2015 is almost over, and that means that publications the internet over are compiling lists of the best and worst things to hit pop culture over the past year. With hype for Game of Thrones at an all-time high, the show made it onto several of those lists.
The biggest nod came from Time, which named Jon Snow as the sixth most influential fictional character of 2015. “After Game of Thrones’ reigning heartthrob (played by Kit Harington) was apparently stabbed to death in the fifth season finale, fans—and hundreds of media outlets—rallied around him, parsing photos and script leaks for clues about his fate.” We have no idea who Time could be talking about.
Incidentally, Jon Snow came in behind such figures as Atticus Finch, Cookie Lyon of Empire (who came in #1), and Kate McKinnon’s impression of Hillary Clinton on Saturday Night Live.
“It’s an honor just to be nominated.”
Meanwhile, the sex scene between Sam and Gilly in “The Gift” came in at number 23 on Buzzfeed’s list of the 25 Hottest Sex Scenes of 2015 (the superhero-on-superhero sex from Jessica Jones came in at #1). The Sam and Gilly scene was unusual for Game of Thrones—it’s rare to see two nice people expressing their affection for each other physically on this show.
Game of Thrones didn’t claim the top spot on many of these lists, but Ramsay Bolton was voted the “actual worst” character on television by the editors at The Atlantic, and the entrants weren’t limited to 2015. Bolton beat out characters like Hannibal Lecter from NBC’s Hannibal, Jim Moriarty from Sherlock, and even Game of Thrones’ own Joffrey Baratheon, who came in seventh. I guess now that Joffrey’s dead, people can start to heal. Ramsay Bolton, however, is very much alive, and based on this vote, people aren’t pleased.
The winner, ladies and gentlemen.
Another #1 spot for Game of Thrones: Buzzfeed named the moment where the Night’s King resurrected the dead following the Massacre at Hardhome as the best television moment of 2015. “Even though Jon Snow had a minor victory in the fight, this was the moment when he (as well as the viewing audience) realized just how hopeless the battle against the White Walkers was. It was a true “oh shit” moment made even more horrifying by the complete silence.” What he said.
“Hardhome” also clocked in at #15 on Yahoo’s list of the 26 Best TV Episodes of 2015. The pilot for Empire came in at #1. So people really enjoy Empire, huh?
Welcome to winter.
Cersei’s walk of shame, meanwhile, claimed the lucky #13 spot on Yahoo’s list of the 23 Best TV Moments of 2015. In the words of Yahoo: “The scene left your skin crawling, and made you feel something you never thought you would for Cersei — pity.”*
More generally, Game of Thrones came in at #6 on HitFix’s critic’s poll of the Top Television Shows of 2015 (#1: Fargo). It also made an appearance on Variety critic Maureen Ryan’s list of the 20 Best Returning Shows of 2015. Ryan admitted that Season 5 wasn’t perfect (“here are simply times when a show this smart should know better,” she wrote), but she also said that, when Game of Thrones is working, “it’s one of the most transfixing shows on TV.”
Washington Post critic Hank Stuever put the show at #3 on his list the best TV shows of 2015, behind Showtime’s The Affair and FX’s The Americans. Stuever admits that he hasn’t read the books, and said that he remains “in awe of how many ways “Game of Thrones” works as an epic piece of entertainment for both the casual viewer and the full-on obsessive fan.”
Finally, wherever it placed on critics’ list, people were definitely talking about Game of Thrones this year. It was the most popular TV show on IMDb for the year, and the most buzzed-about show on Facebook. Busy year.
*I can’t help but notice that Jon Snow’s murder didn’t show up on many of these lists, although it was almost certainly one of the most talked-about moments of the year. Interesting.