We’ve crossed the threshold and reached the Top 40 of our Greatest Moments of Game of Thrones countdown. In case you were on vacation or tragically elsewhere this week, swing by the first three days of the countdown before spoiling yourselves!
I’m busy having the time of my life at Con of Thrones, so let’s cut to the chase. It’s getting brutal and ultra competitive up in here, with so many top-notch scenes up for a slot in the countdown- and I love it. Which ones will make it? Only one way to find out.
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40. Bran Finally Goes Home- In a Vision of Winterfell. Episode 602, “Home”
In a scene that hit fans right in the feels, Bran gets to return home and see his father again (albeit as a young boy). During a vision of Winterfell in days gone by, we were treated to young Ned and young Benjen sparring while young Rodrik Cassel looks on. Ned tells his brother, “Keep your shield up, or I’ll ring your head like a bell,” nicely echoing Jon’s instructions to Olly in season five. The highlights of the scene, however, were a young Lyanna Stark riding her horse into the courtyard like a boss and young Wylis (Hodor before he was Hodor) being able to talk – with bonus points for the inclusion of younger Old Nan. When the Three Eyed Raven cut this vision short, we all shared Bran’s pain. – Vanessa Cole
39. From Jaime, Brienne gets a sword, a squire and a task. Episode 404, “Oathkeeper”
The best swords all have names, and the name Oathkeeper carries a special weight for Brienne of Tarth, who exemplifies knightly virtue even though she is denied the title, and for Jaime Lannister, forever branded as the Kingslayer, who has been incessantly maligned for his purported lack of honor. Jaime’s gift of a Valyrian steel sword to Brienne, forged from the remnants of the Stark greatsword Ice, reaffirms his vow to see their mutual oath to Catelyn fulfilled, and Brienne’s acceptance signifies her understanding that Jaime is entrusting her with his faith, and potentially much more. The two had forged a true connection through suffering, loss, and radical honesty amidst dire circumstances, and so their parting is imbued with palpable emotion, especially since both characters clearly leave so much unsaid. Still, as Brienne rides away with the ever-faithful Podrick by her side, the look she shoots back at Jaime conveys much – perhaps a hint of longing, but also her solemn commitment to a promise that will ultimately be fulfilled. – Jared Kozal
38. Jon Duels a White Walker. Episode 508, “Hardhome”
The Massacre at Hardhome represents an apotheosis of horror, devastation, and loss for everyone who beheld the Night King’s most triumphant hour. Yet a sliver of hope emerged amidst the darkness when Jon Snow – brave, but outmatched – raised Longclaw in a desperate attempt to parry a White Walker’s killing blow, and his steel held true. The shock on the faces of both man and demon rang out as clearly as the audience’s cheers of exultation, which only grew louder when Jon turned the parry into a riposte that reduced the creature to shards of ice. Those of us watching at home blazed with excitement, for while whispers about the potential efficacy of Valyrian steel (or Dragonsteel) against the ancient enemy had endured for years, such theories had never been confirmed until now. But we were not the only witnesses to Jon’s great act – high above, the Night King gazed down upon the young Lord Commander with intrigue; perhaps, after years of slaughtering men by the thousands, he saw a worthy opponent at last. – Jared Kozal
37. The Execution of Rickard Karstark. Episode 305, “Kissed by Fire”
How glad I am that I get to cover this moment! Music, or more importantly, accompanying scores are monumentally important to my enjoyment of a movie or TV show. As soon as this scene began, I noticed its immediate parallels to Theon’s botched execution of Ser Rodrik in season 2. Robb executed Lord Karstark cleanly and quickly, while Theon struggled and was bogged down by his lack of commitment and uncertainty. The shared music of the two scenes, though separated by an entire year in their initial airings, merges the two scenes into a larger, connected sequence. It’s very quick, but it establishes the difference between Robb’s assured, confident leadership, and Theon’s rebel-without-a-cause fleeting moment of a power grab. They both learned from Ned Stark that the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. Robb was ready to swing that sword; Theon was not. The music tells all… – SirSquinty
36. After the Rescue, Sansa Accepts Brienne’s Oath. Episode 601, “The Red Woman”
After five seasons of near constant strife for Brienne, Sansa, Podrick and Theon, it’s deeply satisfying to see things finally turn around for these characters: Brienne fulfills her oath to Lady Catelyn, Sansa finds a small support network, Theon wields a weapon for the first time in years and Pod gets to live another day. It’s exciting, poignant and, most surprisingly of all, hopeful. – Petra
35. Jaime Rescues Brienne From the Bear Pit. Episode 307, “The Bear and the Maiden Fair”
Jaime and Brienne had quite the journey – spiritually as well as physically – in season three. One of the most pivotal moments in their relationship was when Jaime risked his life for her at Harrenhal. After learning she wouldn’t be ransomed back to her father, Jaime rushed back to the castle to find Brienne fighting a bear with nothing but a wooden sword for protection. His concern and fear for Brienne was written all over his face, and he leaped into the pit without hesitation to rescue the “maiden fair”. It’s a tense, emotional, and ultimately triumphant scene that launched the Braime ship for many fans (sorry Tormund). – Vanessa Cole
34. The Fire Duel & Resurrection. Episode 305, “Kissed by Fire”
This scene follows Lord Beric’s powerful introduction at the end of the previous episode: “That’s what we are: ghosts. Waiting for you in the dark. You can’t see us, but we see you. No matter whose cloak you wear: Lannister, Stark, Baratheon, you prey on the weak, the Brotherhood Without Banners will hunt you down.” The goosebumps that monologue gave me only continued with the frenzied trial by combat between the Hound and Beric, who weaponizes pyrotechnic effects against a man who fears fire most of all and momentarily gets the upper hand… emphasis on “momentarily” — it doesn’t end well for Beric… or does it? Since Daenerys survived Drogo’s pyre and her dragons were born, magic has become an increasingly important part of the show, but Beric’s resurrection was the juncture at which these supernatural forces openly showed themselves — a point of no return for the story. Also: Beric did it before it was cool, Jon. – Luka Nieto
33. The Birth of the Shadowbaby. Episode 204, “Garden of Bones”
The scene starts with some excellent Davos and Melisandre banter that not only reveals interesting insight about their characters, but reminds us of the fact the Lord of Light knows sod-all about onions (if one half is moldy, you just cut it off and use the good half, duh!). It builds beautifully with that eerie cave, and ends on pure squick as the shadow baby clambers out of Melisandre. It’s the kind of shock ending that Thrones does so well, even if it did mean poor old Renly’s days were numbered. -Geoffery
32. Battle Chaos at the Wall in One Beautiful 360 Shot. Episode 409, “The Watchers on the Wall”
“It’s not TV…it’s HBO” sometimes means “We have a budget and it’s better than yours.” This is one such of those times. The Battle of Castle Black was the second big-budget battle sequence (after “Blackwater”) and if you thought they went all out in the last one, you’d best believe they outdid themselves this time. Neil Marshall returned to direct this episode, and reportedly spent an hour rehearsing this sequence before they filmed it 7 consecutive times! It looks great, it feels real, it is a demonstrable way to show what the actors can do without relying on their stunt doubles, and everyone’s hard work was thoroughly on display here. Six seasons and counting, it remains one of the best individual action set pieces so far. – SirSquinty
31. Sam Slays a White Walker. Episode 308, “Second Sons”
This sequence was the tail end of an episode entitled ‘Second Sons,’ which had a duality to its title. It both introduced OG Daario Naharis’ self-titled sellsword company, as well as depicted stories from the perspectives of several characters who were the second ‘sons’ of their family (Stannis, The Hound, Tyrion), and then concludes the episode with Sam and Gilly. As Sam was passed over by his family, he was always treated as a second son of sorts. This is really important to keep in mind as the episode draws to a close, because Sam takes a big boy step forward and slays a White Walker with dragonglass! It’s a huge moment of character development for him, and a revelation for the show that there is an item that can defeat their Northward, undead foes! It finishes with a great shot of the ravens chasing Sam and Gilly, flying right into the camera as it cuts to black. Epic. – SirSquinty
30. Tyrion Escapes, and Kills Tywin and Shae. Episode 410, “The Children”
Tyrion’s victory comes with a heavy price to break the shackles his own family dragged him down with. After an innumerable amount of betrayals, it would seem we’ve reached the end of the forlorn lion’s story until a light in the dark reignites ours (and Tyrion’s) hopes: Jaime frees his brother not knowing of the lethal consequences that would follow. Rather than simply flee, Tyrion seizes an opportunity for vengeance. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Peter Dinklage present a sincerely beautiful and quiet moment before even more players are wiped from the Game of Thrones board. One betrayal too many leads Tyrion to strangle his former lover and relive his father’s unspeakable acts against him. Dinklage and Sibel Kekilli are wholly brilliant in constructing a heartbreaking moment full of suspense and anguish. Charles Dance is profound in his final moments as Tywin providing unforgettable end while simultaneously resolving the animosity with Tyrion in an unavoidable fashion. – Nate
