Rank 5: Blackwater
- Season: 2
- Episode: 9
- Rating: 9.7/10
The Battle of Blackwater is the first major battle we see in Game of Thrones. For that reason alone, Season 2 Episode 9 is a true milestone for the series. Additionally, it is one of the few episodes that takes place in a single location. The combat is truly intense:
Stannis Baratheon, the older brother of Robert Baratheon, seeks to claim the Iron Throne for himself. From Dragonstone, he leads his army on ships towards King’s Landing to besiege it.
Thanks to a ploy by Tyrion, the defenders manage to set several of Stannis’s ships ablaze with green wildfire. But the battle is not yet won. Faced with the raging flames, Sandor Clegane flees. Joffrey also shows little courage. So Tyrion must take matters into his own hands and rally the remaining troops. With the help of reinforcements from Tywin and the Tyrell army, the battle is ultimately won.
Fun Fact: At the beginning of Season 2’s production, it was planned not to show the Battle of Blackwater directly due to insufficient budget. However, since the showrunners were eager to depict the battle, they cut costs in other episodes wherever they could – fortunately with success.
