The ‘Game Of Thrones’ prequel, ‘House Of The Dragon,’ announced its return to the screen with a second season in summer 2024. Meanwhile, the original series continued to hold a place in TV history as we ranked its eight seasons based on their Rotten Tomatoes/IMDb scores and fan reviews.
8. Season 8 – 55%
Notable for its high production values, especially during ‘The Battle of Winterfell,’ the final season faced criticism due to its pacing and ending for long-standing character arcs. Most fans thought Daenerys’ sudden madness and death were unjust to her story, while others said Jon Snow’s parentage and claim over the Iron Throne were not addressed enough. Still, it included some moments fans favored, like Arya Stark killing the Night King.
7. Season 1 – 90%
Season 1 formed the series’ setting in Westeros and introduced viewers to its large cast of characters. The sudden deaths of Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark at the finale also set the story up for future events. The season received critical acclaim for its episodes, especially ‘The Pointy End,’ one of the few George R. R. Martin wrote.
6. Season 7 – 93%
With fewer episodes than the other seasons, Season 7 increased the narrative pace. Big character reunions and team-ups marked the season. Some critiques centered around its fast plot developments, but the overall season received positive reviews with its visuals. It also left the audience hanging with some scenes, like Viserion’s death.
5. Season 5 – 93%
Season 5 revolved around multiple parallel subplots. While certain storylines, like Jamie and Bronn’s visit to Dorne, were criticized for their execution, causing the series to have the lowest-rated episode in the show’s history with ‘Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken,’ episodes such as ‘Hardhome’ ended up with scores like 9.8 on IMDb.
4. Season 6 – 94%
This season marked some major plot points, with episodes like ‘The Battle of the Bastards’ and ‘The Door,’ the highest-ranking episode among all eight seasons. While it did face some criticism for certain storyline choices, it remained a breaking point for the show by setting the characters up for later seasons.
3. Season 2 – 96%
Expanding on Season 1’s groundwork, Season 2 delved deeper into the political dynamics of Westeros and introduced additional characters like Stannis, Ser Davos, Melisandre, Brienne, and Margaery. Episodes that focused on war and strategy, like ‘The Battle of Blackwater,’ received positive reviews, although some fans wanted the season to be rewritten.
2. Season 3 – 96%
This season detailed character developments and Westeros’ political landscape. The ‘Red Wedding’ episode stood out, depicting the Freys’ and the Boltons’ betrayal with the death of many Stark family members. It also showed a shift in the plot with moments like Dany acquiring the Unsullied.
1. Season 4 – 97%
The ten-part season is recognized for its blend of character-centric episodes and plot twists with the start of Dany’s rule in Mereen and the death of Joffrey. Some of its episodes with key events, like ‘The Lion and the Rose’ and ‘The Children,’ received high scores on IMDb.