Game of Thrones will forever go down as one of the best TV shows in history, an honor it truly deserves. Though many viewers swore off the show after watching the disappointing final season, the fact that so many people showed up for the first spinoff show, House of the Dragon, proves people still care about this franchise. A lot.
I’ll be the first to admit I was frustrated with Game of Thrones season 8, but in retrospect, it really doesn’t take away from the amazing seasons and episodes we got before that.
From Ned Stark’s death in the first season to Jon Snow being killed and then resurrected in season 6, the characters go through so many major changes throughout the show and have so many compelling storylines. Whether you love or hate a character, there’s no doubt they’ve got your attention whenever they’re on screen. The writers behind Game of Thrones and the actors we see on our screens are incredibly talented, and we’ll forever be grateful for the fantastic show we got.
Read more Game of Thrones content here at Bam Smack Pow:
- 12 most disliked Game of Thrones characters, ranked
- All 8 Game of Thrones seasons ranked from worst to best
- Game of Thrones: Fan casting the key roles in Aegon’s Conquest
- 7 House of the Dragon villains ranked from bad to absolutely terrible
The best and worst Game of Thrones episodes
That said, of course not every episode of Game of Thrones is perfect. There are a few duds throughout the seasons and some we’d honestly rather forget about. So while we rewatch the fantasy phenomenon as we wait for more news regarding House of the Dragon season 2, let’s break down the best and the worst episodes.
Starting off with the best of the series…
Game of Thrones “Battle of the Bastards” (Season 6, episode 9)
Anyone who knows me knows “Battle of the Bastards” is my favorite episode of Game of Thrones. Written by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss and directed by Miguel Sapochnik, the episode is a masterpiece from start to finish. Of course, as the title suggests, this one sees the big confrontation between Jon Snow and Ramsay Bolton as Jon tries to take back the North. Though the Stark army is not big enough, Jon feels like he has no other choice than to fight — especially after Ramsay kills his little brother Rickon.
But just as it seems like they’ll lose, Sansa and Littlefinger appear with the backup. The Starks take back Winterfell and Sansa gets her revenge by feeding Ramsay to his hungry dogs.
The cinematography of the battle scene in this episode is incredible. As Jon nearly suffocates from bodies and begins to get trampled, it feels like we’re there with him. It’s such a huge, climactic scene that really delivers tension, action, and emotions. And of course, we’re happy to see Ramsay finally go. It’s such a satisfying death. After “Battle of the Bastards,” it feels the audience can breathe again. If only for a moment.
Verdict: BEST