All 73 episodes of Game of Thrones, ranked worst to best
35. “Book of the Stranger,” Season 6, Episode 4
It’s rare for Game of Thrones to deliver a satisfying moment that doesn’t involve someone dying, but “Book of the Stranger” gave us one in the form of the reunion between Sansa and Jon Snow at Castle Black. The hug shared between half-brother and half-sister (or cousins, technically) hit everyone right in the feels. Their catch-up conversation keeps the good vibes going. A shame they couldn’t last.
When he wasn’t busy offing Osha at Winterfell, Ramsay sent Jon a letter threatening his life and the lives of his family. And just like that, the Starks are on the warpath, determined to free baby brother Rickon and take back Winterfell. It was an interesting choice to have Jon want nothing to do with the violence to come, and to have Sansa be the one urging the destruction of House Bolton. Tables have turned and what-not.
A small but equally great scene occurred between Yara and Theon, the Greyjoy siblings, when the latter arrives back on Pyke after years of torture and captivity. Yara’s anger at Theon is both justified and brutal, and yet there is a subtle hint of love as Yara appears to be attempting to shock Theon back into being someone with a backbone.
Oh, and Daenerys burns down all the Dothraki khals and took control of their armies. Most cheered this scene, but it felt like we’d seen it before. Dany is always burning people when she has a problem with them, and it wasn’t that shocking to see her burn people again. Still, it was nice that she figured a way out of her predicament herself rather than relying on Drogon.
34. “Two Swords,” Season 4, Episode 1
In one of the rare instances when an episode does not start with the opening credits, “Two Swords” cut immediately to a shot of Tywin Lannister melting down Ice, the ancestral sword of House Stark, and reforging it into the the titular two swords. As if the symbolism wasn’t enough, Tywin finishes the scene by tossing a wolf skin onto the flames. And then the credits hit, and you know you are watching the best television show on the planet.
All is not well in House Lannister, however, as Tywin cannot seem to control his children. Jamie stubbornly desires to remain in the Kingsguard, despite Tywin offering him Casterly Rock, the ancestral home of the Lannisters. I blame Brienne for Jamie’s newfound sense of duty and honor.
Tyrion is having problems of his own, as his new wife Sansa refuses to eat or drink after hearing what happened to her mother and brother at the Red Wedding. Sansa elicits some sympathy from the audience when she reveals her reasoning for constantly visiting the godswood; it’s not to pray, but rather because its the only place people won’t talk to her.
This is also the episode where we meet the Red Viper, Prince Oberyn Martell of Dorne. Oberyn has arrived in King’s Landing to get revenge on the Lannisters for killing his sister Elia years earlier, and he does not give even the smallest damn who knows it. All it takes is the one scene with Tyrion for Oberyn to become an instant fan favorite. Naturally, he’s doomed.
Out in the Riverlands, the Hound and Arya begin their road trip to the Vale, so the Houng can ransom off Arya to her aunt Lysa. Stopping by an inn, Arya recognizes her old sword Needle being held by Polliver, one of her tormenters in Season 2, and is determined to get it back. The Hound follows her inside, and after a hilarious argument about chickens, the Hound and Arya murder a group of Lannister soldiers, and Arya reclaims Needle. Arya continues to head down the path of darkness, and yet we can’t help but cheer for her after everything that has happened to her and her family.
33. “The Queen’s Justice,” Season 7 Episode 3
Daenerys’ return to Westeros set the stage for some incredible meetings between characters long separated by vast distances. “The Queen’s Justice” had the biggest meeting: the one between Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow, fire and ice themselves.
Seeing Jon and Dany on screen together for the first time was a delight. Although the meeting did not initially go well, it formed the foundation of a partnership that will surely prove crucial to the story’s conclusion. But as much fun as their meeting was, another pair of monarchs stole the episode.
Early on in the episode, Euron Greyjoy returns to King’s Landing with his new captives in tow; his teasing of Jaime Lannister was enjoyable, and also set up a far more serious moment between Cersei and the Sand Snakes. Cersei’s confrontation with Ellaria Sand should forever sit on Lena Headey’s highlight reel. She was furious and vulnerable at the same time, and it was spellbinding. Cersei does horrible things, but Headey brings a fire to her that makes her so captivating, we can’t ever completely hate her. For that, she should be commended.
And speaking of wonderful performances, “The Queen’s Justice” was the last time we saw Diana Rigg play Lady Olenna Tyrell. Rigg’s final scene was a head-turner. As she sat there dying, she laced into Jaime Lannister and left him feeling like he’d drank poison rather than her. It was a treat, and a fitting end for one of the show’s great characters.
32. “The Bear and the Maiden Fair,” Season 3, Episode 7
“We can arrange to have you carried.”
What makes Tywin such an incredible character is his ability to turn seemingly harmless statements into smackdowns of epic proportions. In this episode, Joffrey attempts to stand up to his grandfather and demand that the Small Council meetings be held somewhere he doesn’t have to climb as many stairs to reach. Tywin slowly climbs the few steps to the Iron Throne before delivering the above line. Joffrey squirms and attempts to crawl into the Iron Throne. If there was any doubt as to who actually ruled the Seven Kingdoms, Tywin puts it to rest here.
Meanwhile, right outside the Red Keep, Melisandre and Gendry are sailing through Blackwater Bay, looking up at Gendry’s “father’s house.” The best part of this shot are the sunken hulks from the Battle of the Blackwater passing by beneath the waves, a vivid reminder of the recent battle.
Talisa reveals to Robb that she is pregnant, something that makes their eventual doom all the more painful. But hey, if you didn’t know that the Red Wedding is coming, I guess that’s a pretty happy moment.
Jaime readies to leave Harrenhal, something he will do without his road buddy, Brienne of Tarth. Roose Bolton sends Jaime on to King’s Landing with his regards to Tywin, and Jaime sends the same to Edmure Tully on his impending nuptials. No one else found it odd that Bolton released Jaime rather than turn him over to Robb? It’s almost like he knew something.
Moving right along, Jaime doesn’t get far before he realizes Brienne will likely be killed in Harrenhal, and thus turns around in order to rescue the wench. Sure enough, Locke is trying to feed Brienne to his pet bear, and Jaime is forced to jump in the middle. This time, Jaime departs with Brienne in tow. Somewhere in the Riverlands, Jaime lost his hand to Locke, but in return, he gained a heart. Aw!
Next: Walk of Punishment