicy metaphor right there. And then we get the eponymous duel between Pedro Pascal's one season wonder Oberyn Martell and the iron clad Ser Gregor Clegane. It's a cracking clash of spear and sword and two differing fighting techniques and literally every time I rewatch it I STILL think Oberyn will finish the job. Alas he gets his teeth smashed to splinters, his eyes gouged out by metal thumbs and his skull shattered like a dropped watermelon. The reactions are priceless: Tyrion's disbelief, Ellaria's haunting screams, Jaime's revile and Cersei's smug look of victory. Pure Thrones.
7. Season 7, Episode 4: The Spoils of War
Before season 7 began there were rumours of a Dothraki battle said to be the same scale as Battle of the Bastards, if not bigger. When episode 4 came they dropped this big visual effects bonanza in the final fifteen minutes of a rather short episode. Unfortunately, it isn't quite on the level of Bastardbowl, but it does do the Blackwater style of having loved characters on both sides of the conflict. Seeing Drogon unleashed on troops is remarkable; offering movie effects and scale on a far smaller budget. The Dothraki as well finally get their chance to let loose and the whole sequence looks and feels grand. I will admit to being in the Lannister camp on this one and cheered when Bronn's ballista skewered the dragon. Jaime's charge at the end recalls a conversation with Robert Baratheon in season 1 about ending a war with one kill, which is a nice throwback. As impressive as the action is, there is also great interplay between Arya and Brienne as well as Bran and Littlefinger. Arya's whole sequence of entering Winterfell hits home the most, giving the episode that emotional boost. An outstanding mid season finale.
6. Season 7, Episode 7: The Dragon and the Wolf
With a few lines of dialogue to explain how much time had passed between scenes, Episode 6 'Beyond the Wall' easily could have made this end of the list: it had the characters, action and drama but lacked internal logic and explanation. Luckily, this following episode more than makes up for it. It brings back some good old political outmanoeuvring and backstabbing like seasons 1-3, reminding the show of its title. The Dragonpit sequence starts tense, reuniting characters on different sides and bringing together Daenerys Targaryen and Cersei Lannister for the first time. Forgetting the ropey feel of the scenes that preceded it in episode 5/6, the trial and execution of Littlefinger will always be a classic twist and the Jon Snow reveal that he is indeed the heir to the Seven Kingdoms is both beautifully scored and somewhat cathartic. And if you want action, then watching the Night King obliterate the Wall astride the undead Viserion will provide this and the series' most spectacular sequence of CGI.
5. Season 5, Episode 8: Hardhome
Director Miguel Sapochnik first earned his name with this sucker punch episode. Perhaps a reason why this is such a strong entry is that it focuses mainly on our principle heroes: Jon, Sansa, Arya and the new duo of Tyrion and Daenerys. The interactions between drunken dwarf and noble queen are smoothly written and births a new partnership that will later on bring up a whole bunch of drama when it comes to fighting Tyrion's family. Arya's Braavos story at long last gets a little boost as she investigates the outdoors and Sansa learns Rickon and Bran may just be alive. But it is Jon who leads the excitement here. His negotiations to bring tens of thousands of Wildlings south of the Wall ends when out of nowhere the Army of the Dead arrive. This twenty minute set piece is less of a battle and more of a full on massacre followed by the most haunting mass resurrection seen. Sapochnik makes other zombie flicks seem tame with this all out horror assault. The visuals are stunning and there are so many memorable shots: the confusion on a White Walker's face as Valyrian steel blocks his attack; Jon, Tormund, Edd and Wun Wun the giant running full pelt towards the camera; the Night King raising his arms in defiance, summoning many, many more wights to his force. Not featured in the books, this sequence is a white knuckled thrill ride.
4. Season 8, Episode 3: The Long Night
Regardless of the hate towards Season 8 (which started after this episode aired and went downhill from there), I loved The Long Night. I had the correct idea in watching it in a darkened room and found no problem with the camera work and visibility. It is a relentless 80 minutes of television, the tension building from the start before the battle between the defenders of Winterfell and the endless hordes of the Army of the Dead fully begins after ten minutes or so. The visuals are simply awe inspiring; the lines of Dothraki with ignited araks, the reflection of flames in Melisandre's eyes, Beric's crucifix pose, twelve White Walkers emerging from the orange glow that feels like Blade Runner 2049. The fact that this is television is even more startling. And yet is immensely sustained; we cut to the civilians in the crypts and alternate between the fighting on the ground with the aerial dragon battle. There's a suspenseful silent sequence of a defeated Arya evading undead in a library and when 'The Night King' track begins, it scores possibly my favourite moment as Theon and Jorah give their all and the Night King enters the godswood. It has flaws in the depicted battle tactics, but from direction, music and visuals this is just stellar.
