Though Game of Thrones may not have ended in a way that pleased all fans, the show still delivered one of the most exciting television experiences of all time. throughout the eight seasons of the show, there were a number of episodes that highlighted just how great Game of Thrones could be at times.
Every fan has their own personal favorites, but Ranker has ranked the best episodes of the series based on user votes. From the massive battle sequences to the unforgettable twists to the powerful character moments, these are the best Game of Thrones episodes according to Ranker.
The Laws Of Gods And Men (Season 4 Episode 6)
With so many storylines in Game of Thrones, one bad one can be outweighed by a truly great one. Such is the case with "The Laws of Gods and Men" which features the pointless scene of Yara's failed rescue attempt of Theon.
While many fans pointed to that as one of Game of Thrones' most cringe-worthy moments, the episode also featured Tyrion Lannister's heartbreaking trial. It was frustrating to see such injustice done to a fan-favorite character, but it led to him unleashing an epic monologue that remains iconic and showcases Peter Dinklage's amazing performance.
The Door (Season 6 Episode 5)
The season 6 storyline following Bran's teachings with the Three-Eyed Raven was seen by some as dragging, but it proved to be worth it with the episode, "The Door." While much of the episode revolves around Jon and Sansa planning for war, the end of the episode finds Bran and the others under siege by the White Walkers.
It is always exciting when the Night King and his army show up, but this was a particularly devastating encounter. The final moments of the episode reveal the tragic backstory of Hodor as perhaps the gentlest character on the show meets his end.
The Watchers On The Wall (Season 4 Episode 9)
Every now and then, Game of Thrones would dedicate an entire episode to one massive battle. "The Watchers on the Wall" was the showdown between the men of the Night's Watch and the Wildlings as they attacked Castle Black.
The episode did a lot to establish Jon Snow as the hero of the series as he fearlessly led his men into battle. While the action moments like the giant scythe and Jon's fight with a Thenn take much of the attention, it also marked the sad end to the romance between Jon and Ygritte.
The Lion And The Rose (Season 4 Episode 2)
Weddings have always been a danger in Westeros, but the one shown in "The Lion and the Rose" left many fans thrilled. The majority of the episode focuses on the huge event as Joffrey Baratheon marries Margaery Tyrell.
There are a lot of fun character interactions with plenty of tense relationships among the guests. But the episode is surely a favorite among fans as it is the one in which Joffrey Baratheon finally meets his end in a very satisfying death.
The Mountain And The Viper (Season 4 Episode 8)
Though he was only introduced in the fourth season of the show, Oberyn Martell quickly became a standout character among the cast. And his arc in the show builds to the episode "The Mountain and the Viper."
As the highlight of the episode, Oberyn faces off with The Mountain as Tyrion's champion in his trial. It is an opportunity for revenge and Oberyn shows how much of a badass he is throughout the fight. But as Game of Thrones is not prone to happy endings, it delivers a shocking and gruesome end for Oberyn.
Blackwater (Season 2 Episode 9)
Game of Thrones showed that it was going to push the boundaries of the scale of television storytelling with its first big battle episode, "Blackwater." With Stannis Baratheon's army approaching King's Landing, Tyrion plans the city's defense while various other characters grapple with what they think will be their defeat.
The episode was an exciting and epic hour of television with some terrific standout moments. From the wildfire explosion to The Hound's epic rant as he quits to Tyrion leading the troops into battle, it showed fans that Game of Thrones was going to be big.
Hardhome (Season 5 Episode 8)
Though the White Walkers had been talked about as an impending threat, the show hadn't really established that very well with their limited screen time. That changed in "Hardhome" and it became clear just how hopeless the war against them would be.
The episode gives no sign of the massive battle that will take place as Jon seeks to bring the remaining Wildlings to Castle Black. But the devastating attack from the White Walkers quickly turns the episode into a horror movie and allows the Night King to step out of the shadows in a memorable way.
The Winds Of Winter (Season 6 Episode 10)
While most of the fan-favorite episodes of Game of Thrones feature one huge storyline that takes all the attention, "The Winds of Winter" features so many big moments that it is hard to determine which one had the biggest impact.
The episode opens with Cersei Lannister's epic revenge sequence that kicks things off in an unforgettable way. But the story doesn't slow down from there as it also includes Walder Frey getting his comeuppance, a big revelation about Jon, and Daenerys finally setting sail for Westeros.
The Rains Of Castamere (Season 3 Episode 9)
The death of Ned Stark in the show's first season proved no one was safe on Game of Thrones and that the show would deliver some shocking moments. even with that knowledge, fans were blindsided by the massacre in "The Rains of Castamere."
Many saw Robb Stark as the best chance for justice to be done for the Stark family as he waged war on the Lannisters. But his journey as a hero came to an end as he, his wife, and his mother are brutally slaughtered at the Red Wedding in a moment that brought Game of Thrones to an entirely new level.
Battle Of The Bastards (Season 6 Episode 9)
Though there had been battle episodes before, the scale and filmmaking behind "Battle of the Bastards" still took fans by surprise. The episode features the long-awaited showdown between Jon Snow and Ramsay Bolton while also opening with a crowd-pleasing sequence as Daenerys cleans up the mess in Meereen.
From Jon facing down with the charging horsemen to the one-shot sequence in the chaos of the battle to the image of Jon emerging from the pile of bodies, the episode was the most cinematic in the series.