All 8 Game of Thrones season finales, ranked from worst to best

6) Season 5: “Mother’s Mercy”

The finale of season 5 is a big one. We’ve got Stannis, after what feels like a thousand years, finally showing up at Winterfell only to die in battle against the Boltons. Inside the castle, Theon starts to shake off his “Reek” persona and steps up to the plate to help Sansa escape from her cruel captor, Ramsay Bolton. It was revivifying to see Theon return to himself.

Meanwhile, our favorite broody hero, Jon Snow, shows a bit of his soft side by sending Sam and Gilly off to Oldtown, where Gilly will be safe from the less reputable Night’s Watchmen. Good guy Jon; always looking out for his friends. And of course, at the end of the episode several of those friends stab him to death, leaving us on the most fraught cliffhanger in recent television history.

But the real showstopper is Lena Headey’s electrifying performance as Cersei Lannister, who in this episode undergoes her unforgettable walk of shame through the streets of King’s Landing. As much as fans savored seeing the usually proud Cersei humbled, Headey gains our sympathy with her performance, and prepares us for the revenge arc to come.

5) Season 2: “Valar Morghulis”

The season 2 finale mainly centers around Daenerys as she plays hero and visits the House of the Undying in Qarth to save her captive fire-breathing babies like a good dragon mama.

Back in Westeros, romantic drama is brewing. King Joffrey, the absolute gentleman and charmer that he is, decides to ditch Sansa and shift his affections to the drop-dead (ha) gorgeous Margaery Tyrell. Oh, and while we’re on the topic of weddings, let’s not forget Robb Stark tying the knot with Talisa Maegyr, the catalyst event that lays the foundation for the Red Wedding.

This finale might not have been bursting with action scenes, but it’s very entertaining. All the plotlines are simmering, with our favorite characters stirring the pot. All that and we get another good look at the White Walkers at the end.