Season 7, Episode 6: "Beyond the Wall"

Although this episode has tons of action, with Jon Snow and his ranging party battling an approaching horde of wights, many fans couldn't abide by the far-fetched nature of the episode's logistical elements. This includes but is not limited to the unbelievable foot race time on Gendry's trek back to the wall to seek help, the deus ex machina rescue by Jon's uncle Benjen, and the fact that another one of Jon's dumb strategic moves [6] gets Daenerys's dragon killed.

Season 3, Episode 7: "The Bear and the Maiden Fair"

If you don't remember this episode . . . or the bear, don't feel bad. The title refers to the song the men of House Bolton sing when they first capture the Kingslayer and Brienne in the season three episode titled "Walk of Punishment." Interestingly, a bear does make an appearance in this episode, but he is merely a MacGuffin meant to fuel the growing kinship between Jaime and Brienne.

During Brienne's captivity at Harrenhal, the Boltons throw her into a bear pit with only a wooden stick to defend herself. Despite their previous disagreements, Jaime comes to her rescue, and we see the inklings of a connection when Brienne uses his real name instead of the Kingslayer slur.

This is also the frustratingly tense episode where Ramsay releases Theon into the arms of two beautiful women only to castrate his captive moments later.

Season 5, Episode 2: "The House of Black and White"

Although this episode lacks staying power due to the copious number of first-time meetups, fans may remember two significant events involving the Starks. First, Jon Snow declines an offer of legitimacy from Stannis Baratheon and returns to Castle Black, where he shares the information with Samwell Tarly, who's sympathetic enough to get his friend elected Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Later, Ayra arrives outside the House of Black and White, aka the temple of the Faceless Men, where she spends several uneventful nights attempting to earn her way inside.

Season 6, Episode 1: "The Red Woman"

Meet Melisandre without her mask — well, without the necklace that masks her true age and appearance. A large portion of this episode concerns itself with the Red Woman losing faith in the Lord of Light. The unfortunate side effect is that many of us lose faith in the show since some of our favorite characters, like Sansa Stark and Theon Greyjoy, receive little airtime despite their escape from Winterfell being a much more compelling storyline. Instead, we suffer through the Red Woman's backstory as penance for the inevitable return of Jon Snow, which takes place in the following episode.

Season 3, Episode 10: "Mhysa"

The episode title means "mother," but the definition misses the mark for audiences thanks to the (unintentional?) white savior imagery of Daenerys floating above the crowd of slaves in Yunkai. Thanks to those colonial undertones, you may not realize this is also the episode where Tywin Lannister reveals his role in the Red Wedding, where Arya makes her first kill in retaliation for the event, and where Jon Snow escapes the vengeful arrow of his wildling love, Ygritte.

Season 2, Episode 5: "The Ghost of Harrenhal"

Stuffed with seven locations, we get dozens of random tidbits that don't come together until several seasons down the line. For example, Melisandre's shadow creature kills Renly Baratheon and leaves Brienne swearing vengeance. Tyrion discovers a stockpile of wildfire in King's Landing. Bran has one of his first prophecies about the destruction of Winterfell. And, most notably, Arya has her second encounter with Jaqen H'ghar, who offers to kill three people as repayment for saving his life.

Season 4, Episode 3: "Breaker of Chains"

This exposition-heavy episode mostly provides the backstory for King Joffrey Baratheon's death and sets up the framework for Tyrion's trial by combat . . . that is, until the show makes a hard left into the land of nonconsent when Jaime Lannister forces himself on Cersei as she grieves over the body of her eldest son.

Meanwhile, Daenerys gives a rousing freedom speech to the slaves outside of Meereen. But in a bold move that feels more patronizing than protective, she orders her men to launch barrels of broken slave collars into the city as symbols of the freedom her reign will bring.

Season 5, Episode 9: "The Dance of the Dragons"

This episode is most notable for the poor decision making of Stannis Baratheon, who allows Melisandre to sacrifice his daughter, Shireen, to gain favor from the Lord of Light in the wake of a devastating supply raid by Ramsay Bolton. The moment is one of the show's most difficult to bear and debases the already tedious Red Woman subplot. On the upside, this is also the episode where Daenerys rides Drogon for the first time as she escapes the fighting pits of Meereen during the Sons of the Harpy attack.

Season 5, Episode 6: "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken"

This episode takes its title from the House Martell motto — "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken" — and uses the strength of those words to juxtapose the fate of two young women. In Braavos, Ayra Stark endures hazing by Jaqen H'ghar at the House of Black and White after a poor attempt to lie about her past. Meanwhile, Sansa's past as the member of a powerful noble house draws the ire of Ramsay Bolton, who rapes her and forces Theon to watch.

Season 8, Episode 5: "The Bells"

Despite gorgeous cinematography and phenomenal acting, this has become the most derided episode in the history of the series [7]. Many blame Daenerys Targaryen's rapid descent into madness and the excessive use of dragon fire. Others cite the show's failure to deliver on the long-awaited showdown between Arya Stark and Cersei Lannister as well as the anticlimactic way the queen and her brother die. Yet, regardless of the opinion, the consensus is that the episode fails to deliver on fan expectations [8].

Our consolation, however, is that we do get one heck of a Cleganebowl [9].