Fans of fantasy drama Game of Thrones can expect the best season finale ever next week, with showrunners promising the “finest hour” of the series so far.

David Benioff and Dan Weiss are sure that “The Children” will surpass viewers’ high expectations when it airs next Monday as the tenth episode of an acclaimed fourth series.

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“It’s the best finale we’ve ever done, bar none,” the pair said in a statement. “The performances from our cast, the direction from Alex Graves, the VFX work, the new cues from Ramin Djawadi – all of it came together in perhaps the finest hour we’ve produced.”

Benioff and Weiss added that they are so “immensely proud” of the finale that there are concerns no future episode will better it.

“We’re a little intimidated by the episode because now we have to get back to the business of season five and figure out a way to top it,” they continued.

Shape Created with Sketch. Game of Thrones season four in pictures Show all 36 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Game of Thrones season four in pictures 1/36 Game of Thrones Steward serving on The Wall and fan favourite Jon Snow HBO 2/36 Game of Thrones Arya continues on her journey through the North HBO 3/36 Game of Thrones After so long in King's Landing, Sansa sees snow falling at the Eyrie in the Vale, it reminds her of Winterfell HBO 4/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys looks contemplative as she walks down the steps of a pyramid in Meereen HBo 5/36 Game of Thrones Arya and the Hound meet an unwelcome visitor HBO 6/36 Game of Thrones Meera Reed, Bran and Hodor walk through the snow to find the three-eyed crow HBO 7/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys looks at a map as she considers her next move HBO 8/36 Game of Thrones Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne continue on their quest to find Sansa HBO 9/36 Game of Thrones Sam Tarly attempts to rally the men of the Night's Watch HBO 10/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys and Missandei survey the troops HBO 11/36 Game of Thrones The Wildlings get ready to attack HBO 12/36 Game of Thrones Jon Snow trains for battle against the wildings at Castle Black HBO 13/36 Game of Thrones Cersei watches over Tyrion's trial HBO 14/36 Game of Thrones A vulnerable family fall victim to the Hound HBO 15/36 Game of Thrones Mark Gatiss makes an appearance as Tycho Nestoris, an envoy of the Iron Bank of Braavos HBO 16/36 Game of Thrones Sophie Turner as the eldest Stark daughter Sansa HBO 17/36 Game of Thrones Jaime begs his father Tywin for mercy for his brother HBO 18/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys rules in Meereen from on high as she listens to man seeking recompense for his slaughtered cattle and another asking for the burial of his crucified father HBO 19/36 Game of Thrones Tyrion Lannister goes on trial for the murder of Joffrey as the nobles of Westeros watch HBO 20/36 Game of Thrones Maisie Williams as Arya Stark in 'The First of His Name' HBO 21/36 Game of Thrones Emilia Clarke as Danerys, the Mother of Dragons HBO 22/36 Game of Thrones Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon and Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell HBO 23/36 Game of Thrones The 'Purple Wedding' shocked fans this month HBO 24/36 Game of Thrones Daario will be a new arrival in season 4 HBO 25/36 Game of Thrones The Hound strides the fields in heavy armour HBO 26/36 Game of Thrones King Joffrey and his smirk of contempt are back HBO 27/36 Game of Thrones Sansa and Tyrion have a heart-to-heart Channel 4 28/36 Game of Thrones Ygritte and Tormund prepare for battle HBO 29/36 Game of Thrones Tywin wearing the Hand of the King brooch HBO 30/36 Game of Thrones Margaery and Olenna in the courtyard HBO 31/36 Game of Thrones Sam, a steward of the Night's Watch HBO 32/36 Game of Thrones Arya remains under the watch of the The Hound HBO 33/36 Game of Thrones Jaime and Cersai in heated discussions HBO 34/36 Game of Thrones Oberyn with Ellaria, mother of the four youngest Sand Snakes HBO 35/36 Game of Thrones Tyrion and Shae have words HBO 36/36 Game of Thrones Season 4 HBO 1/36 Game of Thrones Steward serving on The Wall and fan favourite Jon Snow HBO 2/36 Game of Thrones Arya continues on her journey through the North HBO 3/36 Game of Thrones After so long in King's Landing, Sansa sees snow falling at the Eyrie in the Vale, it reminds her of Winterfell HBO 4/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys looks contemplative as she walks down the steps of a pyramid in Meereen HBo 5/36 Game of Thrones Arya and the Hound meet an unwelcome visitor HBO 6/36 Game of Thrones Meera Reed, Bran and Hodor walk through the snow to find the three-eyed crow HBO 7/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys looks at a map as she considers her next move HBO 8/36 Game of Thrones Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne continue on their quest to find Sansa HBO 9/36 Game of Thrones Sam Tarly attempts to rally the men of the Night's Watch HBO 10/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys and Missandei survey the troops HBO 11/36 Game of Thrones The Wildlings get ready to attack HBO 12/36 Game of Thrones Jon Snow trains for battle against the wildings at Castle Black HBO 13/36 Game of Thrones Cersei watches over Tyrion's trial HBO 14/36 Game of Thrones A vulnerable family fall victim to the Hound HBO 15/36 Game of Thrones Mark Gatiss makes an appearance as Tycho Nestoris, an envoy of the Iron Bank of Braavos HBO 16/36 Game of Thrones Sophie Turner as the eldest Stark daughter Sansa HBO 17/36 Game of Thrones Jaime begs his father Tywin for mercy for his brother HBO 18/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys rules in Meereen from on high as she listens to man seeking recompense for his slaughtered cattle and another asking for the burial of his crucified father HBO 19/36 Game of Thrones Tyrion Lannister goes on trial for the murder of Joffrey as the nobles of Westeros watch HBO 20/36 Game of Thrones Maisie Williams as Arya Stark in 'The First of His Name' HBO 21/36 Game of Thrones Emilia Clarke as Danerys, the Mother of Dragons HBO 22/36 Game of Thrones Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon and Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell HBO 23/36 Game of Thrones The 'Purple Wedding' shocked fans this month HBO 24/36 Game of Thrones Daario will be a new arrival in season 4 HBO 25/36 Game of Thrones The Hound strides the fields in heavy armour HBO 26/36 Game of Thrones King Joffrey and his smirk of contempt are back HBO 27/36 Game of Thrones Sansa and Tyrion have a heart-to-heart Channel 4 28/36 Game of Thrones Ygritte and Tormund prepare for battle HBO 29/36 Game of Thrones Tywin wearing the Hand of the King brooch HBO 30/36 Game of Thrones Margaery and Olenna in the courtyard HBO 31/36 Game of Thrones Sam, a steward of the Night's Watch HBO 32/36 Game of Thrones Arya remains under the watch of the The Hound HBO 33/36 Game of Thrones Jaime and Cersai in heated discussions HBO 34/36 Game of Thrones Oberyn with Ellaria, mother of the four youngest Sand Snakes HBO 35/36 Game of Thrones Tyrion and Shae have words HBO 36/36 Game of Thrones Season 4 HBO

This week’s show, “The Watchers on the Wall”, saw Jon Snow show his mettle at the epic battle of Castle Black in season four’s most cinematic instalment.

But much more action can be expected in “The Children”, slightly longer than usual at 66-minutes, which looks set to break from past narrative patterns of quieter finales.

Fans are still waiting for news on the fate of Tyrion Lannister after he was sentenced to death at the end of the eighth episode, while Jon Snow is on a mission to kill Mance Rayder.

Last season’s Game of Thrones finale became the most-pirated TV show of 2013 when 5.9 million individuals illegally downloaded it.

If this year’s hype is anything to go by, “The Children” could be the most popular episode to date.