Every Game Of Thrones Season Ranked (Including HOTD)

Game of Thrones remains one of the best fantasy shows to ever grace the small screen, and the fact that it ran for more than five seasons and received a proper ending only elevates it further. Sadly, that’s not the case for many high fantasy series brought to television, especially on the heels of HBO’s beloved adaptation.

And despite the harsh realities about Game of Thrones’ final season, the show had a fairly strong run from start to finish. Even its weakest seasons are leagues ahead of what other shows have to offer. This is the reason HBO is committed to expanding its fantasy universe with spinoff series like House of the Dragon.

House of the Dragon is yet another fantasy show that stands out because of its high production quality and impeccable casting. However, comparing all the seasons of Game of Thrones and its prequel, it’s hard to deny that some are more impressive than others.

House Of The Dragon Season 2

Best Episode: “The Red Dragon And The Gold”

House of the Dragon season 2 has quite a few strengths, from its incredible performances to its well-wrought action sequences (“The Red Dragon and the Gold” is its best installment for a reason). Unfortunately, these things don’t prevent it from being the weakest of all Game of Thrones and HOTD‘s outings.

House of the Dragon season 2’s biggest shortcoming is probably its pacing, which feels uneven throughout — and ensures that its finale is underwhelming compared to the others in this universe. It also diverges from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood in ways that don’t always benefit the narrative.

It’s telling that even Martin himself had harsh things to say about season 2’s take on certain events from the book, particularly the long-awaited Blood and Cheese scene. The backlash surrounding season 2 overshadows many of its stronger elements, preventing it from reaching the heights of Game of Thrones (or even HOTD season 1).

House Of The Dragon Season 1

Best Episode: “The Lord Of The Tides”

In general, House of the Dragon has yet to match the greatness of its predecessor, and that’s something that could change in season 3. But this means that season 1 falls at the bottom of any ranking; even the weakest outings of Game of Thrones surpass it.

That’s not intended as a critique of the prequel’s first season. It’s more a testament to Game of Thrones’ incredible storytelling than anything else. House of the Dragon season 1 is still a worthy follow-up to the original series, masterfully returning viewers to Westeros and accomplishing a lot in just 10 episodes.

Jumping around in time and changing casts might make House of the Dragon season 1 overwhelming at first, but it’s admirable how the writers make its scope work. The casting choices and performances are spot-on, and House of the Dragon transforms Martin’s history text into a fully formed narrative pretty seamlessly.

The changes made in HOTD are still divisive, but it feels like they serve the emotional beats of the story more than season 2’s. There’s also great action, which isn’t always the case when a series is new and finding its footing. And HOTD season 1’s ending packs a punch, even if it could have hurt more with a greater focus on the supporting characters.

Game Of Thrones Season 8

Best Episode: “A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms”

Given how much Game of Thrones season 8 tarnished the series’ legacy, it will come as no surprise that it’s the most lacking of the original show’s outings. It’s notoriously difficult to stick a landing, especially when audience expectations are already high. However, Game of Thrones season 8 gets so much wrong that it’s difficult to give it grace.

For one, its six-episode run doesn’t leave enough time to grapple with the weight of certain twists, like Daenerys Targaryen going full-on Mad Queen in “The Bells” and Bran Stark admitting that his whole Three-Eyed Raven journey had one purpose: to become king.

These are the most outlandish examples of developments that could have been helped by more episodes, but even Jaime Lannister’s regression and Tyrion’s huge mistakes are hard to swallow during season 8’s rush to the finish line.

This isn’t to say that Game of Thrones season 8 is all bad. Some characters, like Sansa and Arya Stark, get satisfying endings that make the journey worthwhile. The final season also boasts great performances, cinematography, and action sequences, all of which deserve praise regardless of its flaws.

Game Of Thrones Season 5

Best Episode: “Hardhome”

Season 5 is where Game of Thrones starts to go off the rails, as the writers depart from Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire books. It doesn’t help that the fifth outing feels like a transition of sorts, with its pace slowing significantly after the non-stop developments of season 4.

Things pick up again towards the end, with episodes like “Hardhome,” “The Dance of Dragons, and “Mother’s Mercy” marking a return to form that greatly benefits season 6. Indeed, “Hardhome” is one of Game of Thrones‘ greatest episodes ever, making it difficult to place season 5 so low on a ranking.

However, the reality is that season 5’s ending doesn’t make up for its lackluster start. It also makes questionable choices when it comes to the characters. The decision to marry Sansa to Ramsay gets the Starks where they need to be narratively, but their wedding could have been handled with far more care.

The Dorne storyline is also botched, which is a point of contention for diehard fans of the books — and really makes you wonder why the HBO series bothered with it in the first place. The fight at Hardhome, Cersei’s walk of shame, and Jon’s death are all done well, but the slow lead-up to these things is too laden with issues.

Game Of Thrones Season 7

Best Episode: “The Spoils Of War”

Placing Game of Thrones season 7 above season 5 is a controversial choice, but hear me out: despite its problems, this outing does a decent job of getting all the storylines to converge in a satisfying and meaningful way. Season 7 gets a lot of flak for forcing us to suspend disbelief, whether it’s regarding questionable choices from our main characters or the newfound speed with which they travel.

These criticisms are valid, but I’d argue that season 7 makes the pay-off worthwhile, giving it a leg up over season 8. The series was always going to falter after going off the script of Martin’s books, and delivering on the developments we’ve been waiting years for could prove just as difficult for the author. After all, the suspense is usually better than the outcome.