29. A Baby is Changed Into a White Walker in the Land of Always Winter. Episode 404, “Oathkeeper”
What I remember most fondly about this jaw-dropping episode-ender is the fact that book readers flat-out lost it when it aired. Fans of the ASOIAF series, we tend to get smug about knowing what’s going to happen in advance- at least we did before the show caught up with the books in the last couple years. As of season 4, we were still firmly in A Storm of Swords territory- then “Oathkeeper” and an ice-blue-eyed baby knocked us all on our asses into “What the hell is going on?!” land. Some fans loved the scene, showing the newborn transformed into a White Walker by the touch of the Night King- but many were enraged that Game of Thrones dared reveal something the books hadn’t confirmed yet, but only hinted. Some even swore off the TV series for good, lest they be ‘spoiled’ again in that way. Their loss! Game of Thrones’ daring in bringing the mysterious White Walkers forward was a choice that would pay off for seasons to come. – Sue the Fury
28. Jon’s Rebirth. Episode 609, “Battle of the Bastards”
When Jon returned from the dead, he wasn’t a wolf or a blue-eyed villain, and he certainly didn’t feel like a reborn savior imbued with divine purpose (though Melisandre may disagree.) He was just… Jon. And so, many have questioned the point of his resurrection, but I believe this reading misses the point. When he returns, Jon is still Jon but he is a changed man. A man changed not by magic resurrection but by the very human circumstances of his death. His brothers’ betrayal makes him renege on his oath on a technicality (he did die, after all), something the old Jon would have never done. The apparent lack of an afterlife makes him fear death and, at the same time, question the point of life in a way he never did before. And that is why this claustrophobic scene is so crucial to Jon’s story — it’s the figurative culmination to his entire season arc. When Jon’s buried under his own men, decides he wants to keep on living and finally draws breath above the surface —that is Jon’s true rebirth. – Luka Nieto
27. The Army of the Dead Advance on the Fist of the First Men. Episode 210, “Valar Morghulis”
There was a lot of hullabaloo about the White Walkers before Game of Thrones even premiered: the terrifying creatures were often mentioned in trailers, along with fear and the winter, and one featured heavily in the special fifteen-minute preview of the first episode that HBO released two weeks before the premiere. “Winter is Coming” and its icy monsters scared the hell out of people….and then they vanished. Sure, we saw the occasional wight, the risen corpses the White Walkers leave in their wake. But the sentient creatures disappeared into the night, and became a rumor among the living characters. Nearly seen by Jon early in season 2, they returned with a vengeance in the season finale to remind us that this isn’t just a show about politics and a blonde with some cute dragons. Marching on the Fist with a massive army of the undead in broad daylight (an incredible feat of makeup and special effects), the White Walker is revealed to us and Samwell Tarly. The finale scene leaves no doubt that the White Walkers are done hiding in the dark and the frozen far north, and that the game of thrones is a child’s game in comparison to this fight. – Sue the Fury
26. Arya and the Hound are ready to die for chicken. Episode 401, “Two Swords”
Game of Thrones has many great fights, but this might be its most accomplished. Careful choreography makes it clear how the Hound could survive, and eventually defeat five foes, with the help of Arya. And few are better at fight scenes “in character” than Rory McCann, who adds his own relish to the script, which has some of the funniest lines ever uttered on the show. Watch it again, or we’re going to eat every fucking chicken in this room. – Greatjon of Slumber
25. Tyrion’s Trial Ends with an Outpouring of a Lifetime of Anger. Episode 406, “The Laws of Gods and Men”
Tyrion’s trial, where he lays it all out there: this was a moment that book readers were, naturally, looking forward to, if only because we knew the relish that Peter Dinklage would put on it. And other than episodes that end with random acts of violence, the ending of this – a stare-down between Tyrion and Charles Dance’s Tywin, which underlines the personal nature of this conflict and the way in which unconscious bias and out-and-out discrimination have dominated Tyrion’s existence all his life – is about the most chilling the show has put on screen so far. But it’s the reaction shots that matter the most – Lena Headey’s seething Cersei, Pedro Pascal’s Oberyn who is intrigued more than anything else, but most notably the great work from Nikolaj Coster Waldau as Jaime. Once Tyrion demands his trial by combat, Jaime is utterly deflated, visibly shaken, before he closes his eyes, realizing all of his work – the sacrifice he agreed to undertake for his brother – has been undone by his brother’s stubbornness. Tyrion explains it in the next episode – saying it “felt good” to take that away from his father, and the curl his mouth makes as he smiles at Tywin is evidence of that. But Jaime knows, essentially, that if there was no good ending out of this, that this is probably the worst of all choices. – Greatjon of Slumber
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24. Jon and Sansa Reunite After Years Apart. Episode 604, “Book of the Stranger”
After five years of the Stark family being scattered across Westeros, Essos, and beyond the Wall, Game of Thrones finally threw us a bone. Despite Jon and Sansa’s lack of interaction in season one (or maybe because of it), their emotional reunion was cathartic after all the pain they both endured. Their relationship may not have been sunshine and roses the rest of the season, but this moment showed what’s most important to the Starks – family. We can only hope their bond will endure Littlefinger’s efforts to break it. – Vanessa Cole
23. Jaime Speaks Up and Loses His Hand. Episode 303, “Walk of Punishment”
Before Jaime saved Brienne from a bear, he saved her from rape at the hands of Locke and his men – at great personal cost. Jaime lied to Locke about Tarth being rich with sapphires to encourage him to keep Brienne safe and un-defiled. It worked, but Jaime’s arrogance that the Lannister name would protect him spurred Locke into teaching him a permanent lesson. Not content with simply scaring him into submission, Locke severed Jaime’s sword hand – along with his pride. The jarring music choice seemed out of place, but perhaps it was meant to disorient and unsettle us after such a shocking moment. Nevertheless, Jaime lost his identity along with his hand and was forced to reevaluate his place in the world – starting down a path of redemption that he has not yet finished travelling. – Vanessa Cole
22. Tyrion Finds a Champion in Oberyn Martell. Episode 407, “Mockingbird”
Tyrion may have just gambled his life away in anger, and no one is willing and able to fight for him. On top of that Oberyn comes in apparently just to kick him when he’s down, telling a childhood story of how Cersei brought Oberyn and Elia to mock and torture baby Tyrion — even back then, she blamed and hated him. But then Oberyn turns it around with four simple words: “That’s just a baby.” As the scene draws to a close, Pedro Pascal finishes with the speech that should have won him an Emmy (or a nomination, at least!), and we are witness to some of Dinklage’s best acting as Tyrion finds hope for the first time in what feels like forever, and so do we. This was Tyrion’s lowest point of the season, so it was absolutely priceless to have a character as beloved as Oberyn come in and not only promise to save his life but acknowledge his humanity. – Luka Nieto
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21. Drogon Returns in Daznak’s Pit. Episode 509, “The Dance of Dragons”
The colossal set, action-packed sequence, and air of mystery surrounding the gilded assassins crafted an exhilarating version of the iconic book moment fans couldn’t wait to see. After tensions between Daenerys and her largest fire-breathing offspring reached new levels, Drogon made an explosive entrance to rescue his matriarch. The astounding special effects made Daznak’s Pit a remarkable visual feat with amazing pyrotechnics, expertly choreographed brawls, and a fearless Emilia Clarke leading the way with her effortless interaction with the Drogon visual stand in. The cast and crew’s tireless efforts created a truly awe-inspiring scene worthy of the lion and the dragon’s now-cemented partnership as Daenerys valorously flies on dragon wings to safety. – Nate
Join us tomorrow, as we reveal the top 20, and our choice for the greatest moment of all-time on Game of Thrones!
I believe #21 would be a top 10 moment, had they had a season 7 budget,
and also if they had stayed to how it was portrayed in the books, where it was a moment where Dany finally tames Drogon herself, and takes control of her power and destiny.
Still liked the scene, and completely understood the changes, I just preferred it Martins way. It didn’t give me the same visceral OMG reaction I had when I read it, (which isn’t true in many other cases, many scenes i like ever more in the show than the books, 3×4 is a case where they improved an already amazing scene.)
HelloThere,
Totally agree. I so wanted to see Dany with a whip taming Drogon. Would’ve been insanely powerful.
Looper,
Yea, in the books, that scene felt every bit as big and momentous as when she first gave birth to the dragons.
In the show, it was…. nice 🙂
But I fully understand why it was a near impossible scene to pull off at the time.
37. Wonderful commentary on the same music being used for two very different beheading scenes, drawing a, er, Stark contrast between Theon and Robb.
