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[The Lamp]

So I'm late to watching this show because I didn't have HBO and I didn't like the early portrayals of the characters in the show compared to what I had read of the first book, but I started binging this month, mostly immune to spoilers, although I had heard the Starks would mostly all die.

Having said that, I was caught completely unprepared for the Red Wedding scene. That episode left me in knots. I haven't been that horrified except 13 Reasons's final episode, and the quality of the scene reminded me of Breaking Bad's final two episodes.

This scene is the epitome of GoT drama for me. Tragic, ironic, fair, and brutal. Does it reach a peak like this again any time soon? I start Season 4 today. No spoilers please. GoT is quickly becoming GOAT for me.

What did you think of this scene? It's left me shaken all day. It was so, so impactful. Is it among the best in television?

 

[A-V-B]

I think there are some episodes as good as the Red Wedding episode, but for different reasons.

 

[88random]

Good for you for staying spoiler free for so long. At least when it comes to wedding.

 

[Yaboosh]

There's an incident later that comes close. But narratively speaking that's kind of the peak of the series.

 

[shnurgleton]

As far as shocking plot developments, no

I honestly hope they kill off all the characters at some point and then conclude the series with an episode where nature retakes Westeros in a Mallick-esque sequence

 

[RangerX]

In terms of political machinations its pretty much downhill ftom there apart from a couple of other events. The show loses much of what made it great.

 

[HStallion]

That's basically the peak in terms of the political end of things and the fall out from it and also in terms of shock and awe. There are some really good episodes that come later but nothing that comes close to the Red Wedding in terms of the raw reaction you get for it.

 

[zewone]

Yes. There are episodes better than Red Wedding.

 

[Afrocious]

maybe it's because I read the first three books before touching the series, but idk I think OP is overhyping it.

 

[OrangeGrayBlue]

I think the most difficult episode to watch is yet to come for you, actually. It's toward the end of season 4. You'll know it when you see it.

 

[Aeriscloud]

The answer to your question is yes. Yes it can be.

 

[HStallion]

maybe it's because I read the first three books before touching the series, but idk I think OP is overhyping it.

I had to put the book down when I got to that part, which was before I saw the TV show version, because of how sudden and intense it all was and what it meant for the world at large and so many other characters.

 

[Einchy]

Season 6 is the best season and has hands down the best episode in Game of Thrones but it's amazing for different reasons.

 

[Afrocious]

I had to put the book down when I got to that part, which was before I saw the TV show version, because of how sudden and intense it all was and what it meant for the world at large and so many other characters.

yeah same.

lol i actually stopped seriously reading the series after the third book.

 

[VaultBoy101]

I read the books years before the show was a thing, and that scene disturbed me probably more than anything I’ve ever read in fiction.

It’s even more brutal in the book —Catelyn basically goes insane and starts clawing her own face off before her throat is cut.

I’m pretty sure I put the book down for a couple of weeks after that.

So good!

 

[FiggyCal]

I think the season 6 finale was probably the best episode of the series.

Spoiler

For different reasons, but there was such a massive buildup of plotpoints across several seasons that happened to payoff in that one episode.

Edit: In hindsight, season 6 was incredible. There were a number of really great tearjerker episodes, including "The Door".

Edit: Sorry, didn't see you weren't done yet.

 

[Einchy]

maybe it's because I read the first three books before touching the series, but idk I think OP is overhyping it.

The Red Wedding made TV history and will be remember as one of the most shocking episodes ever filmed. This episode was massive when it first aired, it was nothing but Red Wedding talk all over social media and it pretty much launched the concept of taping people when they see a big twist in a piece of media, which now happens all the time.

 

[Pagusas]

As a singular event? No. That is basically what the story will forever be known for.

In terms of best episode though? Yes its been topped, several episodes off the top of my head top it, and at least 2 are episodes I'd say far far exceed it.

 

[emag]

Having said that, I was caught completely unprepared for the Red Wedding scene. That episode left me in knots. I haven't been that horrified except 13 Reasons's final episode, and the quality of the scene reminded me of Breaking Bad's final two episodes.

I'd read all the published books at the time, so all I could see in the on-screen depiction of the Red Wedding was the odd staging (where actors would walk across the camera and then back again without any in-character rationale). Season 2's Blackwater and a certain season 6 episode (

Spoiler

Episode 10: The Winds of Winter

) are much more impressive to me.

 

[pretty done]

Yea it gets topped. Season 4 like every episode is incredible and 5/6 have some of the best episodes in the series.

As for the Red Wedding I didn't see it coming but I wasn't shocked either. Robb and Cat made way too many mistakes and it was definitely about time they were punished for them. Cat should have known the minute Robb didn't mary Rosalind that they were all dead. The only way for survival would have been to take the Twins.

 

[Skellig Gra]

Yes it can be topped but its all a matter of taste/opinion. It's an iconic moment in the series that is well executed on screen.

