Game of Thrones stands out for its numerous iconic moments. From Tyrion’s trial to the Red Wedding, some scenes stand out as being perfect.

HBO’s Game of Thrones is filled with iconic moments and scenes that make for essentially perfect television. The fantasy series, adapted from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice & Fire novels, was a cultural phenomenon in the 2010s that laid the foundation for television as a medium for blockbuster entertainment with expensive CGI and movie-quality resources and production value. That said, major spectacle battle scenes and dragon sequences are among the perfect scenes, but quieter, conversational scenes were also an enormous reason for the show’s success.

Game of Thrones infamously saw a downward trend in its final seasons, leading to one of the most controversial finales ever. Still, it’s considered one of the best TV shows of all time, and the ending seasons shouldn’t detract from the excellence of the earlier years and the well-crafted, exceptionally performed scenes. Though many of the show’s best scenes were early on, there are still some genius moments in the latter half of the series.

15The Prologue Scene

Season 1, Episode 1, “Winter is Coming”

Introducing television audiences to George R.R. Martin’s fictional universe is daunting, and the pilot episode is overwhelming with characters, locations, plot threads, and history. There’s a lot to learn, and one of the reasons many modern fantasy shows struggle is due to the complexity of the worlds they introduce. It’s a hump for any fantasy series to get over, and the crucial piece of the premiere Game of Thrones episode that helps grip audiences is the prologue scene.

The prologue is so perfect because it creates an immediate draw for the series, using horror elements to develop feelings of suspense, mystery, and intrigue. The characters aren’t important and will all be dead sooner than later, but the spectacle of the Wall, the weird pattern of dead body parts, and the concept of a supernatural threat are enough to hook audiences in long enough for them to endure the proceeding world-building. It can’t be understated how essential the introduction sequence is in setting up the series.

14Robert Baratheon And Cersei Talk

Season 1, Episode 5, “The Wolf and the Lion”

King Robert Baratheon may not have lasted long in Game of Thrones, but he’s still a fan favorite for scenes like his discussion with Cersei in season 1, episode 5. The king and queen rarely share one-on-one moments, and a delightful three minutes of discussing the state of Westeros, war, and politics reveals fascinating, complex character details about both of them. Every line of dialogue is perfect, and the scene demonstrates how impressively early Game of Thrones seasons could explore characters through conversation, even when not directly pushing the plot forward.

13Daenerys Rises With Baby Dragons

Season 1, Episode 10, “Fire and Blood”

One of the many great dragon scenes in Game of Thrones comes at the closing moment of season 1 when Daenerys first rises from the pyre to reveal the birth of Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion. While not as extravagant as later dragon battle scenes may be, the season 1 ending provided confirmation that HBO was telling a genuinely spectacular story. While the prologue scene is vital for setting up the show, the birth of Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons establishes Game of Thrones as a magical epic with a ton to look forward to.

12Arya Talks With Tywin Lannister

Season 2, Episode 7, “A Man Without Honor”

One of the best Game of Thrones changes from George R.R. Martin’s books is the Arya plotline in season 2, where she ends up in Harrenhal face-to-face with Tywin Lannister. In season 2, episode 7, they have a prolonged discussion regarding history where Arya overextends, revealing herself to be highborn. The underlying tension Arya feels for Tywin, clashing with Tywin’s genuine fondness for Arya, makes for such a fascinating dynamic, and the scene impressively includes world-building, character-building, and, of course, outstanding acting.

11Theon Opens Up To Maester Luwin

Season 2, Episode 8, “The Prince of Winterfell”

Love him or hate him, Theon Greyjoy has one of the best character arcs in Game of Thrones, and season 2 is when things pick up for him. After committing atrocious crimes throughout the season, Theon opens up to Maester Luwin the night before Ramsay and the Boltons capture him. Despite everything, Luwin still shows sympathy for Theon, encouraging him not to stand and die defending Winterfell needlessly. Theon is in over his head, but this brilliantly tragic moment is the first that signifies years of development, building toward him being a sympathetic character.

10The Wildfire Explosion

Season 2, Episode 9, “Blackwater”

The first significant on-screen battle in Game of Thrones is perfect for similar reasons to the dragon birth scene. The episode “Blackwater” contains one of the most epic fantasy battles in movies and shows, and the pivotal moment that shows audiences they’re about to see something special is the wildfire explosion that detonates a massive portion of Stannis Baratheon’s fleet. The green fire makes for an evocative visual, and it’s especially gratifying knowing Tyrion has been successful in his plan.