36. For me, this was Pod’s finest moment, and I think of it as his scene as much as the other players’. Sansa doesn’t remember the words to the oath (if she ever had them memorized in the first place), and he’s the one who fills them in for her. It’s a touching moment, and one of the few during which Sansa, all-too-often haughty, willingly and thankfully takes direction from a social inferior.
35. Of the many, many things I miss from the books (but understand their exclusion because of time constraints), the end of the chapter during which this incident occurs is one of the moments I miss most. Brienne asks Jaime why he returned for her, and he answers simply: “I dreamed of you.” (He had, but doesn’t elaborate.)
30. This moment was in the top 10 I was thinking of earlier today, but I might change my mind when I see the mods’ top 10. We’ll see…
28. Absolutely beautiful analysis of Jon’s real rebirth following his resurrection. Thank you, Luka!!!
26. (goes to kitchen to fix popcorn, anxiously awaits the arrival of Ten Bears)
22. Of many, many lines of dialogue that might qualify as my own favorites, “I will be your champion” would definitely be in the top 5. This exchange gets me every time.
5 scenes should be on this list… 30 – 26 – 25 – 22 and 21
The rest could be in the 80-100 list…
Tomorrows will be the best – thanks for all you post
16 days to season 7 – cheers
I can’t say enough about #28 (Jon’s rebirth) and I especially enjoyed Luka’s summary. That “rising from darkness” chaotic moment, when contrasted with Jon’s bleak “rebirth” from absolute nothingness earlier in the season, makes for great analysis and debate. The scene was almost “womb-like”...surrounded (dare I say protected) by death, Jon lived…perhaps with a little R’hllor by his side….to battle yet again.
(I placed the scene much higher though!)
Oooooooof thank God you have #22 where it is. One of my absolute favourite moments from the show. “I will be your champion.” Damn, I must have replayed that an uncountable number of times – and to think it was Pedro and Tyrion’s first filmed scene together! Oh how I miss Oberyn.
#26. #26? #26?????!!!!!!!! HOW DARE YOU???? This is Rory’s shining, glorious moment!!!! #26?????!!!!!! 😲😲😲😲
Jaime and Brienne’s scenes are just….they have such great chemistry. The sword. The bear pit. I can only assume the top 20 bath scene to come. I love those 2 actors every moment together.
Jon’s rebirth was far higher than his death on my list. But this is not my list. 😏
Great list. 😊
Peter. Pedro and Peter. Yeesh.
I would be tickled if Beric took every opportunity to brandish his trusty sword, Flame-On, in Sandor’s face at every opportunity just for shits and giggles this season. *riding down boring trail…* “Hey Sandor, guess what? FLAMEY SWORD!!!!!”
HelloThere,
Totally agree…it was a powerful moment abs I remember how excited I was looking forward to this scene and how disappointed I was after it even though I understand the changes…but the change from books or vfx didn’t annoy me that much ..
Everytime I watch this scene I get annoyed how missandei had to be rescued by tyrion …she should have gone with dany but they needed tyrion to do something so they made him save her ..
There is something about Pedro and that scene with peter in the cells …it will always be one of my favorite scenes that I would watch million times ..
I guess there is going to be lots of outrage over no 26
Pigeon,
Hey Beric, guess what? I killed you anyway, you fook! 😉
dragonbringer:
Ehhh, as I’ve noted before that’s the scene so many people focus on (yeah, it’s funny and it’s a great fight), but my favorite of Arya and the Hound together (and imo the most meaningful) is “That’s where the heart is.”
Ahahahahaha!!! I know, it’d be like the Black Knight….
Wolfish,
What I was trying to say was that i thought
people wanted that scene to be a lot higher than 26 so they may end up disappointed and hence the outrage…
For me its one of my 4 favorite scenes in that episode ..
Tywin making two swords out of ice
Oberyn’s intro
Jon facing the council
Arya and hound..
I don’t know how I forget the trial scene of tyrion ..I love both the tyrion trials at vale and in Kl and also love how Cat arrested tyrion .
Speaking about cat .. Did the funeral scene of Hosted Tully made into the list …I don’t remember but that was badasss scene from blackfish
No disrespect intended. Truly.
But how does the consensus #1 scene wind up at #26 ?
Worst case scenario we’re talking about a final 20’s top 3.
PS For what it’s worth, Arya wasn’t ready to die for some chickens.
PPS. Other than that, all is well: 9 of my top 10 are still in the running, including the Hound-Arya scene that was galning serious momentum to dethrone “(think I’ll take) Two Chickens.”
firstone,
5 scenes should be on this list… 30 – 26 – 25 – 22 and 21
The rest could be in the 80-100 list…
Yeah, I would pretty much agree with that. For me there were more epic/pivotal scenes from the previous two days which which should have gone into this 40 -20 group and some of today’s scenes relegated higher up the list. Of course, a thing like this very subjective and we all have our preferences to what scene warrants a high or low number in the list.
A fun thing to do when all the 101 scenes picked by the WoTW team is completed would be to perhaps have a vote from the readers of what their choices would be? Say a numbered list from #101 to #1 with the description of the scene and with the series and episode number and a box [??] where one can put a number for the position of where they thing the scene should be placed in the list – For example?
30 [??] Tyrion Escapes, and Kills Tywin and Shae. Episode 410, “The Children”
29 [??] A Baby is Changed Into a White Walker. Episode 404, “Oathkeeper”
28 [??] Jon’s Rebirth. Episode 609, “Battle of the Bastards”
27 [??] The Army of the Dead Advance. Episode 210, “Valar Morghulis”
26 [??] Arya and the Hound are ready to die for chicken. Episode 401, “Two Swords”
25 [??] Tyrion’s Trial Ends. Episode 406, “The Laws of Gods and Men”
24 [??] Jon and Sansa Reunite After Years Apart. Episode 604, “Book of the Stranger”
23 [??] Jaime Speaks Up and Loses His Hand. Episode 303, “Walk of Punishment”
22 [??] Tyrion Finds a Champion in Oberyn Martell. Episode 407, “Mockingbird”
21 [??] Drogon Returns in Daznak’s Pit. Episode 509, “The Dance of Dragons”
A lot easier of course is to start from #1 with one’s favorite top scenes/moments and then work back up the list?
Uuuggghhh, so many great moments. Narrowing them down to 100 is impossible! So for the top 20—not necessarily my top 20, but some contenders we haven’t seen yet—I expect to see many, if not most, of the following:
Dragons born
Sept of Baelor incinerated
Ned beheaded
Red Wedding
Wight army raised at Hardhome
R + J = L
Purple Wedding
Daenerys euthanizes Drogo
A door held
Jon murdered
”Dracarys!”
“The Kingslayer!” “My name is Jaime.”
Brienne vs. Hound
Starks find direwolves
Theon loses favorite part
Sansa raped
Ned looking on during Arya’s “dancing lesson”
“Go on. Do your duty.”
“You know nothing, Jon Snow.”
Either “That’s where the heart is” or “Go on girl, do it. Kill me.”
Either “Kill the boy” or “He was the blood of the dragon, but now his fire has gone out.”
Well, that’s 23. So sue me for bad arithmetic and indecisiveness.
dragonbringer,
Oh, you said it clearly! I think I’m in the minority: I love the scene, as I love all their scenes together, but I don’t think it’s important enough to be placed higher than a couple of others (which I just mentioned in my potential top 20 list).
I guess we’ll find out tomorrow…
I enjoyed the disdain that BF showed Edmure during that scene. Very similar to the disdain he showed Edmure during the siege at Riverrun (S6Ep7). No compassion at all (or great gamesmanship!). 🙂
Hey, db, I’m not into the S7 leaks but I have a leak-related question for you…
Hodors Bastard,
Pigeon,
Yes. “I will be your champion” passes the “emotionally evocative” test. There are a bunch of others like that still in the running.
PS When does the court-ordered recount start for # 26?
I wonder if Sansa’s “Or maybe he’ll give me yours” moment will be in the top 20. It’s one of my favorite GoT scenes.
Wolfish,
Merci, db (for your answer below!)
Hodors Bastard,
sadly I don’t think that scene will be in top 20 ..
Wolfish,
I think at the end of the list we should all be happy our favorite scenes made the lisr regardless of the number they are in
Oh, hell. I forgot Viserys’s golden crown! That should definitely be Top 20 material.
Hodors Bastard,
I don’t know and have no desire to find out before it airs. 🙂
As for the second part of your statement, it reminds me of a silly thing my children used to sing to each other when one had vexed the other: I don’t know and I don’t care, ’cause I don’t like your underwear!
And no, I don’t know where they got it.
Oh yes you do! Sounds like something a dad would sing in the shower. Wasn’t that a Barenaked Ladies lyric?
Wolfish,
Hey Wolfish! This is the reply to your comment under a diffrrent thread a week ago, that I wasn’t able to post back then. It’s about a Hound-Arya scene still in the running…and possibly Rory McCann’s best performance on the show.
This is a more appropriate place for my reply anyway….
