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Find out how the staff of The Ringer ranked all 73 episodes of the hit fantasy show, from classics like \"Hardhome\" and \"Blackwater\" to Season 8's ups and downs. Read their analysis, explanations, and episode winners for each entry.
Oct 20, 2021 · Find out how critics rated every episode of the fantasy series, from the best to the worst. See the scores, reviews, and summaries for each episode, updated after season 8.
May 22, 2019 · A pop-culture critic ranks all 73 episodes of the HBO fantasy show in ascending order of quality. See which episodes made the cut and which ones fell short of the show's ambition and impact.
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- Sean T. Collins
- 1 min
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Was 'game of Thrones' Season 5 a good episode?
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- Season 4, Episode 2: “The Lion and the Rose” Director: Alex Graves. Writer: George R.R. Martin. Aired: April 13, 2014. The creator of it all, George R.R. Martin, delivers one of television history’s most satisfying deaths.
- Season 2, Episode 9: “Blackwater” Director: Neil Marshall. Writer: George R. R. Martin. Aired: May 27, 2012. “I’d rather face a thousand swords than be shut up inside with this flock of frightened hens,” Cersei tells Sansa in the safety of Maegor’s Holdfast.
- Season 6, Episode 9: “Battle of the Bastards” Director: Miguel Sapochnik. Writers: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Aired: June 19, 2016. This breathtakingly shot epic battle (which reportedly utilized 600 crew members, 500 extras, 70 horses, and 65 stuntmen) begins when a rotten-to-the-core Ramsay shoots and kills a running Rickon with an arrow, provoking Jon to charge prematurely.
- Season 6, Episode 5: “The Door” Director: Jack Bender. Writers: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Aired: May 22, 2016. In the show’s most tear-inducing installment, we learn the backstory of an unassuming stable boy named Wylis who realizes his life’s purpose – to “hold the door” and protect Bran, the new Three-Eyed Raven, from the Night King and his White Walkers.
- 25 "The Wolf and The Lion"
- 24 "The Queen’s Justice"
- 23 "Mother’s Mercy"
- 22 "Mhysa"
- 21 "You Win Or You Die"
- 20 "A Golden Crown"
- 19 "Home"
- 18 "Valar Morghulis"
- 17 "The Dragon and The Wolf"
- 16 "The Dance of Dragons"
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IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
While it may be somewhat forgotten considering all that came after it, "The Wolf and the Lion" is sensational at elevating the tension while exploring more of the politics of Westeros. Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage), captured by Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley), is taken to the Vale to stand trial for his supposed crimes. Meanwhile, King Robert (Mark Addy) plans to have Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) killed, and Eddard Stark (Sean Bean) is attacked in the streets of King’s Landing by J...
IMDb Rating: 9.1/10
An episode that contains many moments that fans had been eagerly awaiting, “The Queen’s Justice” delivers a rousing spectacle of great character moments and narrative action. Most notably, it sees Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen finally meet when Jon travels to Dragonstone to request Daenerys’ assistance in the fight against the White Walkers. Additionally, the unsullied are attacked after laying siege to Casterly Rock, and Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbæk) arrives in King’s Landing with a surprise...
IMDb Rating: 9.1/10
While there are many who would argue that Season 5 was among the show's weakest outings, the Game of Thrones finale comes up trumps as a suitably shocking episode that completely reset the trajectory of the story going forward. The jam-packed episodes sees Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) launch a failed attack on the Boltons at Winterfell, Cersei is forced into the walk of atonement, Daenerys finds herself surrounded by the Dothraki, and Jon Snow is ambushed by his brothers on the Night’s...
IMDb Rating: 9.1/10
Another brilliant episode that has been somewhat forgotten over time, “Mhysa” served as the Season 3 finale, meaning it had the unenviable task of following up “The Rains of Castamere” and the depiction of the Red Wedding. Exploring the aftermath of the massacre of House Stark, “Mhysa” focuses on the political fallout of the ambush as the Lannisters claim a swift and decisive victory. In other storylines, Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) and the Hound (Rory McCann) as they must make new plans, wh...
IMDb Rating: 9.1/10
Season 1 provided some of the best episodes Game of Thrones had to offer as well as many of the series’ most underrated and overlooked installments. The season’s seventh episode, “You Win or You Die,” is a perfect example of just that. As the political imbalance amid the Seven Kingdoms grows greater, the ruling families begin to realize their desperation for control. The Lannisters brace for war, while Eddard Stark confronts Cersei to tell her he knows the truth of her son’s parentage. Even u...
IMDb Ranking: 9.1/10
While it would be too corny to describe the episode as an early crowning achievement, "A Golden Crown" was a noteworthy episode of the first season as it elevated political tensions and offered the first glimpse into the fact that no one was safe in Westeros and the Free Cities. It is most memorable for its impact on Daenerys' story, as her oppressive brother Viserys (Harry Lloyd) was killed by Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa) in unforgettably gruesome fashion. The episode also saw Ned Stark tasked w...
IMDb Ranking: 9.3/10
Among the busiest episodes of the entire series, "Home" saw a great many story threads unfurl across Westeros with Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) seizing control of his house in brutal fashion, Jaime confronting the High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce) regarding his treatment of Cersei, while Balon Greyjoy (Patrick Malahide) was assassinated as his long-distant brother returned to the Iron Islands. Elsewhere, Tyrion unshackled the dragons chained beneath Mereen, Arya (Maisie Williams) made a big step in...
IMDb Ranking: 9.3/10
It was a common, and quite ingenious, ploy for Game of Thrones to have the penultimate episodes of its seasons be the most eventful, with the season finale then presenting audiences with the immediate aftermath while also offering a glimpse at how the story would change going forward. "Valar Morghulis" was no different, with the Season 2 finale taking place after the Battle of the Blackwater as a victorious King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) took an interest in Lady Margery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer)....
IMDb Ranking: 9.4/10
The Season 7 finale, "The Dragon and the Wolf" brought a great many story threads to a tee as it set the stage for the final season. In King's Landing, a momentous meeting took place involving Westeros' most powerful families concerning the return of the White Walkers, with Cersei and Daenerys both in attendance. Meanwhile, Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) reaffirmed his loyalty to his sister, and Sansa (Sophie Turner) and Arya outmaneuvered Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) in Winterfell. Additionally,...
IMDb Ranking: 9.4/10
An episode dominated by two equally heart-pounding moments, "The Dance of Dragons" saw Game of Thrones venture to as dark a place as it ever did. This, of course, came when Stannis made the terrible decision to sacrifice his daughter Shireen (Kerry Ingram) in an effort to appease the Lord of Light and hopefully gain an advantage in his upcoming battle. The other nerve-jangling moment came when Daenerys and her allies were ambushed in the arena before Drogon swooped in to save the day. In othe...
Find out which episodes of the hit fantasy series are the highest rated by IMDb users, from shocking twists to epic battles. See the list of 25 episodes, from Season 1 to Season 8, with IMDb ratings and brief summaries.
- Ryan Heffernan
May 1, 2022 · IGN ranks the top 25 episodes of the HBO fantasy series, from the pilot to the finale. Find out which episodes made the list and why, with spoilers and analysis.
Aug 22, 2022 · Recommended. All the Game of Thrones characters ranked from worst to best. Click through the gallery below for every episode of Game of Thrones, ranked, or read on below: 73. Season...
