Game Of Thrones: Every Episode Ranked From Worst To Best

44. The Kingsroad (S1E2)

Written By: David Benioff & D.B. Weiss Directed By: Tim Van Patten

The show is still finding its feet at this stage, but there's a lot happening in this very early episode that will be important later down the line. We see the first of the direwolves killed, something the show has continued to do since (with now only two remaining). It established what a crazed brat Joffrey is, sowed seeds of Stark-Lannister conflict, and with the Hound killing the butcher's boy created a deep-rooted hatred of him in Arya.

It's also the episode where Ned tells Jon that they'll talk about his mother next time they see each other, which is pretty brutal looking back, and if all that fails, Tyrion slaps Joffrey in the show's most endlessly gif'd moment.

43. The Climb (S3E6)

Written By: David Benioff & D.B. Weiss Directed By: Alik Sakharov

The title partially refers to Littlefinger's superb "chaos is a ladder" speech, one of the best monologues Aiden Gillen has been able to deliver with that wonderful wandering accent of his, but it's the more literal climb that marks the most memorable point of this episode. Jon and the wildlings scale the Wall, providing us with some great visuals, but also Jon and Ygritte's kiss at the top, one of the show's truly romantic moments.

Two of the game's best players (and two of the show's best actors) meet with Tywin and Olenna, while Cersei and Tyrion have a great chat about their impending marriages. Unfortunately the seemingly random and unnecessary torture of Theon by an unknown captor continues, but aside from that Season 3 continues its solid work here.