Ever since its premier in on 17th April, 2011, fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones has taken the world by storm and has over the years emerged as one of the most watched television series ever. With the fifth season set to premiere on 12th April, 2015, we take a look at 10 of its most jaw-dropping episodes from the first four season, which have kept the show viewers hooked to the TV sets.
10. Winter Is Coming (Season 1, Episode 1)
‘Game of Thrones’ proved its worth from its first episode and set the world ready for one of the greatest TV shows that it has ever witnessed. The pilot episode introduced the dynamic characters and the places that the show was set in. Revolving mainly around the Starks and the Winterfell, it saw Robert Baratheon, King of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, and his wife, Cersei Lannister visiting Winterfell. The episode ended with the revelation of the one of the first major turning points in the story – The discovery of the incestuous relationship of Cersei and her twin brother Jamie Lannister by 10-year-old son Brandon Stark, for which Jamie throws him out of a high window.
9. Fire and Blood (2011) (Season 1, Episode 10)
The season 1 premiere was as expected, saw the culmination of the events of season 1 and set the mood for the next season. With Robb Stark being declared as the new king of the north after the death of his father, the seeds for vengeance were set, with their first glory being capturing Jamie Lannister. The plot thickened when Daenerys Targaryen found her husband in a vegetative state and decided to give him peace by killing along with the witch responsible for his being like that. She along with the witch and her three dragon eggs and her husband entered fire, only to be discovered by others in the morning that she survived the fire, thereby proving her dragon blood and on her shoulders, stood three newly hatched dragons.
8. And Now His Watch Is Ended (Season 3, Episode 4)
This episode is known for a number of unprecedented twist that no one saw coming – from the cleaning boy’s betrayal of Theon Greyjoy, Varys’ revelation to Tyrion of keeping the person who castrated him captive, death of Craster and Lord Commander Mormont, Beric Dondarrion’s revelation that he has been reborn by the God of Light, it saw all. But, of course it saved the best for the last. In what is claimed by many as Daenerys’ most bad-ass scene so far, she plays a got-to-see-to-believe trick to kills the masters and free the unsullied and reclaiming her dragon.
7. The Children (Season 4, Episode 10)
In one of the best season finales ever, we see breath-taking scene where Stannis Baratheon and his army suddenly overrun the wildling army. And this was just the start of the many great things it had to offer. From Jojen Reed’s death, appearance of three-eyed raven, Daenarys’ juxtaposition in not being able to control her dragons, the Hound wounded by Brienne and left to die by Arya, Cersei’s threatening to Tywin to reveal her and Jaime’s incestuous affairs, murder of Shae and Tywin by Tyrion and his escape from the city along with Varys, it served us all. The season ended with the promise of an even better season with Arya heading to Braavos.
6. Baelor (Season 1, Episode 9)
This episode is credited for being the first episode which saw the death of a major character – Eddard Ned Stark and showed how unpredictable the series can be. It also made viewers ready to see their favourite characters to die anytime anywhere. Ned we say more?
5. Blackwater (Season 2, Episode 9)
This was the first episode which revolved around a single place. Unlike all previous episodes, “Blackwater” does not follow the parallel storylines of the characters outside of King’s Landing. The Battle of Blackwater, which proved to keep everyone on their edge happened took place. With unanticipated events taking place every second, this was a sheer treat to GOT fans. And, of course, who can forget Cersei Lannister in this episode, where she was at the cynical best, even when death was knocking at the door, literally!
4. The Mountain And The Viper (Season 4, Episode 8)
This episode proved how wrong it is take anything for granted, when it comes to ‘Game of Thrones’. With the Ironborn surrendering in the hopes of returning home, they are flayed and slaughtered by Ramsay and his army in return. Finally, despite being true to her, Ser Jorah’s past comes to haunt him as he is revealed to be a spy and is asked to leave Meereen forever by Daenerys. But, in what has come to be one of the latest jaw-dropping moment, saw the brutal death of Prince Oberyn by The Mountain and the death sentence of Tyrion by Tywin for regicide.
3. The Laws Of Gods And Men (Season 4, Episode 6)
In one of the episodes which explored the darker sides of most of the characters, we encounter Theon, who now recognizes himself as Reek, refusing to get out of Ramsay when Yara comes for his help. But what took the limelight in this episode was Shae’s betrayal towards Tyrion in front of everyone, and that’s when Tyrion pulled out a game-changing twist by demanding a trial by combat, which no one saw coming and made for one of the greatest climaxes.
2. The Lion And The Rose (Season 4, Episode 2)
No episode was more loved probably than this one which saw the “Purple Wedding” in which the most hated character, Joffrey Baratheon after years of leading life as a spiteful monster, heartlessly mocks Tyrion at his wedding. And that was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. As fate would have it, Moments after humiliating his uncle, Joffrey met his own death, pulling out one of the major surprises the show has ever witnessed.
1. The Rains Of Castamere (Season 3, Episode 9)
This was the episode that has scarred viewers for life in what is known as the infamous ‘Red Wedding’. In one of the most unforeseen events, at the wedding of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey, in a gut-wrenching betrayal, Walder Frey’s men murder Catelyn, pregnant Talisa and most of the Stark bannermen, while Roose Bolton kills Robb. Moments later, Arya along with the Hound comes to the wedding only to find her family dead and soon escape s from there. Now, this is one episode that still sends the chills even to the brave-hearted.