3. Season 2, Episode 9: Blackwater
In terms of writing, Blackwater is still the show's peak, not least due to this episode being scripted by GRRM himself. This climax to season 2 pits rightful king Stannis Baratheon against the forces of King's Landing, led by Joffrey and Tyrion. Thrones has always excelled at dividing your loyalties and choosing between wanting Stannis to win because a) it means the Lannisters will die b) he's the rightful king and c) Sansa may be safer, and wanting Stannis to lose because a) Tyrion, Pod and Bronn will die is a dilemma for the ages. And yet the outcome is negative for both: Stannis loses but Tyrion is left bleeding out on the mud and is relegated in the next episodes to an inferior position. Despite being shot at night, the battle is still gripping with some disgusting moments of gore and bloodshed. Inside the Red Keep as this goes on however, Lena Headey's drunken acting is incredible and Cersei's analogy of animals to Tommen is heartfelt. Tyrion here is the MVP though, giving a belter of a speech and announcing Game of Thrones to the world with THAT wildfire explosion.
2. Season 6, Episode 9: Battle of the Bastards
The first television episode to gain over 100,000 votes on IMDb. It held a perfect 10.0 for a commendable amount of time. It is still a 9.9. Naturally, Battle of the Bastards hits the top TOP end of the list. It is a perfect hour. Miguel Sapochnik was handed the reins to this after the success of Hardhome and it was clear what they were going for: how do we make the best episode ever? The answer is a ballooned budget, 70 horses, 25 days of shooting for a 15 minute sequence and television's most satisfying death. Before the main event, it is easy to forget the goings on in Meereen. But the action starts here; releasing all three near fully grown dragons on the slaver's navy whilst Grey Worm scores a double throat slit and even Daario joins in with a sweet decapitation. After the fire side of the episode is dealt with, we get the snow. Or Jon Snow. The Battle of the Bastards is as cinematic as they come; skipping past Hardhome, Blackwater Bay and the Battle of Castle Black as the show's premier battle scene.
From the taut execution of Rickon Stark's death, to the one minute unbroken shot of Jon in the midst of the carnage, to the triumphant arrival of the Vale Knights; Bastardbowl is a rollercoaster. Thrones has handed us many satisfying moments but in the final ten minutes we get three corkers: the Stark banner unfurled from Winterfell, Jon battering Ramsay with twenty-one punches and Sansa feeding that twisted bastard to his hounds. A roaring triumph for the heroes.
1. Season 6, Episode 10: The Winds of Winter
If Battle of the Bastards is The Two Towers equivalent, thanks to its fantastic battle finale, then The Winds of Winter is The Return of the King for its combination of spectacle and how almost every scene is a 'YES' punch the air scene. Thought the finale would be a cool down after the intensity of episode 9? Wrong. We start with piano music at Loras Tyrell's trial. The music builds and builds as it turns to Cersei's trial, a trial for which Cersei is not present. And then more named characters are offed here then any other moment: Pycelle, Lancel, the High Sparrow, Loras, Margaery and Mace Tyrell and then poor King Tommen casts himself out of his tower and the door shuts on Septa Unella. Cersei's vengeance is epic and utterly deserved, removing all of the baggage from King's Landing and installing herself as Queen. More vengeance is displayed when Arya Stark carves Walder Frey throats up after feeding him pies made from his sons.
Any more great moments? Sam's look of wonder at the Citadel, Tyrion's clear emotion at his Hand of the Queen pin, the transition cut from Lyanna Stark's baby to Jon Snow followed by his coronation as King of the North, Davos' emotional outburst to Melisandre (finally giving Liam Cunningham some dramatic meat), Olenna Tyrell shutting up the Sand Snakes, Daenerys setting sail to Westeros with an almighty army and, in a personal favourite moment, Jon's smile when Sansa tells him winter has arrived. It is all incredible, but the real praise should be to Ramin Djawdi, who knocks the score out the park with this one.
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