10 episodes of TV with IMDb ratings as high as Game of Thrones (and 1 higher)

Despite the reputation it garnered after the final season, Game of Thrones remains one of the most popular and critically acclaimed TV shows of all time. The early seasons of the series were peak television, stuff that fans on social media look back at and reminisce about. "You simply had to be there," they say.

According to fan ratings on IMDb, Game of Thrones proudly boasts three episodes with a score of 9.9 and several other episodes with ratings above 9. Very few TV shows have managed to produce episodes that earned this kind of global praise. However, some have managed it.

In this article, we talk about the 11 TV episodes of TV that have earned a rating of 9.9 or higher on IMDb. Only episodes that have been given over 10,000 ratings are included in the list. But before that, here's a quick refresher on the three Game of Thrones episodes that earned a 9.9. rating:

"The Winds of Winter" (Season 6 Episode 10)

With 159,000 ratings at the time of writing, the season 6 finale draws multiple plotlines beautifully together, but also kills off several main characters, as had become the norm for the show by this point. Arya Stark finally gets payback for the Red Wedding, as she slits Walder Frey's throat open and reminds him of his betrayal of the Starks at the Red Wedding. Besides the fact that the old man had it coming, this scene holds a special place in my heart as one of the only instances where Arya gets to flex her Faceless Men training.

While Arya takes her revenge with ruthless elegance, Cersei Lannister decides to go another way. She wipes out the Tyrell family bar Olenna with an earth-shattering wildfire explosion underneath the Sept of Baelor. In grief over Margery's death, Tommen Baratheon jumps from his window to his death, making Cersei the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.

We also find out that Jon Snow is not only not a bastard, but a true-born Stark as well as a Targaryen. The revelation subtly hints at potential political conflict in the horizon for Westeros, as Daenerys Targaryen sets sail with her fleet and three dragons in tow. If only we knew back then that Jon Snow, in fact, wouldn't "want it."

In a way, "The Winds of Winter" helped close some chapters that needed to be left behind for the storyline to progress and head-on collide with the real "Big Bad" of the show: the Night King and the Long Night he would bring.

"Battle of the Bastards" (Season 6 Episode 9) 

The episode immediately preceding "The Winds of Winter" sees the much-needed demise of Ramsay Bolton. Abusing and torturing Sansa Stark in her own home catches up with the man. Despite getting an early upper hand, his forces are demolished by the Knights of the Vale, courtesy of Sansa's understanding with Petyr Baelish.

Ramsey himself gets beaten bloody by Jon Snow before Sansa feeds him to his own hounds. As far as satisfying deaths go, Ramsay's comes a close second for me. The first place belongs to Littlefinger begging for mercy in his last moments as Arya slits his throat with the same knife he used to betray the Starks, but that's another season.

With 223,000 ratings, "Battle of the Bastards" is a good reminder of the grand scale of Game of Thrones and what the showrunners could pull off in terms of storytelling.

"The Rains of Castamere" (Season 3 Episode 9)

With "The Rains of Castamere," Game of Thrones created a pop-culture nexus moment that would be talked about for years to come. Despite building a reputation for harrowing season-enders, almost no one (except those who read the books) saw the Red Wedding coming. With nearly 117,000 votes, "The Rains of Castamere" is rightfully among the top three episodes of the show on IMDb.

From the moment the eerie song "The Rains of Castamere" starts playing untill Roose Bolton lodges a knife into Robb Stark, the audience is kept at the edge of their seats as the horror of Walder Frey's betrayal dawns upon them, as well as on the unsuspecting Starks. The episode also sets Arya Stark on her journey, as her innocence takes a second blow at the Red Wedding seasons after witnessing her father getting beheaded in season 1.

Now, let's get into the other 11 TV episodes with a rating above 9.9 on IMDb. Click the button below to continue: