The best episode in each Game of Thrones season

Game of Thrones season 4, Episode 9: “The Watchers on the Wall”

Before the jaw-dropping, edge-of-your-seat battle sequence we all know as the Battle of the Bastards, there was “The Watchers on the Wall.” Castle Black, a massive icy fort manned by the Night’s Watch brothers, becomes an arena for one of the most epic showdowns in TV history as a wildling army tries to break into Westeros proper. With flaming arrows soaring through the sky, massive giants riding mammoths, and our favorite nothing-knowing-man Jon Snow swinging his sword like his life depended on it (because it did), this episode is a visual feast.

This isn’t just a mindless brawl, either. Amidst the chaos, there are heart-tugging moments, valiant sacrifices, and enough emotional damage to make even the toughest Night’s Watchman shed a tear. Remember Ygritte and Jon’s complicated love saga? It ends here in a way that will have you sobbing into your pillow.

“The Watchers on the Wall” isn’t just a battle; it’s a combination of action, drama, and heartache. Real tears flow as Ygritte lies lifeless in Jon’s arms, shot by one of his own men. So much emotional damage.

Game of Thrones season 5, Episode 8: “Hardhome”

“Hardhome” starts off slow, lulling you into a false sense of security with some chit-chat, and then it hits you hard. As Jon Snow travels beyond the Wall to try and make peace with the wildlings  ahead of humanity’s war against the White Walkers, the weather goes all kinds of wonky. Before you know it, an army of wights crash the party. And let’s be honest: nobody crashes a party quite like the undead.

We see the wildlings get attacked and killed mercilessly, with Jon escaping danger by a strand of his beautifully curly hair. He also kills a White Walker with his Valyrian steel sword, a huge “whoa” moment.

If, much like Cersei and the rest of Westeros, you’d been snoozing a bit on the White Walker threat before this episode, “Hardhome” serves up a freezing cold wake-up call. The intense face-off between humans and the ice zombies isn’t just a fabulous visual spectacle, it’s the show shouting, “Hey, remember these icy guys? Yeah, they’re a BIG deal!”

By the end of the episode, though, as the silent Night King locks eyes with Jon, challenging him with a simple yet menacing gesture, you just know things in Westeros are about to get a whole lot frostier.