Favorite endings so far

So, one very striking stylistic device this show has is that it always has a big setpiece, dramatic twist and/or cliffhanger at the end of every episode. I think this is something D&D copied from the books where almost every chapter also ends on a climax. I really appreciate it on the show, but as it is with these things some endings worked better than others. My question now is: what is your top 10 episode endings? Here is mine:


10.) 3x06 - Chaos is a Ladder

This is a controversial one. I know. But I love the conversation between Varys and Littlefinger. It's one of my favourite additions on the show. The philosophy in the dialogue is amazing and I loved how LF was scary again after this scene. I could have done without Ros' death, but then again this is exactly what conveyed just how dangerous and crazy LF really is. "Chaos isn't a pit. Chaos is a ladder."



9.) 1x02 - The Death of Lady and Bran's Awakening

I remember watching this and thinking 'holy fuck, they killed the wolf. How could they do this to me?!'. I was such a sweet summer child back then and I had no idea what the Starks had yet to face in future episodes and seasons. It also established the mystical connection between the direwolves and Bran and left us with the question: does Bran remember who pushed him out of the tower?



8.) 1x06 - A Golden Crown for a King

I think this was one of my favourite GoT scenes for a VERY long time and it still is. At this point, I had already read the first book, so I knew what was coming. It still felt like a punch in the face. It was so well executed and a great and fitting end for Viserys. I also loved Emilia's acting here. Her intense stare at the end still gives me goosebumps. "He was no dragon. Fire cannot kill a dragon."



7.) 1x03 - Arya's Waterdance

Another S1 ending and it's not going to be the last one on this list. I love how this scene starts off very playfully. Syrio and Arya have great chemistry and the audience doesn't get a sense of urgency or suspense. It's just pretend after all. But that changes very quickly. The music is great and when Ned enters the room he starts to think about the battles he has witnessed himself. The sound here was great. We hear swords clinging and warriors shouting. Very, very ominous and an exciting scene. I loved it.



6.) 3x04 - Dracarys

This is one of the most universal loved scenes of the show and rightfully so. It was pretty much perfect. I remember watching this and being completely blown away by it. Dany was so freaking badass in here and Emilia did a phenomenal job. That final shot with the dragons flying and that huge army following Daenerys must be one of the most exciting things the show has ever done.



5.) 1x01 - The Things Jaime Does For Love

The first ending ever and it really set the tone for the entire show. After watching this, I had no doubt this show was something very, very special and that the writers were not fucking around. How could they have a young boy being pushed out of a window after he had witnessed the Queen having sexual relations with her brother? That was insane. But I was instantly hooked and I ordered the first 4 books.



4.) 1x10 - The Birth of the Dragons

Another Dany scene. I'm surprised by just how much Dany I have in my list, but she really has some great episode endings. This one is the best out of them. It's a game changer and it could have easily been so cheesy and poorly executed, but it wasn't. Seeing her standing there, completely naked with her three little dragons was mindblowing. I remember watching this and feeling super excited for S2.



3.) 1x09 - Eddard Stark's Execution

Season 1 had a lot of great and shocking endings as I tried to show with this list. But this one was the ending that set the tone for every other major reveal or death scene. It made a lot of sense, but somehow it was still surprising and utterly shocking. It also marked the beginning of the greatest tragedy of this story: the fate of House Stark. I already knew about it from the books, but actually seeing Arya and Sansa there was something different. Also, that little stylistic device with Ned's breathing was such a brilliant nuanced thing. This scene is classic Game of Thrones and wrote TV history.



2.) 5x08 - The Massacre of Hardhome

Yeah, this just had to be in my top 10. It's one of the most iconic and most ambitious things a TV show has ever attempted. The pure production value is incredible. I have no idea how they managed to create this in such a short time. Kit Harington is an action hero and the imagery was dazzling. I will never forget the White Walkers standing on that hill or the single WW entering the burning cabin. But what made this scene really stand out was the ending. The Night's King standing there, raising the dead and the look of utter desperation and horror on the survivors' faces. Absolutely horrific and brilliant.



1.) 3x09 - The Red Wedding

This is an obvious choice, but nothing else could have been number one on my list. Let's be honest. So much has been said about the RW and its adaptation on GoT. What can I say? I think it's one of the best scenes of every TV show ever made. It wrote TV history. I still cry when I watch it. It hasn't lost its impact. So many details absolutely make this scene. Poor Arya witnessing the whole thing, the fact that Robb and Talisa were really happy, the cold look on Roose's face and the melody of Rains of Castamere. But one aspect stands above them all: Michelle Fairley's acting. She IS this scene. Her entire performance is magnificent. I'm so glad that the cast and crew were able to nail this scene.

Yeah, we had the same idea and at the same moment . Anyway, I second the motion for sticking to this one thread. Or maybe copy and paste my reminder list and post it in the other one. It works either way.

