In 2011, pop culture phenomenon Game Of Thrones debut to insanely positive reception from both critics and audiences. With brilliant writing, shocking events, beautiful visuals and characters matched only by the performers portraying them, it was an instant hit. When its second season debuted it did not halt the cultural momentum nor did the quality dip.
The season saw the continuing reign of the loathsome Lannisters, the Starks seeking retribution and many other interesting stories and character arcs. It was well-received critically as shown by sites with acclaim such as IMDb, so here are all of Game Of Thrones’ season two episodes ranked, according to IMDb.
EPISODE 2 - THE NIGHT LANDS - 8.5
The second episode of the season follows Tyrion in his quest to take over the Small Council, Arya and her befriending and confiding in Gendry, Ser Davos as he enlists pirates to join Stannis’ naval attack on King’s Landing and Theon Greyjoy’s return to his father in the Iron Islands.
An 8.5 was the lowest the series had received to this point but an 8.5 is nothing to laugh at. From 23,021 reviewers, 42.2% gave the episode a 10.0 with 42.5% giving it either a 9.0 or an 8.0. 2.9% gave the episode an undeserved 1.0 with the other 12.4% opting for between 2.0 and 7.0. The episode is a little slower, similar to episode two in the season previous, but the developing story and fantastic acting carry the episode to be a great one.
EPISODE 4 - GARDEN OF BONES - 8.8
Two episodes on see’s Tyrion ending Joffrey’s abuse of Sansa, Baelish visits Renly Baratheon offering to protect the Stark daughters in exchange for Jaime Lannister, Catelyn tries to unite Renly and Stannis and Ser Davos takes Milesandre to give birth, but not to any sort of child, rather to a piece of dark magic all the while Arya, Hot Pie, and Gendry are all imprisoned at Harrenhal.
The film gained an 8.8 with 21,990 reviews, with 45.4% giving it a 10.0 and 43.2% giving it either a 9.0 or an 8.0, and only 2.9% giving it a 1.0, the other % of reviewers giving it between a 2.0 and 7.0. The episode holds some great plot development, not to mention some shocking and perhaps even disturbing parts in it, the performances and writing as always - to this point - are amazing also.
EPISODE 5 - GHOST OF HARRENHAL - 8.8
In the episode following, just as Catelyn convinces Renly to join forces with Robb, the dark magic produced by Milesandre intervenes, also going on is Arya making a deal with Jaqen H’ghar, Daenerys is offered riches and the Iron Throne in exchange for marriage, and Tyrion investigates Joffrey and Cersei’s secret weapon.
The halfway point in the season earned its 8.8 from 22,168 reviews with 46.3% of those reviewers giving the episode a 10.0 and a contrasting 2.8% giving it a 1.0, 42.7% also gave it between 9.0 and 8.0, the other 8.2% gave the episode between 2.0 and 7.0. The episode builds a lot of momentum for the second half of the season as well as good character dynamics throughout.
EPISODE 8 - THE PRINCE OF WINTERFELL - 8.8
Nearing the end of the season, Stannis is fast approaching King’s landing and so Tyrion is deep in preparation for his arrival, meanwhile, Catelyn has been placed under arrest for her release of Jaime and similarly, Jon and Qhorin are taken as prisoners by the Wildlings. Contrasting from that, the already imprisoned Arya, Hot Pie, and Gendry plan their escape from Harrenhal.
From the 22,301 reviews, 46.9% gave the episode a 10.0, 41.8% deeming it a 9.0 or 8.0, with a small 2.8% giving it a 1.0, the others giving it between 2.0 and 7.0. Again, the episode is interesting, both in its storylines and its characters, it is another great episode with nothing new to say about it other than it earns its praise.
EPISODE 3 - WHAT IS DEAD MAY NEVER DIE - 8.8
The third episode of the season sees Tyrion attempt to snuff out the spy within the council while trying to protect Shae from Tyrion’s enemies so she is made Sansa’s handmaiden, Bran is starting to believe his dreams to be visions, Catelyn approaches Renly about an alliance with Robb, and Balon Greyjoy decides to attack the north and places Theon in charge of a ship, and his sister thirty.
