Now that Game of Thrones is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, it is the perfect time to reflect on the epic HBO adaptation of George RR Martin‘s A Song of Ice and Fire book series. During its eight-year run from 2011 to 2019, it cemented itself as one of television’s most popular shows on the air. Game of Thrones‘ influence continues to this day, with multiple spin-offs in the works. While critics and fans alike took issue with the controversial eighth and final season, by and large the series was one of the most critically acclaimed of all time, winning 59 Primetime Emmy Awards.
Instead of focusing on the show’s disappointing ending, let’s explore the best individually reviewed episodes of Game of Thrones — all sporting an impressive 100% approval rating — as ranked according to their Rotten Tomatoes scores.
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5. “High Sparrow” – Season 5, Episode 3
“High Sparrow” might not be a blockbuster episode, but it expertly plants the seeds for some of the major conflicts of the eventful fifth season. The episode begins with the marriage of King Tommen and Margaery Tyrell, which deepens the rivalry between Margaery and Cersei. The Kings Landing story also featured the debut of Jonathan Pryce as the High Sparrow, whose leadership of the religious zealot Sparrows promises to make trouble for the kingdom.
Meanwhile in the North, two Stark children face new challenges: Jon Snow flexes his new power as Lord Commander of the Night Watch by refusing legitimization from Stannis Baratheon and executing the insubordinate Janos Slynt, while Sansa Stark reluctantly returns to Winterfell at Littlefinger’s behest in order to marry Ramsay Snow.
While light on action, the episode was praised for its meticulous plotting and character development, with TK Burton of Pajiba commenting that “This episode was a slow burner, devoid of action or effects, but that didn’t make it any less compelling.”
4. “Hardhome” – Season 5, Episode 8
In direct contrast to “High Sparrow,” “Hardhome” is one of the series’ most ambitious episodes in terms of spectacle. The episode continues many of Season 5’s plot threads, with Tyrion’s new alliance with Daenerys standing out as the most significant. But the real highlight of the episode is its last half, which sees the Wildling village of Hardhome come under siege by the White Walker army, leading to a massacre. The episode ends on a (literally) chilling note, with the Night King resurrecting the dead whilst staring down a fleeing Jon Snow.
Much like other battle episodes directed by Miguel Sapochnik (including “Battle of the Bastards” and “The Long Night”), “Hardhome” is a visually striking, action-heavy payoff to a slow-burn season. Not only did the episode feature one of the show’s longest and thrilling set pieces, it also established the Night King as the series’ big bad. Along with “High Sparrow” and “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken” (one of the series’ least beloved episodes), “Hardhome” was the recipient of a well-deserved Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Production Design.
3. “The Lion and the Rose” – Season 4, Episode 2
“The Lion and the Rose” is one of Game of Thrones‘ most satisfying episodes, which finally saw the cruel King Joffrey Baratheon getting what he deserved. Written by series author George RR Martin, the episode focuses on the long-awaited wedding of Joffrey and Margaery Tyrell. As tensions between Joffrey and Tyrion rise, Joffrey is poisoned and dies a horrifying death for all to see. In the confusion, Sansa Stark escapes her Kings Landing captors and Cersei has Tyrion arrested for the King’s murder.
The “Purple Wedding” kicked off one of Game of Thrones‘ best seasons, and was a favorite amongst critics. Many praised the pacing of the wedding feast, and noted how gratifying it was to finally see the demise of one of the show’s most despised characters. Awarding the episodes five stars out of five, Rich Edwards of SFX called it “a cracker of an episode, loaded with brilliant character beats and one of the great TV twists…”
2. “Mockingbird” – Season 4, Episode 7
In “Mockingbird,” all of Season 4’s plot threads finally start coming to a head. Tyrion grows desperate in finding a champion for his trial-by-combat after Cersei chooses The Mountain, and finally finds one in the vengeful Oberyn Martell. This sets the stage for the climactic duel in “The Mountain and the Viper.” Meanwhile, The Hound opens up to Arya about his traumatic past, and the Night Watch prepares for a Wildling invasion. The ending of the episode – which takes place in the Vale – is particularly memorable as Lysa Arryn sees Littlefinger kiss Sansa, and she threatens Sansa’s life. Littlefinger fortunately intervenes, and after admitting that he loved Lysa’s sister Catelyn and not her, he pushes Lysa through the moon door to her death.
While this episode didn’t feature a grand battle, its deliberate pacing stands in stark contrast with the rushed later seasons. In his review for IndieWire, Danny Bowes said “[‘Mockingbird’ is] a terrific episode of Game of Thrones and practically the Platonic ideal of an endgame table-setter.”
1. “Book of the Stranger” – Season 6, Episode 4
“Book of the Stranger” tops Rotten Tomatoes’ Game of Thrones episode ranking. The episode sees long-awaited reunions between two pairs of siblings. Jon and Sansa meet again for the first time since Season 1 at Castle Black, and Theon Greyjoy has a terse reconciliation with his sister Yara on the Iron Islands. Meanwhile, on the political front, Tyrion negotiates with slave traders and King Tommen’s council plots to move against the Sparrows. Also, Ramsay Bolton adds another atrocity on his long list of misdeeds by killing Rickon’s Wildling defender, Osha. The ending of the episode is one of Daenerys Targaryen’s most defining and iconic moments. Held captive by Khals, she turns the tables on them and kills them in a fire. Emerging triumphant from the flames, the Dothraki bow down to her as their new leader.
While not as climactic as other Season 6 episodes like “Battle of the Bastards” or “The Winds of Winter,” “Book of the Stranger” is a particularly eventful episode in the already momentous sixth season. The character interactions – especially between Jon and Sansa – were very strong. The episode also received praise for the development of the show’s female characters, with The Atlantic‘s Lenika Cruz commenting that “‘Book of the Stranger’ went out of its way to highlight women demonstrating outsize strength over men… [the episode] went a long way toward amending some of the cruel (often gendered) injustices of the past without erasing them entirely; that alone made it the standout hour of the season.”