 

[Indelible]

Not my favorite episode but it was definitely the most shocked I have been from the show.

 

[FiggyCal]

In terms of political machinations its pretty much downhill ftom there apart from a couple of other events. The show loses much of what made it great.

I agree with this, but there are other aspects of the show that shine through after they tone down the political intrigue stuff. I think just based off how strong those early seasons are and well-developed the characters were.

 

[Kallor]

No its not topped. The entire series was created so they could make that episode.

 

[pablito]

As far as just episodes of GOT I enjoy, Red Wedding has been topped. That's all I'll say. Stay spoiler free!

 

[Zero315]

As far as shocking plot developments, no

I honestly hope they kill off all the characters at some point and then conclude the series with an episode where nature retakes Westeros in a Mallick-esque sequence

I said it earlier this year, but watch

Spoiler

Theon.....

end up on the Iron Throne when all is said and done through a comedy of errors. Dude just keeps failing upwards.

 

[TheXbox]

Blackwater is still the best episode, but everything is downhill after Rains of Castamere. Even the S3 finale was disappointing.

 

[Gray Matter]

It can be topped.

Season 4 episode 9, my favorite GoT episode.

 

[moltonasty]

It's one of the best moments for sure, but there's plenty of great stuff coming up, so no need to worry. Season 4 is fucking incredible.

 

[Juup]

I think there are some episodes as good as the Red Wedding episode, but for different reasons.

This. They tend to try different kind of approaches to climactic events in the following seasons, which makes sure all high points have an unique feeling to them.

The red wedding may be the most 'classic GoT moment' though, if such a thing exists.

 

[Voidwolf]

There are much better episodes in the series, but thankfully no other episode will ever make you feel as depressed.

 

[Ovid]

I literally sat there stunned as the credits rolled.

Robb was favorite Stark up until that point.

 

[Audioboxer]

There are some episodes of The Wire where people get killed and you're like shieeeeeeeeeeet.

Red Wedding is pretty good though.

 

[Astral Dog]

hmm, yes i feel its topped a few seasons later

 

[Transistor]

The Mountain and the Viper


All I'm sayin'

 

[The Lamonster]

There is an incident that several people have already mentioned that shook me way more than the Red Wedding. Keep watching.

 

[More_Badass]

There are moments as epic and jaw-dropping but for different reasons

 

[juicyb]

As a singular moment it is hard to top, but there are a few instances that have topped it for me, namely in Season 4 and Season 6.

 

[Robdraggoo]

You just finished act 1, from here the show changes. Its different but still great. Great episodes to come. Some i feel outshine rains.

 

[Nameless]

You're still a ways off from the 20+ minute highpoint of the series, and the best episode overall comes later still.

Also Blackwater was a better than The Rains of Castamere.

 

[schwabdizzle]

There are a lot of just as good episodes in seasons to come.

 

[One Eyed Willy]

I want to say the ending of Season 1 was a shock to most, and how it ended lead people to think this show was very unpredictable. Then the Red Wedding happened and mouths were ajar.

Now that you're constantly expecting crazy shit to happen at any time, MORE crazy shit happens that you don't expect. Stay tuned.

 

[Saint Gregory]

I read the books which handled the build up differently and was shocking for entirely different reasons but it's definitely one of the better climaxes in the series.

 

[Gin-Shiio]

Depends on what you watch the show for; personally, it remains the high point of the series for me. Later events are nice to look at, but don't pack the same emotional punch. Not even close.

 

[Chocolate & Vanilla]

S6 Ep5. I was not prepared for that at all.

 

[Madrin]

Nothing on TV has ever genuinely shocked me as much as that scene. So no, nothing else in the show matches the Red Wedding in terms of sheer intensity, but there are lots of great scenes in season 4.

 

[Croash]

There are definitely moments that are astonishing, thrilling, shocking in later seasons.

Exceptional 15-20 minutes scenes that I sometimes rewatch because of how beautiful it all is. A particular episode opening scene, and a highly action packed scene beyond the wall still give me chills simply because of the music.

While I regard many of these to be more exciting than the Red Wedding on a rewatch, I don't quite believe anything has come close to the brutal disconnection of my brain when it happened. As a "first time" scene, experienced with other people who weren't in the know, then it wins because it happens before all the others. There is a before and after the Red Wedding, as it is Game of Thrones's first massacre of multiple key characters, and unexpectedly. No matter how horrible later scenes are, you are more mentally prepared to witness them.

 

[Waylon Drums]

S6 Ep5. I was not prepared for that at all.

I was sick when I was watching that episode so I was extra emotional. It was...rough.

 

[Poor GRIMES]

The show never reaches a similar gut-renching climax, but there are some good moments in S4 & S6.

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

It was so dumb though. Half of the characters in the show are just idiots.