All things considered, Game of Thrones does a good job of introducing Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen, getting the latter wrapped up in the White Walker storyline, and pushing all the opposing players together, both on and off the battlefield. The ill-advised mission to bring a wight to Cersei is a weird writing choice, but hey, it leads to some fun character moments and an undead dragon.

And the pacing, interactions, and action of season 7 place it slightly above season 5, as it’s a more entertaining watch from beginning to end. It’s a shame season 8 takes the outing’s flaws and makes them worse, but I’m a firm believer that this one isn’t as bad as many people believe.

Game Of Thrones Season 1

Best Episode: “Baelor”

Game of Thrones season 1 is a masterclass in fantasy writing, boasting many of the same strengths as House of the Dragon season 1. This outing does an incredible job of getting viewers invested in the characters, and unlike HOTD, it manages to make its main and supporting players feel fleshed out and important.

This is one of many ways it adapts Martin’s books faithfully, and the focus on characters makes its slower political moments shine. It’s telling that Game of Thrones season 1 doesn’t have much in the way of action, yet it remains one of the greatest additions to the series. The writing is simply that good, and it still manages to adapt the source material seamlessly.

Season 1 also does a great job of laying out the world, even for viewers unaccustomed to sprawling fantasy stories, and establishing the stakes through Ned’s death in “Baelor.” Ned’s execution will forever be one of the most iconic and devastating moments in TV history, and that alone pushes season 1 higher on a ranking.

Unfortunately, some of the later seasons of the HBO series are just so good that season 1 can’t possibly rank higher. The political maneuvering, character development, and action only get better from here.

Game Of Thrones Season 2

Best Episode: “Blackwater”

Game of Thrones season 2 builds on the strengths of the first outing, with the political games becoming more gripping now that we know these characters more intimately — and now that the War of the Five Kings is in full swing. Tyrion’s time as Joffrey’s Hand of the King leads to some of the tensest moments of the show, and Robb’s war efforts are equally compelling.

While season 1’s focus feels primarily centered on Ned (even with other storylines breaking his up), the rest of Game of Thrones’ cast really come into their own in season 2. From Arya’s journey with the Night’s Watch recruits to Stannis’ war efforts and Daenerys’ journey to Qarth, there’s no shortage of interesting arcs.

What really puts season 2 ahead of its predecessor is “Blackwater,” which marks the first full-fledged battle scene of Game of Thrones — and it doesn’t disappoint. Everything from Tyrion’s trickery with the wildfire to Tywin’s surprise arrival makes for incredible television. It’s also a near-perfect adaptation of A Clash of Kings.

Of course, the seasons covering the best ASOIAF book still surpass it. So does one surprising outing, which doesn’t pull much from the books at all.

Game Of Thrones Season 6

Best Episode: “Battle Of The Bastards”

Game of Thrones season 6 is an outlier, as it’s the only outing that takes place after the show breaks away from Martin’s books that manages to still feel worthy of them. The sixth season takes the strengths of season 5’s ending and runs with them, using even the most dubious developments to tell compelling stories.

Sansa’s unfortunate narrative in season 5 could’ve been handled better, but it pays off when she and Jon retake Winterfell in “Battle of the Bastards.” That episode alone pushes season 6 to the top of a ranking, with its devastating stakes (R.I.P. Rickon) and epic action leaving a strong impression.

The opening sequence of “The Winds of Winter” is also a highlight of Game of Thrones season 6, as is Daenerys finally setting sail for Westeros after so many seasons. This chapter sees many of the characters stepping into their power and getting much-deserved wins, making it one of the most satisfying. Unfortunately, it still doesn’t hold a candle to the events of Martin’s best book.

Game Of Thrones Season 3

Best Episode: “The Rains Of Castamere”

A Storm of Swords is the best A Song of Ice and Fire book to date, and the two seasons adapting it are the series’ finest. That starts with the third outing, which picks up the pace and raises the stakes after an already strong sophomore season.

With Tywin back in King’s Landing, there are plenty of incredible interactions in the capital — and most of them put Tyrion and Cersei in difficult situations they must worm their way out of. Daenerys comes into her power in season 3, conquering Astapor and Yunkai. And Arya’s journey with the Hound is compelling, as is the evolution of Jaime and Brienne’s relationship.

Of course, Game of Thrones‘ most viral and iconic episode comes from season 3, with “The Rains of Castamere” once again driving home that no one in the series is safe. This outing is already worthy of the number-two spot on a ranking, but the Red Wedding cements its place. Only the aftermath manages to top it.

Game Of Thrones Season 4

Best Episode: “The Lion And The Rose”

Game of Thrones season 4 is, without a doubt, the best of the show’s outings, and there’s a good reason for that. Since season 4 picks up midway through A Storm of Swords, it doesn’t have the slower start of the previous chapters. Instead, it hits the ground running in “The Lion and the Rose,” then hits viewers with twist after twist.

While it does make a few changes from the book’s second half — its take on the Moon Door scene being one of my least favorite — it stays faithful in the ways that matter. From Joffrey’s long-awaited demise to Oberyn’s duel with the Mountain and Tywin’s death, it all comes together masterfully. Indeed, it’s hard to choose a best episode for this season.

The non-stop developments and action don’t come at the expense of intimate character moments or incredible dialogue, either, with season 4 perfectly balancing the strengths of the earlier and later outings. Everything culminates in episode 9’s Battle at Castle Black, which makes for a solid climax, even if it’s one of Game of Thrones‘ most underrated battles.