The Most Epic Fantasy and Sci-Fi Website

10 Best Episodes Of Game Of Thrones


After eight years and 73 episodes, HBO’s hit fantasy drama Game of Thrones has come to a close.

Back in 2017, we here at Epicstream compiled a list of what we felt were the 10 best episodes of the series, and now that it’s officially over, we decided to update our rankings accordingly. That being said, here are our revised picks for the 10 best episodes of Game of Thrones:

  1. Beyond the Wall

    For years, fans clamored for an actual clash between ice and fire (White Walkers and dragons), and on that front, “Beyond the Wall” more than delivered. Sure, the episode required more suspension of disbelief than usual, but we can all likely agree that the ends justified the means. It’s not without heartbreak, though, as Viserion was struck with one of the Night King’s ice spears and sent plunging into the frozen lake before being brought back as a wight. Ultimately, "Beyond the Wall" delivered the epic battles and plot twists we’ve come to expect from a penultimate episode of a Game of Thrones season, despite doing so in ways that sometimes defied the show’s logic.

  2. The Watchers on the Wall

    Perhaps one of the most cinematic episodes prior to Season 8, “The Watchers on the Wall” was host to one of the greatest battle scenes of the entire series, where the Night’s Watch managed to fend off the ruthless army of the Wildlings and protect the Wall. Furthermore, the epic scope of the spectacle was exacerbated by the fact that we got to watch it unfold throughout the course of the entire episode, making an awesome moment feel like it lasted a lifetime (or at least an hour). It was also the first of many huge battles involving Jon Snow, a trend you’ll notice throughout this list.

  3. The Iron Throne

    “The Iron Throne” was the culmination of eight seasons of storytelling, so it’d be hard to exclude it from our top 10 episodes. Between Jon being forced to kill Daenerys, the Iron Throne being melted by Drogon, Sansa becoming the Queen in the North, Arya setting off on a new adventure, Bran becoming the new king of the six realms and Westeros establishing a democracy, there was no shortage of big moments. However, it’s the victory of House Stark that fans will likely remember most, as the series spent years showing them at their absolute lowest points. All in all, “The Iron Throne” is a fitting end to an incredible journey.

  4. The Dragon and the Wolf

    While much slower in pace than the finales that precede it, "The Dragon and the Wolf" delivered satisfying conclusions to several major story arcs and masterfully set up the series' final season. Still, despite the pacing, a lot actually transpired in this jumbo-sized episode. Littlefinger was killed, Jaime and Cersei parted ways, Jon and Daenerys knocked boots, the Night King flew atop an undead dragon, the Wall crumbled and fans were forced to take that all in and then wait two years to see how it all concluded!

  5. The Rains of Castamere

    Ah, the Red Wedding episode… If you’ve read the novels, you probably saw this coming. If not, this was probably one of the most shocking moments in early Game of Thrones history, as we witnessed an absolute bloodbath that wiped out nearly all of House Stark, including Robb’s unborn child, courtesy of the Freys and the Boltons. However, before the Bolton betrayal, we learned the Lannisters were the true masterminds behind the attack, which is what made “The Lion and the Rose” all the more satisfying. Nevertheless, watching the brutal butchering of countless innocents makes “The Rains of Castamere” difficult to watch. It’s an excellent and powerful episode, but perhaps not one best suited for repeat viewings.

  6. Blackwater

    “Blackwater” was the episode that decidedly began a running theme of Game of Thrones’ penultimate episodes surpassing their season finales. While the battle – which saw Stannis Baratheon’s army storm King’s Landing – wasn’t quite as epic the one from “The Watchers on the Wall,” it was equally cinematic, evoking memories of the Battle of Helms Deep in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. This was also the episode that solidified Tyrion’s position as a fan-favorite for those not already swayed, as he rallied the troops and unleashed deadly wildfire to decimate Stannis’ ships. In fact, if not for Tyrion, there would have been no incentive to cheer on the Lannister army, and it’s the difficulty in being able to choose a side that makes the conflict onscreen just as much a conflict for the audience (that’s a good thing, by the way).

  7. Hardhome

    While Season 5 was filled with some less-than-stellar moments, the best of them can nearly all be found in “Hardhome.” For one, we finally got to see the two standout characters of the series – Tyrion and Daenerys – come face to face. What’s more, there was plenty of development in the storylines of the majority of the big-name characters, including Sansa, Arya, Theon and Cersei. Still, the real reason this episode ranks so favorably on this list is because of the epic battle that sees Jon Snow and the Wildlings take on an army of undead minions – an army unleashed by the White Walkers, who are finally propelled to the forefront of the series, much to the delight of eager fans.

  8. The Bells

    Perhaps the most controversial episode on this list, “The Bells” finally sees Daenerys succumb to the madness of her Targaryen lineage. Some have argued that her snapping and burning King’s Landing to the ground felt forced and/or rushed, but the series spent several seasons forecasting this inevitable turn. After all, every single one of Daenerys’ perceived “good” acts was done as a means to an end, with that end being the Iron Throne. After realizing the very people she hoped to rule over weren’t welcoming her with open arms, along with the rejection of Jon and the deaths of Missandei, Rhaegal, Viserion and Jorah, Dany showed her true colors. It was shocking, to say the least, but it made sense, and the fact that it evoked such a strong response from viewers is evidence of just how powerful the storytelling in “The Bells” is. Plus, Clegane Bowl!

  9. Battle of the Bastards

    “Battle of the Bastards” gave fans the most satisfying moment since Joffrey’s death when Ramsay Bolton was finally knocked off his high horse and forced to face justice. In fact, this very well may have been one of the most satisfying episodes of Game of Thrones of all time, setting just the right tone leading into the season finale. What’s more, it featured one of the most intense battles of the series, the likes of which we wouldn’t see again until Season 8.

  10. The Long Night

    Say what you will about the cinematography but “The Long Night” is far and away the most ambitious episode of Game of Thrones to ever grace our screens. At 82 minutes, it’s the longest episode of the entire series and it took an astounding 55 days to shoot, but boy did that effort pay off. After years of anticipation, we finally witnessed the climactic confrontation between our heroes and the White Walkers, and there was no shortage of gut-wrenching causalities along the way. Perhaps the greatest thing about “The Long Night,” though, is the triumph of Arya, who spent essentially the past seven seasons preparing for her big moment in which she slays the Night King. The pure spectacle that is “The Long Night” is something shows will attempt to replicate for years to come.

    What about you? What are your favorite episodes of Game of Thrones? Let us know in the comments section!

    What about you? What are your favorite episodes of Game of Thrones? Let us know in the comments section!

For more articles like this, take a look at our Fandoms and Lists page.