With 22,736 reviews, the episode gained another 8.8 in the series with 46.4% of reviewers giving it a 10.0, 42.5% a 9.0 or an 8.0 while on the opposite end 2.9% scored it at 1.0 with the small number of other reviews giving it between 2.0 and 7.0. The episode is directed and written brilliantly as alliances develop and stakes grow, alongside the usual range of emotions.
EPISODE 1 - THE NORTH REMEMBERS - 8.8
The season opener was another great one, Tyrion arrives back at King’s Landing to become the King’s Hand, replacing his father, alongside this Stannis Baratheon plots to take the Iron Throne for himself and Robb Stark plans his next move in the war against King’s Landing and the Lannisters.
With 24,380 reviews the season premiere gained an 8.8 with 45.9% of reviewers scoring it a 10, 43.1% scoring it a 9.0 or an 8.0, and only 2.8% scoring it a 1.0 with the rest going between 2.0 and 7.0. Joffrey’s temperament, Tyrion’s importance and the craving for the Iron Throne are highlighted in this great episode which kicks off the season well and sets the scene for what is to come.
EPISODE 7 - A MAN WITHOUT HONOR - 8.9
Finally moving off of the 8.8s, episode seven shows Sansa beginning menstruation meaning she can bear Joffrey’s child, much to her fear and anxiousness, meanwhile, Ygritte escapes Jon again and leads him to a trap, Daenerys is informed her dragons have been stolen and Theon presents two charred corpses he claims to be of Brandon and Rickon.
The first on this list to move past 8.8, it got there via 22,568 reviewers 48.9% gave it a 10.0 with 40.8% opting for 8.0 or 9.0 and 2.9% giving it a 1.0 with the small remaining group voting it between 2.0 and 7.0. While there are not as many huge spectacle scenes, the dynamic between characters shine and the performances are fantastic.
EPISODE 6 - THE OLD GODS AND THE NEW - 9.1
Episode six was an eventful one just after the halfway point, Theon takes Winterfell but a wildling helps Brandon and Rickon escape, Jon loses his patrol during his capture of Ygritte, Littlefinger seeks the alliance of the Tyrell’s, Robb sends men to take back Winterfell, and while Cersei and Jaime’s daughter is sent to Dorne for protection, Joffrey incites a riot at King’s Landing with Sansa almost being sexually assaulted..
The episode earned a great 9.1 from 23,171 reviews, 52.5% of which rated the episode a 10.0, 38.9% gave it a 9.0 or 8.0 with only 2,9% giving it the lowest rating of 1.0. The acting and writing were on top form with the episode being made fantastically given the number of large events happening throughout.
EPISODE 10 - VALAR MORGHULIS - 9.4
In the eventful series finale, Tywin replaces Tyrion as King’s Hand - relieving Bronn and giving Harrenhal to Baelish - while Joffrey casts Sansa aside to marry Margaery, meanwhile, Jon must prove himself loyal to the Wildlings, in a brutal way, Rob betrays a marriage agreement and marries Talisa, Theon is brought to the Bolton forces, Daenerys finds her dragons, and Sam is surrounded by White Walkers who ignore him, heading for the Nights Watch camp.
The episode had 27,572 reviewers on IMDb, 66.5% of which gave it a 10.0, 27% giving it an 8.0 or 9.0 and another 2.8% giving it a 1.o. The finale of season two gained some amazing reviews, with its interesting narrative turns, great writing and performances and overall being a satisfying ending to the season, leaving fans wanting more.
EPISODE 9 - BLACKWATER - 9.7
The penultimate episode, to a consistently great series, shone above the rest, the whole episode revolves around the Battle Of Blackwater as Stannis’ forces reach King’s Landing only for Tyrion to take out the fleet with wildfire, leading to a battle on land and in the castle, saved for the Lannister’s by Tywin and his forces.
The episode had the highest number of reviews in the series with 38,916 reviews, 78.5% of which rated the film a 10.0, 17.4% giving it 8.0 or 9.0, with the other 4.2% rating it between 1.0 and 7.0. The episode is iconic amongst Game Of Thrones fans and pop culture, balances spectacular action and emotional drama brilliantly with fantastic performance and almost flawless writing and production.