01x04- Cat confronting Tyrion in the Inn
01x10- The Birth of the Dragons
02x09- Cersei and Tommen in the throne room
04x08- The Mountain vs The Viper
03x09- The Red Wedding
04x02- The Purple Wedding
01x09- Ned’s execution
05x08- Jon and the Night’s King staredown
01x01- Jaime pushing Bran through the window
03x01- Barristan joining Team Dany

01x06- Viserys getting his golden crown
01x03- Arya and Syrio Forel training
01x02- Ned killing Lady and Bran waking up
03x04- The Sack of Astapor
04x04- The White Walker and the baby in The Land of Always Winter
01x08- Sansa begging Joff mercy for her father
04x06- Tyrion’s final speech during his trial
01x05- Jaime and Ned swordfight
01x07- Littlefinger betraying Ned
03x03- Jaime losing his hand

05x09- Dany riding Drogon
02x04- Melisandre giving birth to the Shadow Baby
05x10- For The Watch
05x03- Jorah kidnapping Tyrion
03x07- Jaime and Brienne in the Bear Pit
03x06- Jon and Ygritte kissing at the top of The Wall
03x05- Tywin ordering Cersei and Tyrion to marry Loras and Sansa
02x05- Jaqen H’gar killing the Tickler
04x01- Arya and Sandor and some chicken in the Inn
03x02- Locke capturing Brienne and Jaime

05x01- Jon killing Mance Rayder for mercy
02x10- The White Walkers marching
02x08- Revelation of Bran, Rickon, Osha and Hodor being alive
02x07- Theon exhibing the two charred peasant boys bodies
03x08- Sam killing the White Walker
04x05- Jon and his brothers burning down Craster’s Keep
05x02- Drogon flying away from Daenerys in the Balcony
02x01- The killing of Robert’s bastards
05x07- Cersei is imprisoned by The High Sparrow
03x10- Dany’s crowdsurfing

05x05- The Stone Men attack and Jorah finding out he got Greyscale
05x04- Barristan’s last stand
02x02- Craster knocking down Jon Snow
02x03- Polliver killing Lommy
04x03- Daenerys ultimatum to Meereen
04x07- Lysa Arryn falling through the Moon Door
04x10- Arya sailing to Braavos
02x06- Daenerys finding out that her dragons have been stolen
05x06- Ramsay and Sansa's wedding night
04x09- Jon Snow's farewell to Sam on his way to confront Mance Rayder

I like both times Tyrion gets abducted.

I think it's all those fresh new posters inspiring us.

this is hurting my brain.

7. Jaime x Brienne in the bear pit

Ramin Djawai's 'A Lannister Always Pays His Debts' plays at the end, a beautiful track that is both haunting and terrifying. Plus, I'm a massive shipper of those two. Seeing Jaime jump in the pit, Brienne immediately helping him up... couldn't stop cheering. Brienne, being stuck in a pink dress (that was degrading for her) gives Locke a stare down. Captures the fury and rage she felt. No sapphires or gold for the Boltons... just two people's disregard.

6. A golden crown

Ever since the third episode, I could tell Viserys was going to die. But in such a horrifying way? Carefully done so no blood would be spilled? A chilling 'he was no dragon' line? So great. Harry Lloyd brings everything- the pathetic nature of Viserys, the cruelty, the desperation and even... the part that has made people pity him here.

5. Dracarys

Dragons who burnt a slave with a knack for degrading people, dropping the whip, fire everywhere, dragons flying, Jorah Missandei and Barristan looking on, when Daenerys starts to speak Valyrian.. so great.

4. Tyrion's speech

Here we have someone who has been abused all of his life- finally tell people, bringing the anger and fury and rage. He may look even more guilty, but here it doesn't matter. All his anger is justified, its powerful to watch.

3. The stare down between Jon and Nights King

I got chills! The Whitewalkers remain terrifying and can slaughter thousands of people within hours. Worse- if you die, your body will be degraded and violated by having to be a wight. Jon is not only forced to watch the Nights King massacre- but the realization that he didn't do what he intended. Tormund and Edd being absolutely scared and full of fear of watching the bloodbath is haunting.

2. Whitewalker Baby

Cause I thought this was so freaking cool. Really, really cool. I can't state enough how cool I thought it was. Seeing the Nights King!!! So cool. Plus seeing the Land Of Winter was also awesome. The score is great, too

1. Ned's execution

I remember watching this, too shocked to cry, never forgetting Arya's sad eyes and frantic pacing, or Sansa's screams, Joffrey's smile, Varys rushing to Joffrey, Petyr not doing much. Too powerful, you can feel the world of ASOIAF fall apart.

As for a top 5:

1. Birth of the Dragons
2. Sack of Astapor
3. Cat arresting Tyrion
4. Red Wedding
5. Hardhome

1. Ned's execution
2. Red Wedding
3. Hardhome
4. Jaime loses his hand (though that terrible song in the credits gave me headache)
5. Cat kidnaps Tyrion