_______________
——
Reply to Wolfish
( drafted June 24, 2017)
I’m glad you brought up Sandor’s “No fire!” scene in S4e7.
I recently rewatched it – to be more precise, I read the dialogue in Rory McCann’s voice – and it reinforced some of my initial impressions, including:
• We not only get Sandor’s first first-hand account of the face-burning incident that transformed a little boy into a bitter, violent man, but learn that the fear of fire is more associated with the emotional pain of betrayal than the physical pain of burning.
In a wonderful moment of vulnerability, he drops his gruff facade and shares with Arya that:
***
“The pain was bad. The smell was worse. But the worst thing was that it was my brother who did it. My father, who protected him…told everyone my bedding caught fire.
You think you’re on your own?”
• For all his classic comebacks, one-liners, and kickass action sequences*, it is this quiet scene – consisting of essentially a long monologue delivered by Rory McCann – that is fast becoming my favorite *
Just sitting on a rock, with subtle changes in inflection, demeanor and body language, he goes from angrily lashing out at Arya (“thanks to you I’m a walking bag of silver…Wish I’d never laid eyes on you”); in a conciliatory tone, contrasting Arya’s brother’s gift to her of a sword, with the burned face Sandor’s brother gave him; shifting to the perspective and voice of a little boy in recounting how he didn’t steal Gregor’s toy, and was only playing with it; and commenting on their common isolation and loneliness; and finally, with an almost imperceptible nod, agrees to let her at least wash his wound and help stitch it. His expression by the end looked like a mixture of relief, sadness, and compassion – a complete 180 from the outset.
* Tough to unseat longtime frontrunner, the concluding segment of S4e1 “Two Swords” … “(Think I’ll Take) Two Chickens” might be better title.
—————
I agreed with most of those, but thought 23,26,27,33,34,35,37 should have been farther down the list.
Pigeon,
Totally agree; also glad to see his trial and his killing of Tywin included there.
Loved the Sansa and Brienne scene, so moving after everything that had happened, but loved the Sansa and Jon reunion much much more. My favorite scenes in that list were the pivotal ones: Jon rising from the dead, the dragon, the battle at the wall (what an incredible shot) the baby turned WW, Sam kills WW.
Hodors Bastard,
I don’t know. And I don’t know if my kids were listening to the Barenaked Ladies when they were 5… 😛
I for one am stunned that Tyrion’s trial speech is not in the top five. Possibly my favorite moment in the entire series.
Ten Bears,
It’s a beautifully-written and -acted scene, and definitely my favorite of Rory’s. The only reason I didn’t include it in the potential Top 20 is because it is deeply personal, far more an exploration of character than an integral story-changer.
Firannion,
It’s definitely in my top 10, and Saner Half was blown away by it.
dragonbringer,
Well, outrage is a little over dramatic for a list like this, but I saw that and thought really, this one, over Arya’s needle scene? But ok…..ETA oh wait, is the outrage that people think it should be higher on the list?.. 🙂
Hope so! Loved Blackfish in that one!
Wolfish,
Thats similar to the list I have in my head. We’ll see how we fare tomorrow. Something tells me that the list will leave off some wonderful scenes. Huh, guess thats why this show keeps getting awards….
Will be curious if the beetle speech is included. Not everyone’s favorite, but I thought it worked really well in that scene.
*lemon water out nose*
Ahahahahaha!!!!!! 😮
Edit to explain:
On first glance I thought you wrote ‘Drogon’, and I pictured a very sad scene at the vet clinic. THEN I realized you had indeed written ‘Drogo’, but my mind STILL had it at a vet clinic, and thus the lemon water incident. Quite sinus clearing, by the by…
Wolfish,
For reference, here are excerpts from the two separate Sandor-Arya scenes in which Sandor’s “fear of fire” comes up. In the first, they’re on the way to the Twins when Sandor takes a snack break, scarfing on pigs’ feet from the merchantls hijacked cart. (Why is he eating ALL the time? He barely waits for his vanquished opponents to die before he starts eating their food.. But I digress.)
In the first scene they really tear into each other. He’s cruel and insensitive about her father’s death, and says she’s afraid. She gives it right back to him, and gets the last word with that classic line [paraphrase]
“Someday I’m going to put a sword through your eye and out the back of your skull”
____________
Anyway, here are excerpts of dialogue.
3×9
***
(After Sandor sees Arya staring at their destination in the distance – the Twins – and says he sees fear on her face, ie, that she won’t make it; she turns it around on him)
Arya: “I knew fear when I saw it in you. You’re afraid of fire. When Beric’s sword went up in flames, you looked like a scared little girl. And I know why, too. I heard what your brother did to you. Pressed your face to the fire….
_____________
4×7 (Sandor cursing while trying to stitch bite wound on his neck)
Arya: “… I know you don’t like fire, but if you don’t do it right– ”
Sandor: “No fire.”
Arya: “It’ll only take a second. It won’t hurt that much.”
Sandor: “No fire!”
“Shut up about it. Shut up about everything. Thanks to you, I’m a walking bag of silver anywhere the Lannisters hold sway. Which is everywhere between where we are now and where we’re going. I’m as stupid as that hog you stuck back in the village, getting myself cut and stabbed and bitten. No reward is worth this much trouble. Wish I’d never laid eyes on you.”
“You say your brother gave you that sword. My brother gave me this.”
(Points to burned side of his face)
“It was just like you said a while back. Pressed me to the fire like I was a nice juicy mutton chop.”
Arya: “Why? ”
Sandor: “Thought I stole one of his toys. I didn’t steal it. I was just playing with it.”
“The pain was bad. The smell was worse.”
“But the worst thing was that it was my brother who did it. My father, who protected him… told everyone my bedding caught fire.”
“You think you’re on your own?”
Arya: “Let me wash it out and help you sew it up at least.”
(Sandor nods yes; Arya comes over and pours water on his wound.)
😢
Pigeon,
/Dornish red out nose
OMG, DRAGONS AT THE VET’S.
Ten Bears,
I love that scene. He’s out of his armor, in pain, making him a vulnerable doggie in that aspect, then opens his heart to even more vulnerability by telling Arya his background. Of his own accord. She’d never asked. Perhaps part of why she didn’t grant his request of “remember where the heart is?”, is because she’d already seen his.
I guess what I find most interesting about this exercise is reading the rationales for why various mods picked various scenes. It really brings home how different are the rewards that we each get out of this saga.
For instance, by no stretch of the imagination would any of the White Walker scenes end up in my Top 50, if I were making the list. To me they are just boogeymen: not really characters at all, and definitely not emotionally engaging in themselves. That scene with the Night’s King transforming the baby has no one in it I’ve learned to care about. And yet I’ve read people posting complaints about how the show doesn’t have enough scenes with the WWs and how cool they are etc. etc.
I expect that the majority of viewers would probably put big action scenes at the top of their lists. For me, the SFX set pieces are not what I come here for (though there are some I enjoy). Most of my favorite bits involve two people or a small group, because to me the witty banter and the political scheming and the emotional outpourings are what ground me in this story. It could have no dragons at all and I would be cool with it (not to say that I don’t love dragons).
I suppose that puts me in the minority, tastewise. And I guess that’s okay. Diversity is a good thing.
Ten Bears,
When the mods confirm my registration, I’ll pm you a relevant passage in the book. At the tourney, he’s the one who tells Sansa (not Littlefinger) what happened to his face.
Firannion,
I find that both the books and the show have what is, to me, a perfect balance of the mundane and the fantastic. Too much of the political machinations in the south would draw our attention away from the real threat in the north; conversely, too much of any of the fantastical elements, be they dragons or White Walkers, would take away from the incredibly rich medievalish world and characters GRRM has created.
Having said that, it seems that the mods’ rankings are driven by 1) commonalities among several people in regards to the same moments (kinda like the Oscars) and 2) their importance to the plot as it moves forward. So, while these particular moments with the WW might, ahem, leave us colder than Tyrion’s speech, I assume they’re high in the rankings both because they were thrilling action sequences and because they revealed key information about the WW (e.g., how they can be killed and how the Night King has powers beyond the other Walkers’).
Which makes it all the more confounding to me that the revelation of the Night King’s origin was so far down the list…
Wolfish,
Yeah, i reaaaalllyyyyyyy don’t see Sansa’s rape making the top 20. A beloved young female character is sexually abused… And the showrunners oddly decided to put it at the end of an episode, where the shocker moments usually go. The scene (and subplot) was reviled by most…
#25 is probably my all-time favourite GOT-scene, along with the Jaime and Brienne bath scene and the Varys and Ned in the dungeon scenes of season 1. Well, at least those scenes are still in the running for top 20.
“I will be your champion” and “every ****ing chicken” are both easily top 10 scenes, probably top 5. Way too low here. Come on!
Number one should be the opening scene of the series.
