With the season now over, I'd thought I'd answer Jennifer's question from a few weeks ago and post my 5 favorite episodes. I really, really tried to avoid just posting the episodes with the biggest moments, but it turns out that's really hard to do.
5. Season 4, Episode 2: The Lion and the Rose
AKA, the Purple Wedding. George R R Martin's last time writing a Game of Thrones episode, he still writes the characters better than anyone else. The set design for the Royal Wedding was amazing, and they did a brilliant job bringing our hatred for Joffrey to a head before finally killing him off. Bringing an Episode 9 worthy plot-twist to Episode 2 also brought a huge amount of momentum to Season 4.
4. Season 5, Episode 8: Hardhomme
While the 30 minute story of the massacre at Hardhomme was what made this episode a classic, everything else was very solid as well.
3. Season 3, Episode 9: The Rains of Castamere
AKA The Red Wedding. It's basically THE defining moment of the TV show, and I think it's what pushed the show into popular culture. (Youtube reaction videos were hitting late night talk shows, GRRM became more of a celebrity as people wanted to interview him to find out WHY he did what he did, etc.) I have some issues with this episode, but I can't bring myself to ignore it.
2. Season 1, Episode 10: Fire and Blood
I sort of consider Episode 9 and 10 to be in the same bucket, but I have to give the edge to Episode 10. It was the single best season finale of the series to date, largely because of how perfectly it resolved all of the plot threads while still setting up the next season in an exciting way. (Without relying on cheap cliffhangers, too. *coughseason5*) There were just so many memorable moments. Yes, Ned is really dead, and Arya is devastated. Tywin realizes Tyrion is pretty damn smart, and decides to make him Hand of the King. The Lord Commander of the Watch gives an inspirational speech and prepares to march north of the Wall. Oh, and yes, Dany hatches some dragons! And the CGI dragons look great!
Almost as importantly, director Alan Taylor was the first to figure out how to use the limited budget to film the show so it looked like it was happening in another world. For the first time, King's Landing actually looked like it was huge, alive, and something more than just a nice set with pretty costumes. He seems to have basically created the blueprint on how to film the show moving forward. Not surprisingly, after season 2 Alan Taylor would go on to make big fantasy style blockbusters.
In some ways, this should be number one, but there was one episode that did just a bit better...
1. Season 2, Episode 9: Blackwater
Up until this point, the show took inspiration from Rome and would always shy away from battles due to budget issues. This wasn't an option here, though. There were too many characters converging into the same area, and the battle was critical to the plot. In order to film the battle, the show creators begged and pleaded with HBO to get a large budget increase, probably somewhere around the $9 million mark. However, it wasn't just about flexing budgetary and special effects muscles - the action serves to create some of the show's largest character moments. Joffrey is exposed as a coward in spectacular fashion, Tyrion realizes he has a bit of hero in him, the Hound's loyalty to the crown fails in a fire, Cersei's almost poisons her son as she grows desperate, and we see just what wildfire can do. I guess Stannis does some things here as well, but screw him.
All in all, this episode sets the high water mark, and I doubt it'll get surpassed until MAYBE the final season, if we are extremely lucky.
And, I agree, after being betrayed by the Night's Watch, maybe, if and when Jon v 2.0 returns, better, badder, deader, his scope will not be so narrow as to his duty to the Night's Watch, but broaden even further, which will allow him to tackle the Whitewalker problem without the limitations of answering just to the Night's Watch.
I do think Jon was naive in his strategy. Somewhat understandably, he let the over-riding and imminent threat of the Whitewalkers completely drive the solution of bringing the Wildlings into Castle Black, thus, completely ignoring the tenuous yet important factor of having allies from within (his Night's Watch comrades). He completely ignored their perspectives, and consequences of that, even when his squire was giving him hints that, 'hey, you should really factor this angle in, our hatred of the Wildlings....'. Which, was a blind and naive move on his part, which cost him, obviously..........
Agreed. It's very similar to how Ned Stark met his end. He was doing the right thing, but failed to pay attention to how he was alienating everyone around him.
I really have no clue where he'd go next, though. If he does come back, it will probably mean Melisandre is behind him now, which may not be a good thing. He'll also probably have some loyal wildlings (and a giant) that will be willing to go with him... but will he go South for Winterfell, or North in order to learn more about the Walkers?