Game of Thrones type TV Show network HBO Where to watch Close Streaming Options

Game of Thrones rewatch guides are all over the internet from critics and fans suggesting which episodes you should revisit before the final season. But this one is different. Because Bryan Cogman is a GoT co-executive producer and the writer of some of the show’s finest hours (including an episode in the upcoming season 8). He’s also the only GoT writer along with showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss who has been with HBO sensation since season 1, so he knows the world of Westeros and Essos better than just about anybody.

Here is Cogman with his 21 favorite episodes:

Image zoom HBO

WINTER IS COMING & THE KINGSROAD (Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2)

Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss. Directed by Tim Van Patten.

Let’s start the rewatch with a double feature, shall we? Taken together, these two episodes serve as a mega-pilot as so much of Episode 1 is devoted to simply meeting the various characters and understanding the world of the show. Episode 2 really makes you care. I remember watching a rough cut of the opening sequence (in which Jon bids farewell to his family and heads for the Wall) on my laptop in Belfast and thinking: This works! We have a show! Oh, and Ep 2 is the one where Tyrion slaps Joffrey (not for the last time).

Image zoom Helen Sloan/HBO

BAELOR (Season 1, Episode 9)

Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss. Directed by Alan Taylor.

Aw, man. Y’all know how this one ends. Sean Bean’s Ned Stark still looms large over this story — there are very few subsequent episodes in which a character doesn’t mention his name. Alan directed Ned’s tragic execution scene brilliantly, the POV shifting seamlessly between Ned and his two daughters. And this episode also features Peter’s first Emmy Award winning performance… of three!

Image zoom HBO

FIRE AND BLOOD (Season 1, Episode 10)

Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss. Directed by Alan Taylor.

Baby dragons. Need I say more?

Image zoom HBO

WHAT IS DEAD MAY NEVER DIE (Season 2, Episode 3)

Written by Bryan Cogman. Directed by Alik Sakharov.

My favorite “court intrigue” episode. I’m particularly proud of the sequence where Tyrion plays the various council members against each other and roots out a spy. And I love Alik’s homage to Akira Kurosawa with the flapping banners during Theon’s baptism scene. Plus, I got to introduce Brienne!

Image zoom HBO

THE OLD GODS AND THE NEW (Season 2, Episode 6)

Written by Vanessa Taylor. Directed by David Nutter.

This one starts with one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the whole series (Theon’s botched execution of Ser Rodrik). And then you meet the incomparable Rose Leslie as Ygritte. And then you have the King’s Landing riot sequence. And then: “WHERE ARE MY DRAGONS????”

Image zoom HBO

BLACKWATER (Season 2, Episode 9)

Written by George R.R. Martin. Directed by Neil Marshall.

Our first big battle! And it’s awesome. But I love this episode (written by Grand Maester George himself) for its intimacy and the rare opportunity we had to zero in on one location and a smaller group of characters. Boy, we put the crew through hell making this episode. Little did they know… (insert evil laugh here).

Image zoom Helen Sloan/HBO

WALK OF PUNISHMENT (Season 3, Episode 3)

Written and Directed by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss.

This episode is very funny (the Small Council plays musical chairs!), very dark (Jaime’s hand is chopped off!), and very weird (there’s a rock song over the end credits!).

Image zoom HBO

AND NOW HIS WATCH IS ENDED (Season 3, Episode 4)

Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss. Directed by Alex Graves.

This mid-season stunner features the brutal mutiny at Craster’s Keep (RIP Commander Mormont), the emergence of Ramsay Snow as one of our major villains, Varys’s creepy origin story, and Dany’s triumphant march from Astapor with the Unsullied army at her back. One of Emilia’s finest hours.

Image zoom HBO

KISSED BY FIRE (Season 3, Episode 5)

Written by Bryan Cogman. Directed by Alex Graves.

This is my favorite of the episodes I’ve written, partially because the finished product most closely resembles its very first draft. But it’s also one of our best “smaller,” character-focused episodes. I put “smaller” in quotes as we still found room for a big sword fight (Beric vs. The Hound). The episode’s centerpiece is the long, impeccably acted two-hander between Jaime and Brienne – quite possibly the best thing I’ll ever be associated with. Well… it’s a toss-up between that scene and Selyse’s dead babies in the jars (I stand by that idea. Eat it, haters!).

Image zoom Helen Sloan/HBO

THE RAINS OF CASTAMERE (Season 3, Episode 9)

Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss. Directed by David Nutter.

The Red Wedding. This was the episode that changed everything — both for the story and for the life of the show. I’ll never forget the experience of shooting that scene (more or less in sequence) over the course of a week. Michelle Fairley performed her final, gut-wrenching moments with 100 percent commitment during every single rehearsal and every single take — even when the camera wasn’t on her.

Image zoom Helen Sloan/HBO

THE LAWS OF GODS AND MEN (Season 4, Episode 6)

Written by Bryan Cogman. Directed by Alik Sakharov.

The One with Tyrion’s Trial. I’ve been obsessed with courtroom dramas ever since I memorized practically every word and frame of Billy Wilder’s Witness for the Prosecution and I’ll be forever grateful to David & Dan for entrusting me with adapting this powerful segment of George’s book. Much like the Red Wedding, we shot the trial in sequence and it was such a thrill to watch Peter, over the course of a week, carefully modulate his performance before letting it all boil over in his final, blistering monologue.

Image zoom Macall B. Polay/HBO

THE MOUNTAIN AND THE VIPER (Season 4, Episode 8)

Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss. Directed by Alex Graves.

