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I'm a 'Game of Thrones' Fan, and I Always Skip These 8 Episodes on Rewatch
After a disappointing final season, many fans continue to rewatch Game of Thrones to capture the series’ glory days. Since it was once considered one of the greatest TV shows of all time, it makes sense that it still holds value for those looking to remember when the series was at its best. However, there are certain episodes that can be skipped since they either add nothing to the plot or showcase the series when it was at its lowest.
While many episodes in the early seasons of Game of Thrones mostly stand the test of time, the series became progressively more uneven as time went on. Some episodes are tough to get through when rewatching the series because they highlight the truly baffling character choices that became more common as the show continued. The episodes of Game of Thrones that can be left out of any rewatch are the ones that make this massive fantasy world more difficult to invest in.
8
“The Iron Throne”
Season 8, Episode 6
While basically all of Season 8 is difficult, if not impossible, to get through on a rewatch, the finale stands out in the worst possible way. After an uneven season at best, the finale completely destroys the arcs of some of the series’ most beloved characters. The episode follows the aftermath of Daenerys’ (Emilia Clarke) destruction of King’s Landing, and the survivors try to make sense of the new world in which they find themselves.
What makes this episode hard to revisit is the fact that everyone either ends up exactly where they started…
Game of Thrones‘ series finale summarizes everything that went wrong with the show towards the end. What makes this episode hard to revisit is the fact that everyone either ends up exactly where they started, like Jon (Kit Harrington) back in the Night’s Watch, or somewhere that makes absolutely no sense, like Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) being appointed King. Rather than bothering to rewatch this disappointing finale that undid so much of the work of previous seasons, it might be best to imagine Game of Thrones ended at its peak.
7
“The Bells”
Season 8, Episode 5
Game of Thrones‘ penultimate episode could have set up a compelling finale that was the culmination of almost a decade of storytelling. Instead, this episode confirms beyond a shadow of a doubt that these characters were doomed to finish their arcs in arguably the most nonsensical way possible. Daenerys executes Varys (Conleth Hill), which is one of the most anticlimactic character deaths in a series that never hesitated to kill off major characters in service of the larger story.
Daenerys’ actions come across as random, which makes this episode hard to get through when rewatching the series.
Although Daenerys’ descent into cruelty may make sense from a narrative standpoint, this episode highlights just how rushed her story was and how ill-prepared everyone else was to handle it. Daenerys’ actions come across as random, which makes this episode hard to get through when rewatching the series. Rather than rewatching this episode, fans can imagine a longer, more satisfying arc where Daenerys was given the chance to explore the depths of her depravity in a way that brought her character full circle rather than watching her murder people for no reason.
6
“The Last of the Starks”
Season 8, Episode 4
“The Last of the Starks” is a disappointing follow-up to a battle that was supposed to be the pinnacle of the series. While the final battle with the White Walkers may have taken place in almost complete darkness, Daenerys’ troubles are all too easy to see. Rather than helping her people properly mourn their dead, Daenerys immediately begins feuding with Jon over the future. Daenerys also legitimizes Gendry (Joe Dempsie) as a Baratheon, in a misguided attempt to win his loyalty when she takes the Iron Throne.
While the final battle with the White Walkers may have taken place in almost complete darkness, Daenerys’ troubles are all too easy to see.
This episode isn’t worth revisiting because it misses several key opportunities to set these characters up for their final arcs. It also features an unfortunate final appearance by Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel), whose death comes out of nowhere. There’s no time for anyone to consider how important she was as a character, and what this brutal murder means to those who loved her most. Instead of revisiting this episode, fans can imagine Daenerys scheming to win the Iron Throne in a way that makes sense, and in a way that sets the stage for her ultimate downfall.
5
“Dark Wings, Dark Words”
Season 3, Episode 2
The second episode of Game of Thrones‘ third season sees Bran continuing his journey North. Along the way, he meets Jojen (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) and Meera (Ellie Kendrick) Reed, who tell Bran he has mystical powers. In King’s Landing, Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer) does her best to win over the people as she positions herself to be the next queen. Her formidable grandmother, Olenna Tyrell (Diana Rigg), is introduced, and convinces Sansa (Sophie Turner) to tell her and Margaery the truth about Joffrey (Jack Gleeson).
Although Olenna’s scenes are phenomenal, the episode as a whole is sad in light of where all of these characters ultimately ended up.