Jamie losing his hand should be a top ten. When you read that or even watch that for the first time, you are so shocked and surprised beyond belief… a living legend of sword fighting loses his sword hand, that generations Arthur Dyane, instantly changes his arch and the perception we as fans have of him.
again, I enjoy this series and appreciate the work, I just wish that there were more thought and reason for the order. Really does seem like you flung shit on the wall and saw what stuck. But again again, thank you for the list.
Jared Kozol,
That is one damn fine & beautiful description of the Oathkeeper scenes. Thank you!
There is a whole lot of thought put and work into the order. But everyone’s favorites can’t be top 10. I’m not going to bother justifying everyone’s personal complaint but I will point out that the handling of the Jaime-hand scene was absolutely hated by a large portion of the ASOIAF-reading fandom. The changes, Vargo Hoat becoming Locke, the immediate cut to music. I love it, but it’s not a universally beloved scene.
I really find it very disrespectful to write they didn’t put much tought and reason in it. It’s not because it’s not exactly your list that it is a bad list. Everyone has a different opinion. To be honest, Jaime losing his hand would not have made it in my personal top 50. It’s a good scene but it’s not one of my favorite scenes. But it’s a good thing we’re not all having the same taste because that would be very boring.
MoF,
Thank you for your kind words! It’s one of my favorite scenes in the show, and it was a privilege to be able to write about it for this list. 🙂
I really wish Edmure and Jaime’s conversation from Season 6 Episode 8 had made the list. Those are the kind of small interactions that make a Game of Thrones season stunning for me, obviously accompanied with the spectacle.
That was such a subtle and well acted scene from both parties, and was one of the finer written ones with multiple interpretations.
Are there any ties in the top 10? Because if the Sansa and Loras bench scene from S3Ep6 (The Climb) doesn’t make top 10 I’m gonna scream. Such mystery, emotion, pending doom and innuendo, all packed into a few moments of bliss by the pool! I’m in tears every time I watch it!
That is great scene and I hope it makes the list. I like those type of scenes more than violent battle scenes. I think it sucks that after Edmure Tully gave up the castle that he got thrown back in a jail cell by Walder Frey. Maybe Edmure will get some freedom in season 7
There is the same type of great dialog scene between Sansa and Littlefinger talking in the crypt at Winterfell (The sons of Harpy – season 5). They are talking about Lyanna Stark. I think in season 7 that story arc will continue between Sansa and Littlefinger.
Dany birthing the dragons will obviously be #1
They announced the S6 premiere title 17 days before the premiere. We are now 16 days away from the S7 premiere and still nothing. We are heading into the long 4th of July holiday weekend so looks like no announcement until at least Wednesday the 5th.
Jack Bauer 24,
There will be no announcement… The premiere has been cancelled.
I think I started off at the beginning of this list just commenting on a few, but as we get closer to the #1 I find myself wanting to comment on pretty much the entire list! I will try to be brief, but am unlikely to be – sorry!
40) Bran-vision; our first sighting of Bran since 410 and he is back in Winterfell! Sort of. I love the way in which this scene was crafted. There were the nods to those of us who could recall the Winterfell staff – Ser Rodrik Cassel, Hodor and Old Nan (and the fact they were there during Ned’s own childhood acts both as a demonstration of past loyalty to House Stark and as a callback to the scene in 206 when Theon executes Ser Rodrik). While we finally got to see Hodor say something other than Hodor, I have to admit that my main thought through most of this scene was that’s Lyanna Stark! Finally! There is so much to pick up in this scene that it’s great to go back and revisit it. All of the Bran-vision scenes in season 6 were amazing.
39) Oathkeeper; I could watch Brienne and Jaime scenes for hours. These two are amazing in every scene they have together, and this one is a further demonstration that Jaime is far more layered than the people around him think. It was great to watch this scene only a few episodes after Joffrey mocked Jaime’s entry in the White Book. Jaime’s good deeds likely won’t ever appear in that book, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t real.
38) Jon & the White Walker; Hardhome as a whole was both brutal and compelling to watch, and I’m excited to see a scene from it on the list. My favorite part of the fight was inside the hut when Jon – without a sword to hand – actually goes to punch the White Walker. Definitely one of my favorite Jon moments! And I completely agree about the Night King potentially having found someone he deems to be a worthy opponent. Jon piques his interest perhaps in a similar way to that of Stannis and Davos in 410. And the Night King’s view of this scene sets up the moment at the end of the episode when he stares down Jon and raises the dead – the two of them sizing up the leader of the opposing army in the wars to come.
37) Karstark; I love that after the very first execution scene in 101 we get to see Theon, Robb and Jon all carry out “justice” in a similar form to Ned (used inverted commas as I don’t believe Theon’s one was right!). The setting of this scene is so wet and drab and Robb looks lost in more ways than one.
36) Brienne’s Oath; a great call back to her oath swearing to Catelyn, and I loved Pod and Theon watching on. Traditionally this is a very male act – a knight swearing an oath of fealty to his lord and master – so to see two women carry this out with men watching on is fantastic.
35) Bear Pit; Jaime and Brienne, again, are fantastic together and I love this scene. It is a further demonstration to the audience that Jaime isn’t the person we wrote him off as at the end of 101. Jaime and Brienne’s relationship undergoes a big transformation between the start of 305 and the end of 306 (as Jon and Ygritte’s does, though in very different ways) and what we see coming out the other side is not simply Jaime making a passing comment to prevent rape but him actively risking his life to save Brienne’s. This scene is the culmination of those in mid-season three that massively change the audience’s perception of Jaime. I loved the I dreamed of you comment in the books, but without including that specific dream sequence, what we got made more sense in the show.
34) Fire Duel; a beautifully choreographed fight, and incredibly claustrophobic to watch. Beric’s resurrection gave us more insight into the magic of this world, and I cannot wait to see what happens in season seven now that the Hound has hooked up with the BwB again!
33) Shadow baby; again an insight into the magic of the world – and specifically it makes Melisandre that much more mysterious. With her immunity to Cressen’s poison already demonstrated, this makes us all the more curious about the Red Woman.
32) Wall battle; stunning, stunning shot and one of the best I’ve ever seen. A lot of money and effort went into this episode and it shows.
31) Sam the Slayer; I love that Sam – a character who tells us the very first time we meet him that he is a coward – is the first person in the show we see killing a White Walker (I think I’m right on that, but please correct me if I’m not). Sam is the personification of Ned’s teaching that a man can only be brave when he is afraid, and he is braver than he or anyone else gives him credit for.
30) Tyrion’s escape; an amazing and well-acted sequence. Tyrion is right in saying he is Tywin’s son – of all three Lannister children, Tyrion is the one who has inherited Tywin’s political acumen (as well as, the early part of this scene demonstrates, a taste for women). Tywin sort of had this coming. In 310 he asks Tyrion why it is more honorable to murder thousands in battle than a few at dinner – in 410 Tyrion takes him out on the privy and proves he’s learned Tywin’s lesson that you don’t always need to fight a battle to defeat and kill those trying to defeat and kill you.
29) Baby-Walker; this scene is quite simply creepy as hell.
28) Jon’s re-birth; 100% agree with your take on this scene, Luka! Jon is very much a changed man. I always viewed the scene in 602 as other people taking the decision for Jon and forcing him to live again, while this one in 609 sees Jon himself actively choose to live again. I know this scene came out of discussions between Miguel Sapochnik and Kit Harington rather than the script because there were time constraints, but it is a beautiful, beautiful shot and again gives us a mirror to one of Dany’s scenes (when she is held aloft by the freed Yunkish slaves in 310).
27) Army of the dead; a great early demonstration of what – I hope – we will see more of in the remaining two seasons. Even then, the Night King’s army wasn’t exactly small.
26) Chicken time; I know this list is subjective, but this scene would be well higher than 26 on mine! The Hound and Arya were the best double act of season four, and I really, really hope they meet again in the future. This scene has it all – from the Hound professing his love of chicken and his hatred of Joffrey to the look on Arya’s face when he professes said hatred to her execution of Polliver, mirroring Lommy’s death. More of this, please!
25) Tyrion’s trial; Tyrion finally saying what all of us were thinking!
24) Jon & Sansa; one of the most emotional moments in Thrones for me, and I think it fitting that there was only music and the actors in this part of the scene. Although Bran saw Jon outside Craster’s in season four, we hadn’t seen Starks interacting in the present (though we had in the past in Bran-vision) since the end of season three. Jon hadn’t seen another Stark since 103 when Uncle Benjen went ranging and Sansa hadn’t seen one since Ned’s beheading. For these two lone wolves to come together was fantastic. And for some reason the fact that they hadn’t been close in the past made their reunion all the more poignant, each of them looking at the other and wanting to make sure they were real.
23) Jaime’s be-handing; his successful attempt to prevent the rape of Brienne is one of – is not the – first positive Jaime moments in the series. So very in keeping with Thrones that immediately after, Jaime is punished for helping someone out!
