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My dear Towerites,

How I have missed you. I hope, like me, you have been continuing to enjoy the content here at the Tower and I'd like to express my gratitude at being asked back for this analysis of the ever-popular episode rankings.

A good score of you will be familiar with my previous analysis on the overall rankings, which you can find here. There were thrills, spills, highs, lows and only one bar room fight (won by Bronn, obviously).

And now I, and we, are back to include seven new episodes, from Game of Thrones Season 7, and figure out where they land in the wide world of Westerosi editions.

From the top, let's get it out of the way that these seven episodes are different, no two ways about it. Not only are some longer, but the fewer total episode count means that an entire season's arc is also squashed down into said episodes. The reduced macro obviously has an effect on the micro. We would need a good essay or three to discuss how successful the show was at achieving this, but the residue is there all the same.

We must also recognise where this season stands in the series arc, i.e. it is the second-to-last, the beginning of the end. It could be said that Season 6 is what truly kicks off 'the third act' (if you want to see it that way) and there is a lot of merit to that, but Season 7 is the last 'set-up' season we will have. It is the last to truly build a storyline, to introduce more than a couple of characters; it is the last to have cliffhangers at its conclusion.

Or one would hope.

Season 7 has the insane responsibility of not only dealing with a shorter season but also transferring us into this endgame mindset. What I find interesting is that it does this by going back to the early format of the show. Season 7 essentially returned us to a three-lane highway in terms of our plots. We had Winterfell, we had whatever Daenerys' camp were up to, and we had whatever the Cersei/Lannister lot were up to. It very closely resembles Season 1, back when we had Daenerys in Essos, Ned at King's Landing and Jon at the Wall. Obviously, this is Game of Thrones, and there are multiple characters and plots running throughout, but undoubtedly this is much closer to that earlier shape than recent seasons.

But enough of that talk. We're here for episodes and episodes we shall have. My full analysis of Season 7 follows the list below.

Game of Thrones Episode Rankings (through Season 7)

# Prev Episode Score 21 19 S1-1 Winter Is Coming - King Robert Baratheon visits Winterfell to ask his old friend Eddard Stark to help him rule Westeros. Meanwhile, exiled prince Viserys Targaryen plots to win back the throne. - King Robert Baratheon visits Winterfell to ask his old friend Eddard Stark to help him rule Westeros. Meanwhile, exiled prince Viserys Targaryen plots to win back the throne. 8.50 22 20 S6-4 Book of the Stranger - Tyrion strikes a deal. Jorah and Daario undertake a difficult task. Jaime and Cersei try to improve their situation. - Tyrion strikes a deal. Jorah and Daario undertake a difficult task. Jaime and Cersei try to improve their situation. 8.45 23 21 S4-10 The Children - Circumstances change after an unexpected arrival from north of the Wall. Dany must face harsh realities. Bran learns more about his destiny. Tyrion sees the truth about his situation. - Circumstances change after an unexpected arrival from north of the Wall. Dany must face harsh realities. Bran learns more about his destiny. Tyrion sees the truth about his situation. 8.43 24 23 S1-4 Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things - While a tournament is held in his honor, Ned investigates the death of his predecessor. Tyrion finds himself caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. - While a tournament is held in his honor, Ned investigates the death of his predecessor. Tyrion finds himself caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. 8.42 25 22 S4-7 Mockingbird - Tyrion enlists an unlikely ally. Daario entreats Dany to allow him to do what he does best. Jon's warnings about the Wall's vulnerability fall on deaf ears. Brienne follows a new lead on the road with Pod. - Tyrion enlists an unlikely ally. Daario entreats Dany to allow him to do what he does best. Jon's warnings about the Wall's vulnerability fall on deaf ears. Brienne follows a new lead on the road with Pod. 8.42 26 24 S2-3 What Is Dead May Never Die - Tyrion plans a marriage alliance for Myrcella. Catelyn meets with Renly. Theon must decide his loyalty. - Tyrion plans a marriage alliance for Myrcella. Catelyn meets with Renly. Theon must decide his loyalty. 8.37 27 New S7-3 The Queen's Justice - Daenerys holds court. Cersei returns a gift. Jaime learns from his mistakes. - Daenerys holds court. Cersei returns a gift. Jaime learns from his mistakes. 8.35 28 25 S4-1 Two Swords - Tyrion welcomes a guest to King's Landing. Jon Snow finds himself unwelcome at Castle Black. Dany is pointed to Meereen, the mother of all slave cities. Arya runs into an old friend. - Tyrion welcomes a guest to King's Landing. Jon Snow finds himself unwelcome at Castle Black. Dany is pointed to Meereen, the mother of all slave cities. Arya runs into an old friend. 8.34 29 26 S2-5 The Ghost of Harrenhal - Littlefinger takes advantage of a surprise death, while Catelyn flees. Tyrion hears of Joffrey's secret weapon. A prisoner makes a promise to Arya. - Littlefinger takes advantage of a surprise death, while Catelyn flees. Tyrion hears of Joffrey's secret weapon. A prisoner makes a promise to Arya. 8.34 30 27 S4-9 The Watchers on the Wall - Jon Snow and the Night's Watch face a big challenge. - Jon Snow and the Night's Watch face a big challenge. 8.33 31 New S7-1 Dragonstone - Jon organizes the defense of the North. Cersei tries to even the odds. Daenerys comes home. - Jon organizes the defense of the North. Cersei tries to even the odds. Daenerys comes home. 8.32 32 28 S1-2 The Kingsroad - Ned leaves for King's Landing with his daughters, while Catelyn stays behind in Winterfell. Jon Snow heads north to join the Night's Watch, accompanied by Tyrion Lannister. - Ned leaves for King's Landing with his daughters, while Catelyn stays behind in Winterfell. Jon Snow heads north to join the Night's Watch, accompanied by Tyrion Lannister. 8.29 33 29 S2-6 The Old Gods and the New - Arya has a surprise visitor. Dany vows to take what is hers. Joffrey meets his subjects. Qhorin gives Jon a chance to prove himself. - Arya has a surprise visitor. Dany vows to take what is hers. Joffrey meets his subjects. Qhorin gives Jon a chance to prove himself. 8.26 34 30 S2-7 A Man Without Honor - Jaime meets a relative. Theon hunts. Dany receives an invitation. - Jaime meets a relative. Theon hunts. Dany receives an invitation. 8.25 35 31 S3-10 Mhysa - Tywin is challenged by Joffrey, Bran shares a ghost story, and Daenerys waits to learn if she is a liberator or a conqueror. - Tywin is challenged by Joffrey, Bran shares a ghost story, and Daenerys waits to learn if she is a liberator or a conqueror. 8.23 36 32 S4-2 The Lion and the Rose - Tyrion lends Jaime a hand. Joffrey and Margaery host a breakfast. Stannis loses patience with Davos. Ramsay finds a purpose for his pet. Bran sees where they must go. - Tyrion lends Jaime a hand. Joffrey and Margaery host a breakfast. Stannis loses patience with Davos. Ramsay finds a purpose for his pet. Bran sees where they must go. 8.22 37 33 S3-1 Valar Dohaeris - Jon is brought before the King Beyond the Wall, while the Night's Watch survivors retreat south. Daenerys sails into Slaver's Bay. - Jon is brought before the King Beyond the Wall, while the Night's Watch survivors retreat south. Daenerys sails into Slaver's Bay. 8.21 38 34 S1-3 Lord Snow - Ned and Catelyn arrive separately at King's Landing. Jon Snow impresses Tyrion at the expense of greener recruits. Daenerys finds herself at odds with Viserys. - Ned and Catelyn arrive separately at King's Landing. Jon Snow impresses Tyrion at the expense of greener recruits. Daenerys finds herself at odds with Viserys. 8.19 39 35 S2-4 Garden of Bones - Tyrion and Bronn try to curb Joffrey's cruel behavior. Catelyn attempts to unite Stannis and Renly. - Tyrion and Bronn try to curb Joffrey's cruel behavior. Catelyn attempts to unite Stannis and Renly. 8.19 40 New S7-5 Eastwatch - Daenerys demands that the remaining Lannister soldiers prove their loyalty to her. Jon acts on Bran's warning regarding the White Walkers. Cersei promises to deal with any and all of those who would oppose her efforts. - Daenerys demands that the remaining Lannister soldiers prove their loyalty to her. Jon acts on Bran's warning regarding the White Walkers. Cersei promises to deal with any and all of those who would oppose her efforts. 8.18

