10 Game of Thrones Episodes That Demand a Rewatch

Game of Thrones may have suffered a terrible final season, but it is still one of HBO’s most successful and highly praised series ever. While fans remain torn over how Game of Thrones ended, most can agree that when the series was good, it was incredible. The series features so many amazing characters, story arcs, plot twists, and epic battles. Not to mention, the show has three fire-breathing dragons.

Some Game of Thrones episodes are pure magic. Some might go as far as to call the best episodes in the series masterpieces of television. If nothing else, the show has a lot of re-watchability. Fans can appreciate the best the show has to offer or find new details they missed the first time around. Either way, Game of Thrones has many episodes that simply demand a rewatch.

10 “The Spoils of War” was a Turning Point in the War

Season Seven, Episode Four

Most of Daenerys’ time on Game of Thrones was spent raising her dragons, gathering enough allies to create an army, and making her way to Westeros so she could claim her rightful spot on the Iron Throne. Daenerys wanted to be a benevolent ruler who changed things for the better, but to take back the throne, she would need to go to war to do it. “The Spoils of War” is one of the episodes that truly defines Daenerys as not just a leader, but a woman ready to pay the price for victory in war.

“The Spoils of War” sees Daenerys make one of her biggest plays by setting fire to Jaime’s convoy. This destroyed a huge portion of the Lannister Army, dealing a devastating blow to the Lannisters’ grip on the Seven Kingdoms. This episode also covers some other important details, like the cave drawing about the battle between the First Men and the White Walkers. That said, the true shining moment of this episode is the Lannister army going up in Dragonfire.

9 “The Children” is a Huge Turning Point for Tyrion

Season 4, Episode Ten (Season Finale)

The Season Four finale was one of the most shocking episodes of the first four seasons. After Joffrey’s death, all fingers are pointed at Tyrion as the culprit. Tyrion spends most of Season Four in prison, awaiting a fitting punishment for a crime he didn’t commit. In “The Children,” Tyrion’s sympathetic brother, Jaime, sets Tyrion free and gives him the chance to escape King’s Landing.

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Before Tyrion escapes, he takes the opportunity to execute his father, Tywin Lannister. The scene is almost as gratifying as Joffrey’s death because Tywin’s death was a long time coming. It was also humiliating because Tyrion killed him on the chamber pot. Tywin’s death was the beginning of the end for the Lannisters. Cersei and Jaime just didn’t have what it took to maintain control over Westeros alone. This also marks the beginning of Tyrion’s journey in leaving Westeros and joining Daenerys.

8 “The Winds of Winter” is One of Game of Thrones’ Best Season Finales

Season Six, Episode Ten (Season Finale)

“The Winds of Winter” is an intense episode from start to finish. This episode was a major game changer because so many things happened to shift the future projection of the series. The biggest thing fans will likely remember from this episode is Cersei Lannister blowing up the Great Sept. Her destruction resulted in Queen Margaery Tyrell’s death. King Tommen, Cersei’s only remaining child, commits suicide after watching Cersei’s cruelty take his wife’s life.

Tommen’s death puts Cersei on the Iron Throne. She no longer has her children to protect, so she no longer has anything grounding her to reason. During this episode, Arya also kills Walder Frey and Jon Snow becomes King of the North. This episode also finally sees Daenerys set sail for Westeros. The winds shift greatly in just under 70 minutes, but this episode sets the last two seasons in motion.

7 “Blackwater” Showcases One of Game of Thrones’ First Major Battles

Season Two, Episode Nine

“Blackwater” is the second to last episode in Season Two, and it features one of the first major battles in Game of Thrones. Season One and most of Season Two spend a lot of time setting up the world. It focuses on establishing the state of the world, who runs Westeros, and who wants to shake up the great houses. Yes, there are action scenes here and there, but not on such a grand scale.

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Stannis Baratheon was the first major challenger to the Iron Throne. After the death of his brother, King Robert Baratheon, he believed the throne should fall to him, as none of Robert’s children were fit to rule. “Blackwater” spends all 55 minutes focused on the growing conflict between Stannis’ army and the Lannister forces in King’s Landing. This episode gave fans their first real look at the devastation of war. It also solidified how far the Lannisters would go to protect their claim to the throne.

6 “The Door” Left Fans Emotionally Devastated

Season Six, Episode Five

This episode features a few important plot points like Jon Snow setting a plan in motion to unite the North against Ramsay. While several significant things happen in this episode, the part that stands out the most is Hodor’s backstory and sacrifice. “The Door” finally brings Bran Stark’s story full circle and helps him uncover some vital information about the White Walkers.

While this is one of Game of Thrones‘ best episodes, it’s also one of the most tragic. Fans watched with tears in their eyes as Hodor attempted to keep the White Walkers at bay and ultimately gave his life to protect his friends. Hodor’s death wasn’t one of the goriest, but it was still hard to stomach. This episode also uncovered why Hodor seemed to only ever be able to say his name because he was trying to repeat “hold the door.”

5 “The Rains of Castamere” Invited Fans to the Red Wedding

Season Three, Episode Nine

“The Rains of Castamere” solidified Game of Thrones‘ reputation for brutally killing characters with little consideration for how popular they are. This episode is infamous for the Red Wedding, which changed the series forever. After Ned Stark’s execution in Season One, his son, Robb Stark, begins building an army to retaliate. For most of the next two seasons, Robb and his mother, Catelyn, are the main force of rebellion that can stand up to the Lannisters.

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S3E9 changed all that with one horrific event, the Red Wedding. During this infamous catastrophe, Walder Frey and Roose Bolton carried out a plan that Tywin Lannister set in motion to get rid of the Stark threat. During the Red Wedding, Walder Frey and Roose Bolton murder Robb Stark, Catelyn Stark, and Robb’s pregnant wife, Talisa. The Stark Army also suffered great losses during the Red Wedding.