22) Tyrion’s champion; I loved Pedro Pascal’s performance and I hate that we got so little time with Oberyn. He is fantastic in this scene, and he makes good on his statement from 401 that Lannisters are not the only ones who pay their debts. It is clear just how much Oberyn wants vengeance – so much so that he is willing to stand as champion for a Lannister.
21) Daznak’s Pit; great to see Drogon and Dany’s connection in action – but actually I think my favorite part of this scene is Tyrion’s reaction to seeing Drogon up-close for the first time. He saw a dragon as he and Jorah sailed through Valyria, but this was something else for someone who had been fascinated by dragons his whole life.
I would think #38 should go in the top 10 but I’ll reserve judgement till I see the top 10.
Hardhome was one of my favorites! Glad it made the higher end of the list.
All great choices with enjoyable summaries. My personal favorite is the Tyrion/Oberyn scene (good summary posted with the selection). The way this quiet scene illuminates the past then shifts to giving each man something they each desperately need always moves me. The writing, acting, and everything else that made this scene are outstanding. And the bit about it being Pedro’s first scene shot on GOT just makes it all the more interesting. And I agree with others, Pedro Pascal should have received an Emmy nomination for his work on GOT.
Second favorite is the fight between Jon and the White Walker for all the excellent points Jared included in his summary. I also like the fight choreography and cinematography for this scene, the moving fight and then when things come to a stand the motions and swings are so fluid until the STOP when the Walker’s spear doesn’t shatter Long Claw. Then the big last swing of Long Claw and the Walker is shattered. Kit Harrington is more graceful with his sword fighting than others and in this scene, with the almost black and white quality of the image, it really stands out.
Thank you all. Looking forward to the next batch!
Juri,
LOL, careful now, you’ll give Jack a stroke. He’s already on edge as it is
The other thing is that I think Jon really comes back to life here. He was (understandably) very tentative and seemingly “fragile” for most of the season. We had just seen him tell Melisandre to let him stay dead this time. That was the first time since he had died that we really saw him fight to live: presumably, now he would like to go on living!
Indeed: what is Loras’ dream wedding outfit??? Sadly, we’ll never know now….. 😀
Mr Derp,
LOLOLOL
I can’t…
—–
This list is great but I can’t believe we are in top twenty and there are still so many scenes I would have wanted to see that are not so obvious:
Cat & Robb Stark after Ned’s death
Finding direwolves
Cat talking about Jon snow with talisa
Cat and Bran being attacked and summer saving them.
Rickons death
Arya conversation with Berric and thoros
I know those won’t be in the top 20.
I’m so curious what will be # 1
I hope / predict to see the following in the top 20 (in no particular order because I can’t rank this stuff lol)
Ned’s death
Purple wedding
Red wedding
Jon snows death
Dany And Dragons birth
Dracarys
Cersei walk of shame
Stannis death
Creation of the walkers
Lyanna Ned and baby
Sansa wedding/and rape
Sept of balor explosion
Mountain and viper fight scene
Jamie pushes bran from window
Hold the door 😭
Jon king in the north
Dany sails to westeros
Cersei coronation
Night king raises the dead at hardhome
Golden crown for a king
These are the 20 I think should be in the top 20….
BUT there is so much more besides the scenes I named above that we haven’t seen on the list!!!! I cannot believe it
Wimsey,
Perhaps not, but we know he sure does like green and gold brocade!
1. I’m confused. Did I miss something? You observed that Jaime losing his sword hand “changes his arch.” Did it cause a weight redistribution that altered his gait and put stress on his foot? I didn’t notice Jaime suffering from chronic orthopedic problems. Did I miss a scene where Qyburn designed a gel pak insert for Jaime’s boot?
2. You disagree with the ranking of the scene, and complain that “Jamie [sic] losing his hand should be a top ten.” In my opinion it doesn’t belong in the Top 101 at all.
So you see, ranking is a function of personal taste and subjectivity. Personally, I cannot fathom the iconic 9-minute “Every F*cking Chicken in this Room” scene sliding all the way down to #26 in the second round. All of the draft gurus’ mock drafts had that one as the sure-fire #1 overall selection.
People can readily agree on what’s “good” but debate forever what’s “better” or “best.”
The moral of the story: If your favorite scenes made it anywhere into the 101 Best Moments* that should suffice.
3. I’ve got to hand it to you: nice job of sandwiching a crude and unwarranted insult (“Really does seem like you flung sh*t on the wall and saw what stuck”) between purported expressions of gratitude
(“appreciate the work” and “thank you for the list”).
The staff collaborated on selecting, and writing synopses for 101 moments out of 60 episodes. I would’ve chosen a different group of 101 and “ranked” them differently. So would you. But don’t you think since you’re a visitor to their site maybe you ought to constrain the language a bit?
Consider the perspective of readers (like me) appraising the quality and content of the post vs. your commentary about it.
Whose efforts do you think they’d liken to fecal-flinging zoo monkeys?
I know Tyrion’s speech at the Blackwater and Cersei with little Tommen is already on the list but
I think Bonn’s arrow and Wildfire explosion at the Blackwater should be in the top 20 scenes.
Lol. Since Sue never responded, I’m worried the scene actually is in the Top 20! (insert emoji here to convey sarcasm)
While I can’t pinpoint just one specific moment, Tyrion and Cersei’s scenes were one of the highlights of season 02 for me.
The tension between them, the sibling rivalry, their need to cooperate with each other… ahh I loved season 02 so much. Tyrion’s storyline was so awesome back then.
Dee Stark,
Ackkkk! Too many great scenes left! Too little time to talk about them.
The challenge for me is that before the 5-day “Best 101” posts, I had been identifying what I thought were each character’s great scenes, and then choosing her or his “best” one.
Ten Bears,
That is a huge challenge!
26. Arya and the Hound are ready to die for chicken. Episode 401, “Two Swords”
The Dialog is so good!!
The beginning of the scene Arya and the hound are riding on the same horse and Arya says “When am I going to get a horse of my own”…. then they have this great dialog and the Hound says he is not a thief and he has honor….
At the end of the scene Arya is riding her own white horse and The Hound is still eating chicken… definitely one the best scenes
Nice one 😀 😀
TBH, I don’t give a monkey’s toss (or a flying fuck!) as to what the episode titles will be. I reckon HBO have been pretty good so far releasing S7 trailers and promo photos, etc. and somewhat quicker than they did before S6 aired? I recall we were all ‘champing at the bit’ waiting for info back in early 2016 – It seemed to take forever!
Quite why some on this site have an obsession to knowing what the episode titles will be beats me? Jesus… Its only just over a couple of weeks to go and then we’ll all know.
So stay cool Jack – hang loose – and have patience 😉
Well, who doesn’t? I mean, that would be 1980’s Prince Video worthy.
We really do need a set “sarcasm” emoj, don’t we. Tyrion’s face might do the trick.
Vincent Stark,
My favorite Tyrion-Cersei scene: He comes strolling into small council meeting, whistling, and sits himself down. Throughout this scene, you can see Cersei’s exasperation over his intrusion building, until she looks like she’s going to explode. Then Tyrion forks over the scroll naming him Acting Hand. That really sets her off. I think this is where Tyrion asks about the two Stark girls, Cersei says there’s only one: Arya “disappeared”, and Tyrion comes back with sonething like: “Disappeared? What, in a puff of smoke?”
I just really liked the way Tyrion milked his promotion, and Cersei’s slow boil….
It’s also great because Peter D and Lena H are such great friends in real life.
firstone,
I cannot say enough about this scene – and I’ve already said too much. It’s got everything. And like you said, perfect ending: the two of them riding off with Sandor scarfing chicken and Arya on her own white horse, Needle conspicuously back on her hip.
(*Credits roll; tells TV screen “that was f*cking awesome”*)
401 is my favorite season premiere for lots of reasons, but this scene is a huge part of it.
Alba Stark,
I’ll throw my agreement in there as well. Why the fook not?
I really like the first scene in the episode as well when Tywin melts down Ice into Oathkeeper and Widow’s Wail.
I hope Theon’s scene/speech makes it into the top 20 – That was a classic 😉
Speaking with Maester Luwen – “First time I saw Winterfell” – then the horn blows with that pissed off look on Theon’s face and he starts over again – “First time I saw Winterfell, looked like something that had been here for thousands of years…. ”
and later of course – “Whoever kills that fucking hornblower will stand in bronze above the shores of Pyke – WHAT IS DEAD MAY NEVER DIE !”
I found it surprising that was written by B&W for the show and not taken from ASOIAF, but I’m sure it got GRRM’s approval 😉
Ten Bears,
Yep, one of my all time favorite scenes also. The look on Arya’s face when Sandor says to Polliver – “Fuck the King!” you could see shit was going to hit the fan at any moment 😀
Mr Derp,
I assume the episode title, “Two Swords”, was deliberately ambiguous: Starts out with the forging of two swords, but turns out to be the ongoing story of the two “Stark” swords, Ice and Needle.
