Game Of Thrones: 10 Perfect Episodes
2. Battle Of The Bastards (Season 6 - Episode 8)
This episode was as close as fans got to any justice in the world of Thrones. But it came at a cost...
Despite the satisfaction of the Stark children returning to Winterfell and Sansa finally taking her revenge on one of the most deplorable villains in film and TV history, we were also subjected to the death of the most beloved of characters, the not-so gentle giant Wun Wun.
As well as the last of the giants sacrificing himself for a cause that was minuscule compared to the threat of the Walkers, we also saw the near obliteration of Jon Snow's desperate force of Northmen and Wildlings.
It was one of the few moments when we were able to forgive Jon for his many ill- advised decisions. Tactically he did exactly what he vowed he wouldn't, be goaded by Ramsey Bolton and lead his men into a near massacre. But who wouldn't rush to the aid of their brother/cousin/nephew...? What the hell was their relationship again?
Besides from the emotional impact of the episode, visually it was one of the most accomplished depictions of battle the show managed to pull off. In a Saving Private Ryan style technique, the camera followed Jon Snow through the claustrophobic carnage of hand to hand combat. When viewers were just about to give up all hope, they got their Lord of the Rings moment, with Knights of the Vale riding in to save the day.
This was the last really great episode of the show...