‘Game of Thrones’ Episode That Isn’t From the Books Yet Among List of Best TV Episodes of All Time

Alexandria InghamTue, April 28, 2026 at 1:05 AM UTC

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When it comes to the greatest shows of all time, Game of Thrones is certainly up there. Based on the A Song of Ice and Fire book series by George R.R. Martin, the TV series captured the heart of the novels. However, most people will agree that the quality declined once the show went past the books.

That point came at the end of Game of Thrones Season 5. So, it is surprising to see an episode from Season 6 sit at the top of the “100 Best TV Episodes of All Time” on IMDb. It’s hard to deny that it is a wonderful episode.

‘Game of Thrones’ Season 6 Episode 9 Is the Best

Sitting in second place on the list is Game of Thrones Season 6 Episode 9, titled “Battle of the Bastards.” It’s ahead of other popular episodes, including “The Rains of Castermere” and “Hardhome.” The surprising fact about the episode is that it is based on a potential storyline, as the novel The Winds of Winter hasn’t been completed yet, much to readers’ disappointment.

While that is the surprising fact, the placement of this particular hour of the show won’t be all that unexpected. After all, it is the big episode that sees Jon Snow’s army up against Ramsey Bolton’s, with a chance for the Starks to take Winterfell back.

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The battle itself offers some believable and nerve-wracking moments, including the point where it looks like Jon and his wildlings will be defeated. This moment comes partially from battles in real history, with the Battle of Bosworth coming to mind as the main one. That battle even involved the delay in the final army moving in, helping to turn everything around.

What Makes ‘Battle of the Bastards’ One of the Best Ever Episodes?

There are many reasons viewers find this one of the best ever episodes of Game of Thrones, let alone one of the best ever episodes of TV as a whole. One of those is the way Jon’s story is fully told, focusing on some of his concerns about not wanting to live anymore. He has a moment where he gives up, and then we get that iconic moment of him reaching up through the sea of bodies to take a breath.

While there are flaws within the story, there are also exciting moments that fans had waited a few years for. The biggest one was the Starks taking back Winterfell, as Sansa got her revenge against Ramsey for all his abuse.

Book fans are still waiting to see how Ramsey Bolton is handled, considering there are some major changes to the woman who is his bride in the books. It remains to be seen just how long we’ll end up waiting.

This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the TV section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”