I can’t say enough about Pedro Pascal. His Oberyn Martell is one of most dynamic and memorable characters in our series. This is the one where his head is smashed in by the Mountain and it explodes!

Image zoom Helen Sloan/HBO

THE CHILDREN (Season 4, Episode 10)

Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss. Directed by Alex Graves.

Far too many iconic scenes and sequences to list here, so I’ll just name my personal favorite: Arya meets Brienne / Brienne fights the Hound / Arya leaves the Hound to die. And that’s just one small part of this truly epic installment. We also lose a bunch of major characters this episode. Which reminds me, if you want to see the most awkward talk show host ever check out the special feature on the season 4 Blu-ray where I attempt to channel Andy Cohen and interview all the actors killed off that season. I’m serious. That happened.

Image zoom Helen Sloan/HBO

HARDHOME (Season 5, Episode 8)

Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss. Directed by Miguel Sapochnik.

Remember the White Walkers? They’re BAAAACK. But this episode is equally strong in its first half, with a sensational two-hander between Sansa and Theon (two of my favorite characters to write played by two of my favorite actors in the world) and Dany’s famous “break the wheel” speech.

Image zoom HBO

THE DOOR (Season 6, Episode 5)

Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss. Directed by Jack Bender.

Hold the door. Hold the— (dissolves into sobs)

Image zoom HBO

BATTLE OF THE BASTARDS (Season 6, Episode 9)

Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss. Directed by Miguel Sapochnik.

Kit Harington is a rock star in this episode, which was a (beg pardon) game-changer for our crew and production team. They are the best in the world and I have been spoiled for the rest of my career.

Image zoom HBO

THE WINDS OF WINTER (Season 6, Episode 10)

Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss. Directed by Miguel Sapochnik.

Could this be the definitive episode of GoT? It’s got just about everything: Jon becomes King in the North (and we learn the truth about his parentage), Cersei blows up the Sept of Baelor and takes the Iron Throne, and Dany finally sets sail for Westeros. Boom! Another tour de force from Miguel Sapochnik… and it’s far from his last (insert second evil laugh here).

Image zoom Helen Sloan/HBO

THE QUEEN’S JUSTICE (Season 7, Episode 3)

Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss. Directed by Mark Mylod.

Many of the best scenes in GoT are simply people talking in rooms. This episode has three blockbusters in that vein: Jon and Dany meeting for the first time in the Dragonstone throne room (my favorite of Deb Riley’s many spectacular sets), Cersei exacting brutal revenge on Ellaria in the black cells, and Lady Olenna (all hail, Dame Diana!) informing Jaime it was she who murdered Joffrey all those years ago… just before she succumbs to poison herself.

Image zoom HBO

THE SPOILS OF WAR (Season 7, Episode 4)

Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss. Directed by Matt Shakman.

This is where things get real, y’all. Jaime and his horse face off against Dany and her dragon. And you don’t know who to root for!

Image zoom Macall B. Polay/HBO

THE DRAGON AND THE WOLF (Season 7, Episode 7)

Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss. Directed by Jeremy Podeswa.

Another epic season finale. The Dragonpit sequence (expertly staged by Jeremy Podeswa) features more of our main characters together than ever before as the various warring factions attempt a truce in the face of a White Walker invasion. Sansa, Arya, and Bran unite to make Littlefinger answer for his many crimes. Jon and Dany finally get together – wait, wait, he’s your nephew! Oh, and the Wall is brought down by a zombie dragon.

And now our rewatch is ended. See you in season 8.

Game of Thrones returns April 14.

Get your copy of Entertainment Weekly’s biggest Game of Thrones issue ever: 78 pages of exclusive stories and photos on the past, present, and future of the HBO hit. Buy your choice of 16 different covers, and don’t forget to subscribe for more exclusive interviews and photos, only in EW.

Related content:

Episode Recaps Previous The most memorable shipper moments of 2019 By Samantha Highfill

The 30 most shocking TV moments of 2019 By EW Staff

See photos of the Game of Thrones cast celebrating their last Emmys together By Tyler Aquilina

See the best Game of Thrones moments from Comic-Con 2019 By Nick Romano

Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke's adorable friendship, on and off the Game of Thrones set By Tyler Aquilina

All the times Emilia Clarke and Jason Momoa had a mini-Game of Thrones reunion By Tyler Aquilina

The 10 best couples on Game of Thrones (and 3 dishonorable mentions) By Tyler Aquilina

See all of EW's epic Game of Thrones covers By Jessica Derschowitz

Game of Thrones: 14 never-before-released final season photos By James Hibberd

All the Game of Thrones seasons, ranked By Darren Franich

Look back at the biggest Game of Thrones cameos By Derek Lawrence

Check out HBO's new Game of Thrones season 8 merch By EW Staff

S8 E3 Recap Game of Thrones recap of Winterfell battle: A dark, epic bloodbath By James Hibberd

See Game of Thrones stars with and without their beards By Jillian Sederholm

11 of the best Game of Thrones gifts for diehard fans By Alex Warner

S8 E1 Recap Game of Thrones season 8 premiere recap: Jon finds out By James Hibberd

Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness breaks down the best hair on Game of Thrones By Piya Sinha-Roy

25 of TV's best opening credit sequences By EW Staff

See Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner at Game of Thrones premieres through the years By Lauren Morgan

See all the stars at the Game of Thrones premiere after-party By EW Staff

See all the Game of Thrones stars at the season 8 premiere By James Hibberd

Valar morghulis: 20 Game of Thrones stars look back on their character deaths By Nick Romano

Game of Thrones storyboard artist breaks down the death of Jon Snow By Christian Holub Next