Ten Bears,
Indeed. The double entendre was strong in this one
Black Raven,
Yup! And I gotta say, I was thinking there “Gotta love the Hound. Brutally honest when it would’ve been so easy to just say nothing.”
He does that quite a bit. 😀
Yes! I love the symbolism of that cold open – the splitting of Ice, a symbol of House Stark, in the aftermath of both the Red Wedding and the separation of Bran and Rickon in 309. As is the case with the sword, the surviving members of House Stark have splintered off and are now lone wolves.
And then Tywin throwing the wolf pelt into the fire – signalling the victory of House Lannister in the War of the Five Kings and their defeat of House Stark, the main human conflict in seasons one through three (the section of the show I think of as act one). What I love about it, though, is that Tywin’s victory is a false dawn. In the following episode Joffrey is dead, demonstrating the mortality of the Lannisters, and by the end of the season the family are well on their way to destroying themselves from within. Tywin himself is dead at Tyrion’s hand and the latter is fleeing across the Narrow Sea away from the remaining Lannisters. And Jaime defies both Tywin and Cersei to help him escape.
Dagmer is one death I would’ve liked to see on screen. That fucker deserved it more than most.
Alba Stark,
I loved how the tension steadily ramped up during the Polliver-Sandor exchanges. But let me ask you if I misread this…
First it seemed like Sandor being Sandor, like he was toying with and goading Polliver for the f*ck of it, or because the guy wouldn’t shut up about terrozing people like it was a business opportunity.
I thought I noticed a barely perceptible chsnge in Sandor’s demeanor after Polliver proposed “Tell you what. We’ll trade you. One of our little chickens for one of yours. Give us a go at your friend…”
That’s when Sandor stopped toying, reached over and took Polliver’s mug, leading to the “c*nt mouth” jab and finally:
P: “You lived your life for the king. You’re going to die for some chickens?”
S: “Someone is.”
I thought I sensed that Sandor’s patience ran out when Polliver proposed that Sandor let him and his crew gang-rape Arya.
Or maybe I just like the idea that usually nothing bothers him but this enraged him. Because deep down he does care.
Thoughts?
This pretty much lines up with my reading of the scene – certainly that Polliver talking about the two of them “sharing” Arya crossed a line. The Hound says he has a code, and the rape of girls goes against it – for me it also acted as a call back to the scene in season two (I think in 206) when he saves Sansa from certain rape at the hands of the mob in King’s Landing.
Before the comment about Arya, I think he knows there is little chance of them getting out of the inn without Polliver and his mates going down. But this is the Hound, and he likes a bit of banter, and he comes into the inn on the back of one of my favorite lines in the show – What the fuck’s a Lommy? – so he’s on a bit of a roll. When Arya is mentioned, that – as I said above – crosses a line, and he decides they’re going to meet their ends sooner rather than later.
I think by this point he does like Arya; I think he admires her willfulness and tenacity and the fact that she doesn’t take crap from anyone. He acts to protect her, but I think he likes that she is willing to protect herself and understands the need to learn to self-protect in the world they live in. More than anyone, I think Sandor Clegane understands that Arya would never have survived in the situation Sansa found herself in any more than Sansa would have survived in the situation Arya found herself in.
Yes, I think that scene is my favorite one between them as well.
“We had three Starks to trade. You chopped one’s head off and let another escape. Father will be furious. Must be odd for you… to be the disappointing child”
One of my favorite exchanges.
One detail I noticed is Varys’ face when Cersei starts screaming. I swear he has the funniest expressions. 😀
The directing and acting is just brilliant… Right after Polliver suggest the deal of Arya for some chicken Polliver glares at the hound and licks/bites his lips… and then the hound just sorta acknowledges Polliver and tells him “You are a talker” “Listening to talkers makes me thirsty”… the Hound takes Polliver’s mug and drinks all his ale.
Right then it’s game on and the hound is saying you’re history Poliver and Arya finishes what the hound started.
Brilliant scene
Alba Stark:
Gilly has always credited him for his bravery, and does so in the face of his father. 🙂
Ok soo… which worthy scenes haven’t been used yet?!?
Dany:
“Dracarys”
“Crown for King”
Dragon Birth
HotU
(the dragon eggs scene with Viserys and Jorah in 1×6 was also REALLY good… but maybe not top 20)
Arya:
Maybe when she gets on boat to Braavos? It was a season ender…
Ned:
Ned loses his head
Jon:
BoTB: Goes to save Rickon / stares down death again…
Kills a WW at hardhome (though Sam doing it was even better IMO)
S5 death… and did we do his S6 red god rebirth yet? :p
Bath with Ygritte (but I think her death scene was better and we did that already)
Jaime:
Everything from 6×08 was incredible. Either the Brienne scene or Edmure scene or a single entry for both.
KbF bath scene.
Catelyn:
tRW (Robb…)
When Ned and Cat say goodbye FOREVER in s1 *I’M STILL CRYING*
Tyrion:
Tyrion’s 1-2-3 trick. And the subsequent emotional conversation with Cersei.
Tyrion’s made hand of the Queen. I teared up. (but I doubt it considering Tyrion killing Tywin didn’t even break the top 20!)
Cersei:
Septsplosion
Crowns herself
The scene where she tells Tywin the truth and he still won’t believe it.
Sansa:
Did we do killing Ramsey yet?
The wedding to Tyrion… so very akward.
Eyrie – Snow castle / akward LF kiss / Lysa killing (possibly my favorite book chapter and they adapted it really well).
Bran:
We find out R+L=J
I’m sure I’m forgetting some important ones but I’m already over 20. :p
Locke is a great adaptation character. Hoat is a cartoon thug. Thank the bejeezus (as usual) for D&D!
The way he sneers “Your FAAATHER” mocking Jaime is so, so… perfect.
Alba Stark:
I would go a step beyond and argue that, by this point, Sandor loved Arya as he would have a sister or daughter. He and Gregor are essentially the opposite sides of the coin of House Clegane: they’re both killers, but Gregor is the aggressor who kills for fun and Sandor is the protector who kills for necessity. He was Joffrey’s protector, after all, supplanting Barristan in the Kingsguard; but it was always clear that he despised Joffrey’s treatment of Sansa, and he essentially transferred his innate desire to watch over someone from the former to the latter. In my opinion, by the time he and Arya had the fateful encounter at the inn he had come to not only admire her but also care for her far more deeply than he could have vocalized.
Here is my thoughts of “Two Swords”…
right after the opening credits the first thing you see is Jamie’s back and he is holding a new valerian sword. Jamie stabbed the Mad King in the back. Then the camera goes to the left and there is Tywin. Jamie’s “father” Tywin is trying to get Jamie (Tywin’s favorite son) to go to Casterly Rock and rule as a Lannister. Jamie says no and pisses Tywin off… As Jamie leaves Tywin says “keep the sword… A one-handed man with no family needs all the help he can get”. No family? that doesn’t make sense unless Jamie and Cersie are The Mad Kings bastards and Jamie killed his father the Mad King and Tyrion killed his father Tywin Lannister. At the end of the scene it shows Jamie walking out of the King’s Hand quarters and there is one Lannister Lion wall decoration in between Tywin and Jamie as he walks out. There seems to be so much happening in that scene. There is a lot of hints in the dialog too.
That’s what I think is the double meaning of “Two Swords” is.
QueenofThrones,
I’m trying to isolate my favorite, yet-to-be selected scenes. I did the exercise by each character I liked, not by episode or overall ranking.
To follow shortly: My favorite Stannis scene.
Excellent work guys and thank you. I have an acquaintance who is a stunt man who has appeared in GOT many times including as a Thenn at#32. He also played one of the would be rapists when Sansa was rescued by the hound, one of the murderers of Martin Lannister and fought Syrio Forel but bizarrely plays our Father Christmas every year.
Carole H,
Wow! So your friend was disemboweled by the Hound and dissbled by Syrio Forel. Can’t ask for much more than that out of life.
Carole H,
Cool!!!
Ten Bears,
In the scene with the hound and Sansa, because everyone was supposed to be starving, Martin was asked to stay in the corner as he, well lets say, looked too well fed lol.
Thank you for reminding me just why I love this show so much.
They really are waiting until after the 4th of July holiday to announce the premiere title. Wow.
That’s because Game of Thrones has been cancelled and it’s never coming back. You didn’t hear? It’s all over social media. We tried to tell you earlier.
I heard Cersei blew up all the studios.
RIP GoT 2011-2017
Flayed Potatoes,
And now our watch has ended
Flayed Potatoes,
I heard that some fan kept complaining about the episode titles not being revealed yet, so HBO said fuck this and just cancelled the show.
Nice goin Jack 🙁
What? Jack Bauer couldn’t save the day? He had 24 hours!!!