4 “Hardhome” Finally Gives Fans a Taste of the White Walkers’ Fury

Season Five, Episode Eight

For most of the first five seasons, Game of Thrones kept warning its audience that “Winter is Coming,” but the cryptic message seemed like it would never come to fruition. Finally, Season 5, Episode 8 – “Hardhome” gave fans a taste of the true threat that waited north of the Wall. The Night’s Watch and the wildlings from beyond the Wall finally join forces to confront a horrifying threat; an army of undead wights controlled by the White Walkers.

This episode memorably introduced the Night King, the leader of the White Walkers. “Hardhome” finally started properly setting up The Long Night, but there are a few other important things that happen in this episode. Cersei is arrested for committing acts of incest and for murdering her husband, Robert Baratheon. Some members of the Night’s Watch also show increasing concern about Jon Snow’s willingness to work with the wildlings, hinting at Jon’s future fate.

3 “And Now His Watch Is Ended” Showcases One of Daenerys’ Major Victories

Season Three, Episode Four

“And Now His Watch Is Ended” is a major turning point for Daenerys. For the first two seasons, Daenerys’ story was relatively slow. The biggest highlights were her brother’s death, her relationship with her husband, the hatching of her three dragons, and the Dothraki’s loyalty to her after her husband’s death. Daenerys was making progress toward her goal of reclaiming Westeros, but it felt incredibly slow.

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In “And Now His Watch Is Ended,” Daenerys tricks a slave master into selling her the Unsullied Army. She pretends to trade the slaver one of her dragons for the army and immediately after the deal is set in stone, Daenerys orders them to kill the man who enslaved them. Daenerys gifts the Unsullied Army their freedom and, in exchange, they give her their loyalty. Having such an impressive army on her side helped her prepare for her battle to reclaim the Iron Throne.

2 “Fire and Blood” Gave Rise to the Mother of Dragons

Season One, Episode Ten (Season Finale)

“Fire and Blood” is Game of Thrones‘ first season finale, and it is one of the most impactful ones because it finally introduced dragons into the series. Dragons had long been missing from the world until Daenerys stepped onto the pyre of her husband’s burning body with three dragon eggs. The following morning, Daenerys comes out of the fire completely unscathed with three newly hatched dragons.

A few other important things happen in the Season One finale. Sansa is trapped in King’s Landing after her father’s execution. She is more or less being held prisoner as Joffrey’s future wife, and she must play a delicate game to survive. Arya manages to escape King’s Landing without her sister. Robb Stark becomes the King of the North and prepares his next move against the Lannisters. This finale set most main characters down their respective paths that they would follow for seasons to come.

1 “Battle of the Bastards” Might Be the Best Episode in the Series

Season Six, Episode Nine

“Battle of the Bastards” is next to perfect. Almost the entire episode focuses on the battle between Jon Snow and Ramsay Bolton. The Lannisters named Ramsay Warden of the North, giving him control over Winterfell and the rest of the northern territories. Ramsay also forcibly married Sansa Stark, who suffered his abuse daily. Jon, with members of the Night’s Watch and wildlings from beyond the Wall, attempts to take back Winterfell from Ramsay and save his sister from the tyrant.

Ramsay was one of the most deplorable villains on the show and fans hated him. “Battle of the Bastards” was a clear story of good vs. evil and, surprisingly, the good side came out on top. Fans finally saw Ramsay get exactly what he deserved and Winterfell finally fell back into the hands of a member of the Stark family. Few Game of Thrones episodes are more worthy of a rewatch than this masterpiece.

Nine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for a millennia.

Release Date

April 17, 2011

Creator(s)

David Benioff , D.B. Weiss

Cast

Kit Harington , Isaac Hempstead Wright , Iain Glen , Peter Dinklage , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Emilia Clarke , Maisie Williams , Sophie Turner , John Bradley , Lena Headey , Liam Cunningham , Aidan Gillen , Alfie Allen , Conleth Hill , Rory McCann , Jerome Flynn , Jacob Anderson , Kristofer Hivju , Gwendoline Christie , Nathalie Emmanuel , Carice Van Houten , Natalie Dormer , Stephen Dillane , Charles Dance , charlotte hope , Michelle Fairley , Jack Gleeson , Richard Madden , Hannah Murray , Sibel Kekilli , Julian Glover , Brenock O’Connor , Rose Leslie , Michael McElhatton

Seasons

8

Creator

Production Company

Story By

George R.R. Martin

Writers

D.B. Weiss , George R.R. Martin , David Benioff

Number of Episodes

Franchise(s)

Game of Thrones

Directors

David Nutter , Alan Taylor , D.B. Weiss , David Benioff

Showrunner

David Benioff , D.B. Weiss

Character(s)

Jon Snow , Brandon Bran Stark , Sir Jorah Mormont , Tyrion The Halfman Lannister , Sir Jaime Kingslayer Lannister , Daenerys Targaryen , Arya Stark , Sansa Stark , Samwell Sam Tarly , Cersei Lannister , Davos Seaworth , Petyr Littlefinger Baelish , Theon Greyjoy , Lord Varys , Sandor The Hound Clegane , Bronn , Grey Worm , Tormund Giantsbane , Brienne of Tarth , Missandei , Melisandre , Margaery Tyrell , Stannis Baratheon , Tywin Lannister , Myranda , Catelyn Stark , Joffrey Baratheon , Robb Stark , Gilly , Shae , Grand Maester Pycelle , Olly , Ygritte , Roose Bolton

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