Game of Thrones (HBO)

10. Blackwater - Episode 2.9

It's odd to make the list with only one great scene. Lucky for this episode, that one scene is basically half the episode. Besides the aforementioned completely awesome wildfire scene, there's some good battle scenes following, Tyrion gets to kick-ass and even get respect for the first time. Meanwhile, the scenes with a drunk Cersei are pretty amusing, as are the scenes with The Hound who finally says "F**k the king," both literally and figuratively.



9. Winter is Coming - Episode 1.1

The writers had a tough task to introduce so much and so many people in the first episode, and in retrospect, they did a great job. We got a great idea about everyone's character, we learn a lot of history, and we understand the dynamic going on between the Lannisters/Baratheons, Starks and Targaryens.

There's great scenes such as the opening one with the white walkers which is great based on cinematography alone. There's also an ending with a little boy being pushed out a window after witnessing incest, just to make sure people understand what they're getting into.


8. Rains of Castamere - Episode 3.9

I'm still not sure how I feel about this one as a whole. It's possible that in the long run, I won't think of this as a top 10 episode. but for the time being, the Red Wedding is wonderfully crafted. They had the challenge of executing one of the most gruesome twists in TV history but without making it gratuitous or heavily foreshadowed for non-book readers, and they did very well. I can't be sure since I've read the book, but it feels like I would never have seen it coming because of one little thing, and that's the little joke where Walder Frey makes this face towards Robb when his cousin is getting married. The look seems to say "She's pretty good looking, eh? And that could have been you." Not only is this funny and light-hearted, but it makes a reference to a future that has Robb Stark in it made by the guy who has already plotted his demise.

Meanwhile, the stuff between Arya and the Hound is very interesting. Notably very early on when The Hound knows that Arya is afraid she won't make it in time because she's so close. It's foreshadowing, but it's also an interesting psychological moment from the Hound.

Also great is the clash of Jon Snow's group with Bran Stark's. It's a big as reunion as Martin will give us. At least it's interesting as they're not both human at the time. There's also that great moment when Bran goes into Hodor.


7. Lord Snow - Episode 1.3

It's a bit harder to explain why this one's so good. It's not so much that there's a couple brilliant scenes, but instead an incredibly consistent great episode. It begins with a good exchange between Jaime and Ned in the Great Hall, followed by a great scene with Cersei and Joffrey where we learn what kind of king he'll be, but also that Cersei's trying her best with him.

There's a scene later on that I really like where Robert, Jaime and Barristen Selmy are discussing their first kills. Really, this episode is a wonderful character episode. It's still very early in the series, and now that the characters have been introduced, they can now interact. And the writing is wonderful.

This is also the episode where Daenerys starts to get the upper hand on her brother, which is pretty funny and ironic considering he set this whole thing up with the Dothraki. The episode ends with Arya getting sword lessons from Syrio Forel.



6. The Wolf and the Lion - Episode 1.5

Another episode with little brilliance, just excellence all the way through. It starts out with some great jousting scenes which ends with a sword fight between brothers, The Hound and The Mountain. There's the scene where Tyrion saves Catelyn's life in a battle, despite being taken to trial, and there's Lysa, Cat's crazy sister.

Later on we get to see dragon skulls and our first Varys and Littlefinger confrontation. A great scene where Ned refuses to give consent to have Daenerys kills and has to resign, and then later there's the aforementioned scene between Robert and Cersei where we learn a lot about them and their past and present.

The episode ends with Jaime ambushing Ned where they fight, and Jory gets killed.


5. The Pointy End - Episode 1.8

A lot of great scenes in this one. Right off the bat we get the sacking of the Red Keep where Syrio Forel defends Arya in a blaze of glory and Arya gets her first kill. We learn about Varys' motive from his own mouth: "To serve The Realm. Someone must."

Robb calls the banners and Jon gets to fight a white walker. I was always looking forward to first seeing this to see the glowing blue eyes and was disappointed to find them barely luminescent, but it's still a very good scene. Later, Robb purposely tells a spy bad info, and Barristan Selmy is forced into retirement, and does so as a bad-ass. Also notable is Sansa begging Joffrey for her father's life; the first signs of courage from her.

And across the pond, Drogo fights Mago and rips his tongue out through his throat.


4. The Kingsroad - Episode 1.2

Tyrion slaps Joffrey and then later has a great scene with Jon on their way to the Wall where he brings up his opinions on the useless purpose of the Wall. Bran is attacked but is then saved by Summer (I always love when pets come to the rescue.) Dany begins her climb to the top by gaining power over Khal Drogo by use of the cowgirl position. There's a great scene where Arya and Nymeria fight with Joffrey where she learns a lesson on not messing with those in charge (or does she). And then of course there's one of my favorite scenes at the end where the killing of Lady coincides with Bran waking up.


3. Kissed by Fire - Episode 3.5

It opens with a great battle between Beric Dondarrion and The Hound where The Hound wins, but Dondarrion is resurrected. Later on on there's a touching farewell between Arya and Gendry (You'd be my lady"), and there's the heavy scene where Robb decides to execute Rickard Karstark for killing the young Lannisters. Beric Dondarrion and Arya have a fireside chat, which I had on the top scenes list, and Jon and Ygritte get it on. We finally get to meet Stannis' wife, who's an interesting character, as well as his daughter Shireen who's a good addition as well. Jaime tells his side of the story of the sacking of King's Landing. (Personally, I would have liked to have seen it filmed, but, budget.) And to finish it off, Grey Worm shows his appreciation to Dany for freeing him.


2. The Old Gods and the New - Episode 2.6

Wonderful opening where Theon "takes" Winterfell, as I described before for a few reasons. Another top scene later where Joffrey and Co. are attacked in King's Landing. Meanwhile in Harrenhal, there's more good Arya/Tywin scenes, as well as the part where Jaqen Hagar kills the second person just as he's walking to tell Tywin about her. And then there's also great scenes with Jon and Ygritte meeting for the first time, along with her incessant flirting.


1. Fire and Blood - Episode 1.10

Cat and Robb grieve, and plot revenge, after the killing of Ned Stark. Joffrey commits his first act of tyranny in this great scene involving the removal of a musicians tongue, followed by Sansa finally talking back to him. Even better is later on when he shows her her father's head, and almost gets shoved off a ledge (see picture above). The look on her face in close-up is fantastic.

Robb gets donned "King of the North." Dany has to kill Drogo by pillow, a horrible death for a warrior like him. There's the aforementioned scene with Pycelle where he's spry only when alone. Varys and Littlefinger have a good chat, as they often do. Mormont decides to go on the offensive and calls the Night's Watch to arms and to the other side of the wall. (I hate how so many characters in TV shows sit and wait for things to happen to them. It was refreshing to see Mormont say "F**k it, we're going out there.")

And then of course there's the best scene in the series where it appears Dany is going off the deep end, but instead comes out stronger than ever with three dragons.