The Best Game of Thrones Episodes

MFC TOP 5

Game of Thrones, the series that has the whole world on the lookout, reaches its eighth and final season this April 14th.

Created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss for HBO, Game of Thrones is based on the series of novels A Song of Ice and Fire, written by the American author George R. R. Martin, which remains one of the most acclaimed epic fantasy stories since The Lord of the Rings.

Thanks to its endearing characters, rich mythology and intricate political plots, Game of Thrones has collected fans all around the world since its premiere in 2011, and although since season 6 the series has been taking certain creative licenses that have been distancing itself from the books, its characteristic and impressive plot twists continue to make Game of Thrones a tremendously daring show, where the lives of each and every one of its characters are at risk. Several of these deaths have occurred at crucial moments of the story, leaving viewers with broken hearts and memorable moments alike.

In My Family Cinema we made a TOP 5 with the best episodes of the show, so that we remember, weep and celebrate these moments together, preparing ourselves for the final season.

And watch out, this list contains SPOILERS.

5. Baelor

(Game of Thrones – Season 1, episode 9)

After the Starks introduced us to the world of Game of Thrones, in Baelor we understand the true face of the series.

In this episode ends the uncertainty about the fate of Ned Stark (Sean Bean), who was deprived of his freedom in episode 7. Two episodes later, the hopes of all the audience plummet: having accepted the charges of treason against the Crown under the promise of being sent to serve the Wall, Ned Stark is a victim of the cruelty of King Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson), who decides to behead him in front of his own daughter.

With the unexpected death of Ned Stark, who until now was considered the series protagonist, it is established that in Game of Thrones absolutely nobody is safe.

4. The Mountain and the Viper

(Game of Thrones – Season 4, episode 8)

Even though it is filled with memorable events, such as the legitimation of the bastard Ramsay Snow (Iwan Rheon) as a true Bolton, or the exile of Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) imposed by Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) upon discovering his betrayal, it is the battle in King’s Landing what makes this episode an amazing one.

Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal), who has arrived to the capital from Dorne looking for revenge, agrees to defend Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) in a trial by combat against Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson), guilty of the death of Elia Martell and her two children.

Although Oberyn seemed to dominate the field, Clegane manages to knock him down and crush his head brutally, ending the life of one of the most charismatic characters in the series.

Without a doubt, an episode that left us all speechless.

3. The Rains of Castamere

(Game of Thrones – Season 3, episode 9)

After Ned Stark’s execution, the responsibility of doing justice rests with his eldest son, Robb Stark (Richard Madden), who rises up in arms and is proclaimed King in the North. Unfortunately, his decisions weren’t so wise.

Having betrayed the promise of marriage to one of the daughters of Walder Frey (David Bradley), Robb, his mother and his pregnant wife are murdered by their bannermen, Walder Frey and Roose Bolton (Michael McElhatton), who made an alliance with the Lannister.

The Red Wedding was one of the saddest events in Game of Thrones, collapsing all hope that the Stark get the justice they deserve and making the future of the series increasingly uncertain.

2. Beyond the Wall

(Game of Thrones – Season 7, episode 6)

With the mission of capturing one wight to show that in the North awaits a more important fight, this episode brings together several of the strongest warriors in Game of Thrones.

Jon Snow (Kit Harington) leads Sandor Clegane (Rory McCann), Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen), Beric Dondarrion (Richard Dormer), Thoros de Myr (Paul Kaye) and Gendry (Joseph Dempsie) beyond the Wall, along with Tormund (Kristofer Hivju) and other 5 wildlings.

Being surrounded by a huge army of wights and White Walkers, Jon and his group are rescued by Daenerys, but, to everyone’s surprise, the Night King is able to take down one of her dragons, reviving it and making it part of his army at the end of the episode.

In Game of Thrones nobody is safe, not even dragons. The only sure thing is that everything can always get worse.

 1. Battle of the Bastards

(Game of Thrones – Season 6, episode 9)

Honoring the great epic battles previously shown in Game of Thrones, such as in the episodes Blackwater (episode 9, season 2) and Hardhome (episode 8, season 5), the Battle of the Bastards goes further in depicting war in film and TV.

Beyond the great panoramic shots and beautiful cinematography in the general scenes of battle, the most special part of the episode is the way it has to communicate the horrors of war by Jon Snow hand. The character serves as a guide through a compilation of emotions, where we witness the tension, violence and despair that exists in the middle of a battlefield.

The mastery with which this episode was produced earned it the awards for “Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series” and “Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series” at the 2016 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Of enviable tactical realism, this battle is one of the best war sequences in the series. Still, with all its glory intact, it has been promised that it will be surpassed by the final battle in the final season of Game of Thrones.

Although we had left aside several of the most iconic and intense episodes of the series, in My Family Cinema we are satisfied with this TOP 5, because we believe that it represents the emblematic characteristics of the series on a large scale and how they are transmitted.

We have lived 8 years of Game of Thrones, we know that this last season will be even more impressive than anything else they have done before… and the wait is almost over!