Particularly in light of knowing where Bran ultimately ends up, this episode can be skipped on a series rewatch. Ultimately, this episode is just another reminder of how far the series fell as it approached the end. Although Olenna’s scenes are phenomenal, the episode as a whole is sad in light of where all of these characters ultimately ended up. It’s particularly infuriating that Bran’s mystical abilities were introduced here, and then were ultimately wasted by the time the series ended.
4
“Unbowed, Unbroken, Unbent”
Season 5, Episode 6
In a series that never shied away from showing sexual violence, “Unbowed, Unbroken, Unbent” crosses a line. The episode follows Sansa as she marries Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon). Ramsay’s henchwoman, Myranda (Charlotte Hope), tries to intimidate Sansa the night before the wedding. Once they get married, Ramsay takes Sansa back to his room and sexually assaults her while making Theon (Alfie Allen) watch.
In a series that never shied away from showing sexual violence, “Unbowed, Unbroken, Unbent” crosses a line.
“Unbowed, Unbroken, Unbent” can be skipped on a rewatch because it shows a character being assaulted just to show violence for its own sake. Sansa is one of Game of Thrones‘ most important characters, and this episode subjects her to excessive brutality for no discernible reason. There’s no reason to revisit an episode that subjects one of the series’ best characters to gratuitous violence without ever addressing it in a meaningful way.
3
“Breaker of Chains”
Season 4, Episode 3
“Breaker of Chains” follows the aftermath of Joffrey’s death, after he was poisoned at his own wedding. This episode mainly follows the chaos following Joffrey’s demise, and how the Lannisters plan to carry on. Tywin (Charles Dance) advises his grandson Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman) on the qualities of a good king in an effort to prepare him for the reality he’s about to face. Tywin knows better than anyone that Tommen is about to face a trial by fire.
This episode mainly follows the chaos following Joffrey’s demise…
Although “Breaker of Chains” has some iconic moments, including Daenerys bringing freedom to Mereen, these scenes can be watched by themselves rather than revisiting the entire episode. Jamie’s (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) jarring sexual assault of Cersei (Lena Headey) while their son lies in state is such a horrible character choice, and another example of the series crossing a line when it comes to showing gratuitous violence against women.
2
“Beyond the Wall”
Season 7, Episode 6
Game of Thrones‘ penultimate episode of the seventh season sees Jon in a life-threatening situation when he leads a group north of the Wall to capture a wight. The group is ambushed by an army of the undead, and needs to be saved by Daenerys and her dragons. Daenerys ultimately sacrifices her dragon Viserion, who is killed by the Night King (Vladimir Furdik). Jon is almost killed, but is rescued by Benjen Stark (Joseph Mawle), who sacrifices himself.
Viserion’s death, Jon’s near-death experience, and Benjen’s return and sacrifice should have all been significant moments.
This episode marks a turning point in Game of Thrones in that it highlights the potential the series was willing to leave on the table towards the end of the show. Viserion’s death, Jon’s near-death experience, and Benjen’s return and sacrifice should have all been significant moments. However, they are quickly glossed over and aren’t ever meaningfully addressed again. For those who don’t want to return to what could be argued to be the beginning of Game of Thrones‘ decline, this episode can be skipped.
1
“Battle of the Bastards”
Season 6, Episode 9
This episode sees Jon Snow and Ramsay Bolton face off in a massive battle for Winterfell, with Jon’s outnumbered forces almost getting crushed immediately by Ramsay’s traps and other devious tactics. Eventually, the Knights of the Vale, led by Sansa Stark and Petyr Baelish (Aidan Gillen), arrive and turn the Battle of the Bastards in Jon’s favor. Sansa gets a grim kind of justice when Ramsay is fed to his own dogs. Daenerys also defeats the slavers in Mereen and continues to consolidate her own power and establish herself as a hero among ordinary people.
This episode could have featured one of Game of Thrones‘ most iconic battles that involved some of the series’ most beloved characters facing off against some of its worst villains. However, this episode can be skipped because, while Ramsay’s brutal ending is satisfying, he’s little more than a cartoonishly evil villain at this point. This episode falls particularly flat because the tension is gone, and each of these characters’ fates are sealed. While the battle itself is one of the most visually stunning sequences in the series, rewatching it falls flat considering the overall impact it had.