# Prev Episode Score 61 54 S5-2 The House of Black and White - Arya arrives in Braavos. Pod and Brienne run into trouble on the road. Cersei fears for her daughter's safety in Dorne as Ellaria Sand seeks revenge for Oberyn's death. Stannis tempts Jon. An advisor tempts Daenerys. - Arya arrives in Braavos. Pod and Brienne run into trouble on the road. Cersei fears for her daughter's safety in Dorne as Ellaria Sand seeks revenge for Oberyn's death. Stannis tempts Jon. An advisor tempts Daenerys. 7.39 62 56 S6-8 No One - While Jaime weighs his options, Cersei answers a request. Tyrion's plans bear fruit. Arya faces a new test. - While Jaime weighs his options, Cersei answers a request. Tyrion's plans bear fruit. Arya faces a new test. 7.30 63 New S7-6 Beyond the Wall - Jon takes charge of a special party that is traveling north to rally additional support against the White Walkers. Arya grows increasingly suspicious regarding Sansa and her motivations in Winterfell. - Jon takes charge of a special party that is traveling north to rally additional support against the White Walkers. Arya grows increasingly suspicious regarding Sansa and her motivations in Winterfell. 7.22 64 57 S5-3 High Sparrow - In King's Landing, Queen Margaery enjoys her new husband. Tyrion and Varys walk the Long Bridge of Volantis. - In King's Landing, Queen Margaery enjoys her new husband. Tyrion and Varys walk the Long Bridge of Volantis. 7.16 65 58 S6-3 Oathbreaker - Daenerys meets her future. Bran meets the past. Tommen confronts the High Sparrow. Arya trains to be No One. Varys finds an answer. Ramsay gets a gift. - Daenerys meets her future. Bran meets the past. Tommen confronts the High Sparrow. Arya trains to be No One. Varys finds an answer. Ramsay gets a gift. 7.06 66 59 S6-7 The Broken Man - The High Sparrow eyes another target. Jaime confronts a hero. Arya makes a plan. The North is reminded. - The High Sparrow eyes another target. Jaime confronts a hero. Arya makes a plan. The North is reminded. 7.00 67 60 S5-6 Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken - Arya trains. Jorah and Tyrion run into slavers. Trystane and Myrcella make plans. Jaime and Bronn reach their destination. The Sand Snakes attack. - Arya trains. Jorah and Tyrion run into slavers. Trystane and Myrcella make plans. Jaime and Bronn reach their destination. The Sand Snakes attack. 6.21

This post may discuss events from the first seven seasons of Game of Thrones. It may also discuss events from the books A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons. If you've watched every aired episode through Season 7 and have read all the books to date, set your scope above to Season Seven (2017). Otherwise, we advise you to avoid reading this post as it may contain spoilers.