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Game of Thrones: The Best Scenes by Season

For your inspection and discussion: the best scenes from each of the 7 seasons.
Game Of Thrones Moments
By  · Published on March 27th, 2019

Season Five

Tyrion Sees a Dragon

Tyrion Sees Drogon

“I suppose this is it, then. This is what remains.”

As GoT scenes go, this is a subdued one. Technically, the full scene is far from subdued, since it ends with a desperate fight with a Stone Man. But for just a few minutes, Tyrion and Jorah skim gently through the water, reciting poetry about the ancient doomed Valyrians and sharing a moment of quiet awe and respect. And then Tyrion sees his first dragon. Half lost in his musings on the distant past, he’s confronted with a relic from that past, very much alive and heralding the future. It’s not a confrontation — no words are spoken and no fire is breathed. It’s just a distant glimpse of a monster passing through, and it changes Tyrion’s perspective forever.


Jon Is Named Lord Commander

Nights Watch Election

“He may be young, but he’s the commander we turned to when the night was darkest.”

God bless Samwell Tarly. When Jon won’t accept Stannis’ offer to make him lord of Winterfell, Sam speaks up for him and secures him the next best thing — command of the Night’s Watch. It’s a recognition that’s in line with Jon’s stubborn sense of duty, but one he would never ask for it himself. The scene is a sweet show of friendship, and of Sam’s eloquent (and surprisingly sassy!) public speaking abilities. Things might go south, but on its own it’s a proud moment of triumph and appreciation for Castle Black’s most deserving son.


Arya Hides Needle

Arya And Needle

“How is it that No One came to be surrounded by Arya Stark’s things?”

Maybe being a Faceless Man isn’t for Arya after all. After dropping all her other belongings in the sea, Arya tries to let go of Needle, and a wave of emotions flash across her face. Clothes and money and whatever else she may have meant nothing, but Needle represents all the good things from her past she has no intention of giving up — Jon’s gift, Ned’s reluctant but affectionate agreement to train her, Syrio’s dancing lessons and sacrifice. When Arya hides Needle it’s out of love for her family and friends, but also her thirst for revenge for their loss. It’s a moment that’s not quite as sweet as it seems on the first pass, but it’s still a powerful one, and one that all but ensures that whatever happens to Arya in the House of Black and White, she’ll be keeping at least some of herself.


Escape from Hardhome

Hardhome

The White Walkers have always been creepy, and they’ve always felt like a threat, but they never feel so present, and so unbeatable, as they do at Hardhome. And that’s really saying something since Jon actually manages to kill one of them. His dragon glass discovery offers something in the way of hope, it’s true, but this dark, cold, desperate battle with virtually no dialogue is mostly a joyless, horrifying look at what we’re up against. The bodies of the wights cascading over a cliff just to get up and continue fighting is fundamentally scary, but it’s the Night King’s wordless face off with Jon, at the end, that’s truly harrowing. This is an enemy that only grows as it dies, yes, and it knows no pain or fear. But at its head is a highly intelligent mind that knows precisely what it’s doing, and that’ll look you in the eye and show you what it’s capable of. Now that’s scary.  


Jon’s Death

Jon Snow Death

“For the Watch.”

Et tu, Olly? Before the hiatus-long speculation about Melisandre’s convenient presence and Kit Harrington’s haircuts, this scene was a straight up kick in the teeth. After years of doing what he thinks is best and acting honorably to a fault, Jon is betrayed and killed. Remind you of anyone? Of course, when Ned dies, his thoughts are on his children — the last thing he does is look for Arya. But Jon’s given up his family, and all he has is the Night’s Watch. As he’s stabbed again and again, his confusion and betrayal only grow. And the final blow, delivered by Olly, is the worst. Jon’s taken Olly under his wing — in a castle full of brothers, Olly’s more like a son. There’s no one left on his side, no one to look to. What a note to end the season on.


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Liz Baessler is a frequent contributor and infrequent columnist at Film School Rejects. She has an MA in English and a lot of time on her hands. (She/Her)