Game Of Thrones: 15 Best Ever Episodes

1. Hardhome (S5 E8)

Some people may think this is a knee-jerk reaction, but it most certainly is not. Season 5 produced it's 'Episode 9 drama' one early in the eight instalment, and it was near-perfect. First of all, while the Blackwater and Watchers On The Wall episodes were battles that had been built up over their respective seasons, Hardhome's white walker onslaught was largely concealed, and while they were only teased once per season, this was the episode that they burst onto the scene with force. As if the mere presence of the ice demons wasn't enough, the action scenes were impeccable, with the highlight being Jon's clash with the walker before slaying it with his valyrian steel blade. The effects on the walkers and wights were excellent, in particular the Night's King pictured above who cut a ferocious figure. Jon departing on the boat looking in sheer helplessness as the Night's King silently raised the dead was a remarkable moment, and a triumph for the show. What makes the episode even more impressive is that it showed off plenty of other important moments around the Seven Kingdoms and beyond, with Arya getting a colourful change of scenery in Braavos, Theon confessing to Sansa that he didn't actually kill her young brothers, and the outstanding scenes between Daenerys and Tyrion in Meereen which really were fantastic to watch. Hopefully with another few seasons to go, Hardhome is shuffled further down the list to make way for even bigger, even better episodes, but it will take something truly perfect to top it.