9Jaime Reveals The Truth To Brienne

Season 3, Episode 5, “Kissed by Fire”

Like Theon’s season 2 scene, the bathtub scene is absolutely pivotal for Jaime Lannister, another character with a complicated redemption arc. He and Brienne sit at opposite ends, with Jaime revealing a crucial detail of his past: that he’d only stabbed the Mad King in the back after being told to kill his own father. While Jaime often covers his sensitivity with a smarmy, despicable attitude, the way he explains the moment that defined him as “Kingslayer” makes it hard to argue with his logic. Not to mention, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s performance in the scene is unbelievable.

8Chaos Is A Ladder

Season 3, Episode 6, “The Climb”

Varys and Littlefinger have some outstanding face-off scenes in the early Game of Thrones seasons, and one of their best sees them discuss their opposing perspectives about the unity of Westeros. While Varys’ motivations may be in question early on, his philosophical differences with the evidently more malicious Littlefinger make him the more favorable of the pair. Littlefinger’s monologue about chaos is the highlight of the scene, revealing what truly differentiates him from the rest of Westeros.

7The Red Wedding

Season 3, Episode 9, “The Rains of Castamere”

One incredibly emotional Game of Thrones scene that’d be hard not to include is the Red Wedding. For many reasons, the penultimate episode of season 3 is not only one of the best Game of Thrones episodes but also one of the most prolific TV episodes ever made. The sheer shock value of the Red Wedding is harrowing alone, but the way the scene plays out is so perfectly orchestrated to build tension and then immediately release it with a flurry of quick, brutal deaths.

6The Purple Wedding

Season 4, Episode 2, “The Lion and the Rose”

As brutal and heartbreaking as the Red Wedding is, it’s followed shortly by the far more gratifying wedding disaster. In concept, the idea of a child choking to death on poison sounds horrifying. Unless, of course, that child is Joffrey Baratheon, the most detestable person in Westeros and one of the most wretched TV villains ever. The Purple Wedding scene is perfect purely for audience gratification, as after three full seasons of watching Joffrey prance around being a menace, it’s beautiful to see him perish in the process of him, once again, being a menace.

5Tyrion Demands A Trial By Combat (Again)

Season 4, Episode 6, “The Laws of Gods and Men”

“The Laws of Gods and Men” is one of the most incredible Game of Thrones episodes that isn’t a finale or major battle, purely because of Tyrion Lannister’s jaw-dropping monologue. Peter Dinklage’s performance sells the scene, giving a shocking speech and then staring down Tywin Lannister, who’s more furious than he’s been seen as in the show so far. Many Game of Thrones scenes can be described as “epic,” but few are as epic purely because of the power and intensity of performance.

4Oberyn Decides To Be Tyrion’s Champion

Season 4, Episode 7, “Mockingbird”

Oberyn Martell is relatively enigmatic in Game of Thrones season 4, planted flawlessly throughout the season to be memorable but not present enough to where he’s predictable. When he arrives in Tyrion’s cell to tell him he’ll fight for him in the trial by combat, it begins with an emotional anecdote about Oberyn’s journey to Casterly Rock, where he once met baby Tyrion. Pedro Pascal does some of the best acting of his career, giving a monologue that brings Tyrion to tears before triumphantly agreeing to be his champion, providing hope where it had been lost.

3Jorah And Tyrion See Drogon In Valyria

Season 5, Episode 5, “Kill the Boy”

Another dragon scene that’s far more subtle than most comes in “Kill the Boy” when Jorah Mormont and Tyrion ferry through the ruins of old Valyria. Valyrian history is one of the more vague, mystical areas of George R.R. Martin’s world, and the season 5 scene perfectly plays off that magical ambiguity. Drogon, who’d gone rogue and left Meereen in season 4, gently flies above the pair as they sail. On top of Tyrion seeing a dragon for the first time, the scene raises fascinating questions about dragon autonomy and why Drogon may have been naturally drawn to Valyria.

2Cersei Detonates The Sept Of Baelor

Season 6, Episode 10, “The Winds of Winter”

Between “Battle of the Bastards” and “The Winds of Winter,” there are several iconic moments, but Cersei destroying the Sept of Baelor with wildfire stands out. Ramin Djawadi deserves endless praise for his work on Game of Thrones, and the season 6 finale stands out with some of his best musical scoring. The extended build-up toward the inevitable massacre is made perfect by the music, which adds to the tension and genuine shock when a significant portion of the show’s cast is killed off in one fell swoop.

1The Loot Train Attack

Season 7, Episode 4, “The Spoils of War”

One of the rare amazing scenes in late Game of Thrones happens in “The Spoils of War,” as Jaime and the Lannister army are attacked by a herd of Dothraki led by Daenerys and Drogon. The loot train attack is one of the most impressive action sequences in the show, but the most alluring aspect is the historical parallels to Aegon’s conquest, showing the immense power of a dragon to wage war in Westeros. It’s a riveting late-stage Game of Thrones sequence that isn’t as bogged down by logical errors as others, like the battle beyond the Wall.