Does that mean we’ll have to wait 14 years until Martin finishes all the books so we’ll get to know the ending? :/
Vincent Stark,
We’ll never know the true resolution to the story because George R.R. Martin is gonna do a Sopranos style ending and just randomly fade to black at some point.
Hodors Bastard,
LMAOOO!!!
Don’t hate me: Why is it important to know the date of the red carpet premiere? And why is there an urgency to learn the episode titles?
I’m not being critical. I’m curious: Do they release more trailers or something the day of the red carpet thing? Or do we just get to see the sctors in tuxedos and the actresses in gowns. Which would be fine with me: It’s always nice to see The Many-Faced Goddess sporting a different look.
On a different note: I wish we had more time for this “101 Best” exercise. I much more enjoy reading about the great things in the show than debates about…well, you know, the usual topics of criticism
Your stunt man friend must be great fun at parties 😉
Was he the Thenn who got a hammer buried in his skull by Jon Snow 😉
Hahahaha 😀 😀 😀
Mr Derp,
If GRRM does a Sopranos-style fade-to-black fizzle, he will have that phrase he coined, “pulling a Lost”, thrown right back at him. (He also described Lost’s disappointing ending in more scatological terms – something like having a t**d dropped on his doorstep.)
No. He’s got to have something satisfying planned. … Doesn’t he?🤔
He tried, but Cersei and Qyburn installed a technologically advanced clock in the form of candles. 🙁
Mr Derp,
If we opt for cryonics we could watch the unavoidable GoT reboot in twenty or thirty years.
Dee Stark,
Re: Your 12:34 pm comment
I looked at your list of scenes you “hope/predict” will be in the final 20, and was surprised to see red and purple weddings and a whole bunch of character deaths. I thought you were our resident optimist. 😇🌞☀️
I was sure one of my favorite Jon-Ygritte scenes would appear on your wish list: the one that starts with Jon needlessly doubting Ygritte’s archery skill (“But it’s too far away”)? and ends with her playfully asking, “Do you like girls who swoon, Jon Snow?”, before launching into her role-playing; “Oh! A spider! Save me, Jon Snow! My dress is made of the purest silk from Tralalaladay” – as she “faints” into his arms and smiles. The way he smiles back at her is adorable (and how many times has he actually smiled in 60 epidodes?) Then they have their nice little exchange in which Jon says he’d like to see her in a silk dress, and what he’d do….
Anyway, that scene, from start to finish, is my #1 Ygritte scene. It qualifies for “perpetual rewatch.” It’s funny and romantic, while continuing on with Ygritte’s never-ending teasing of Jon Snow (= her way of saying “you’re beautiful and I love you”).
So yeah. I hope this scene gets into the Top 20. Indulge yourself in a rewatch and see if you agree.
lmao forever if the show ends with Ned waking up and all 8 seasons were just his dream
QueenofThrones,
Some of the ones you mentioned have already been used…
I think the house of the undying and the Jon snow cave scene.. pretty sure both have been mentioned
Ten Bears,
Oh that’s a great scene.. I agree. But I was truly naming moments that were monumental to the story or done amazingly or truly gave me the feels
That one is a more happy moment but I was being more realistic haha
And I am the positive one… oddly enough in a show full of negativity and death .. but those scenes changed the GAME..
Wolfish,
Great description of Sandor’s unvocalized emotions. What you described is echoed by Cogman (?) in the S4e10 episode Commentary about Sandor and Bruenne arguing over Arya. Sandor calls Brienne a “dumb bitch” who’s the wrong one to watch over Arya( Brienne sarcastically replies “And that’s what you’re doing? Watching over her?”
Sandor’s answer, “Aye. That’s what I’m doing”, acvording to Cogmsn, means he loves her: it’s not about ransom money anymore.
I’d like to see how this all plays out if there’s a reunion of the gorl who was “confused” and guardian who’s been told it’s not too late, “you can still help alot more than you’ve harmed.”
I’m really enjoying the countdown list. A lot of my free time this week involved reading through the countdown (excellent breakdown everyone) then watching each scene again. Hence, my lack of contribution in most of the threads this week. 🙂
It is the clifff notes version of re-watching the whole series before the next season airs. Once again, I attempted to binge it all weeks ago.
I made it to S1 E3 🙃
Next year tho…. Definitely next year.
Thanks for the fun WoTW! (and good luck when you unveil #1 🤣).
And he’s Bob Newhart.
Seriously, the timing and placement of those candles among the barrels, coordinated with the little bird(s) to draw Lancel in at just the right moment, stab him and allow him to crawl toward the end, was quite brilliant. Ever the curious and calculating mind, Qyburn is a force to be reckoned with. Jaime’s hand, assuming control of the little birds, Ser Robert Strong/Gregor and now wildfire manager. I am actually quite impressed.
Do you mean “Bran witnessing the creation of the Night king”? That was #95.
#36: Brienne swearing to Sansa
Always leaves me emotional. I would have had it close to the top 10.
#22: Oberyn and Tyrion in the cell
Likewise. Pretty much perfect.
Next year tho……..!?!?…or whenever it is 3-4 months before S8 airs.
Maybe there could be a community re-watch. Each episode can have it’s own post.
I know I’m a weirdo, but I found the Sansa/Theon hug more emotional than the Sansa/Jon one!
This would be my #1 pick if they were in costume:
Roose: Ramsay, Theon, I……what the f*ck!”
https://d23ipcd5miwp4q.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Game-Of-Thrones-.jpg
Hah! Have you checked out the Con of Thrones vids on the WotW twitter? The Ramsay/Theon reunion gif is hilarious. Is it recent?
Instead of anyone else, meant to type aside from Gilly, his mother and sister, and his close NW friends such as Jon.
Ten Bears,
Hear, Hear!!! Said it much better and more politely than I would have
firstone,
Loved that scene! One that was so similar to the image in my head as I was reading! (love everyone coming up with scenes I’d forgotten about, and I have to change mylist again.
Ten Bears,
Believe it or not, I’ve never watched any of the special features. I need to treat myself to all the Blu-Rays and have a commentary & extras attack!
Detail excised from book: Sandor wasn’t just turning Arya in for ransom; he was hoping Robb would take him in as a fighter and maybe, eventually, reward him with land. So he wasn’t going just for the coin… He was actually defecting to the North.
Ten Bears,
Oh now that would be an interesting challenge, almost as difficult as the top 101 scenes list!
ramses,
been there done that – see GOT 50 up top of the page 🙂 (and Sue has promised a 6 season continuation, I’d assume after this list is completed!
Flayed Potatoes,
Pigeon,
You should totally pitch that to Saturday Night Live. Bob Newhart wakes up in bed next to Michelle Fairley, and tells her he had this really f****d dream where he looked like Boromir, and was in the Middle Ages on another planet, and there was a giant ice wall and dragons and s***, and the kid from the first Batman had him beheaded with help from the CIA agent from the third Batman, and…
ash,
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Great!
Pigeon,
I don’t think that’s weird at all. There was a far deeper history between Theon and Sansa, from his terrible betrayal of her family, to their mutual suffering under Ramsay, to the beginning of his redemptive arc… first by protecting her and then by outright saving her life and helping her flee. The only thing she and Jon had in common was Starkness.
Pigeon,
WHAT DID YOU JUST DO TO ME???
THERE ISN’T ENOUGH HIPPOCRAS IN WESTEROS TO DEAL WITH THIS.
The Season 6 continuation starts next Friday which will lead into Season 7.
Wolfish,
Hello Starkness, my old friend….
Jack Bauer 24,
Looking forward to it. Thank you for the info.
No problem
Bronn singing “The Dornishman’s Wife” in a Dornish jail cell.
What a difficult task you guys have embarked on. Several of my personal favorite scenes are in this bunch: Jon’s fight against the WW (both fighters’ surprised faces were great!). I would certainly move it closer to the top (certainly ahead of Sam’s killing of the WW – I don’t know, the surprise element was lost to me).
I don’t know how many times I rewatched the 360° shot from the battle of the Wall. When I saw it first my jaw dropped to the floor.
Tyrion’s trial speech in this set? Really…. Man! It was sooooo good.
Black Raven,
Good morning, no he played a Thenn who was killed and then he got up and played another Thenn and was killed again! He is a lovely chap and because he is a professional stunt man and has been in some big budget films ie The Mummy and Sherlock Holmes films we wouldn’t usually be able to afford him so he does us a favour at Christmas and makes a lot of children very happy.
HelloThere,
I actually found Daznaks to lack any tangible tension and felt it was poorly executed, for me it’s one of the weakest scenes in the show overall and surprised if features so highly.
Carole H,
That is really, really sweet. I always love hearing/reading about people like that.
I think it really is true that fame and/or money don’t change people; they simply reveal what they always were.
Great article from the Irish Independent, with several cast members. 😊👍
http://m.independent.ie/entertainment/television/ahead-of-the-game-35874094.html