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Every ‘Game of Thrones’ Season Finale, Ranked

David Miller • Oct 11, 2026 • 11 min read

An enrapturing fantasy epic, Game of Thrones is one of the greatest, most influential, and most heavily discussed television series of all time. Covering all sides of the sprawling and turbulent war that ravages the magical and unforgiving land of Westeros, the hit series was a masterclass in large-scale storytelling, enthralling character development, and near-unbearable dramatic tension. Many of the series' best and most talked about episodes came in the form of its season finales.

An interesting note concerning Game of Thrones' season structure is that major plot threads tended to be resolved in the penultimate episodes of seasons. This saw season finales exploring the aftermath of some of the series' most iconic moments, such as Eddard Stark's (Sean Bean) execution and the Red Wedding, often doing so while reconfiguring the lay of the land going forward. This resulted in spellbinding finales that teased what was to come while still offering plenty of pivotal twists of their own, ensuring each season of Game of Thrones produced awe-inspiring endings with an uncanny knack for getting fans talking.

Game Of Thrones

TV-MA

Nine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for millennia.

Creator

David Benioff, D.B. Weiss

Cast

Peter Dinklage , Lena Headey , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Emilia Clarke , Kit Harington , Sophie Turner , Maisie Williams

Seasons

8

8 "The Iron Throne" (2019)

Season 8, Episode 6

Capping off what had been a controversial and much-maligned final season with the lowest-rated episode in Game of Thrones history, "The Iron Throne" was, sadly, not the grandiose ending many envisioned. It explored both the immediate aftermath and extended consequences of Daenerys Targaryen's (Emilia Clarke) desolation of King's Landing. Demanding total fealty, the character's spiraling arc saw her go from a beacon of hope to dying at the hands of Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) as a feared tyrant, much like her father. The lords and ladies of Westeros then abolished the monarchy and elected Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) as the new king, while Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) declared the North an independent state and became its queen. Jon was exiled beyond the Wall, Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) set out to explore the Sunset Sea, and Bran's small council was established.

In addition to taking some polarizing turns, there was a general feeling among fans that the reduced six-episode run didn't give enough time for the final season's complex narrative arcs to be fully realized. This notion became abundantly clear by the finale, which struggled to conceive solid explanations for Daenerys' violent turn. With strained logic and emotional indifference, the GOT finale ended practically every major character arc in an underwhelming fashion. Having said that, there are plenty who have admiration for Thrones' bittersweet and ambitious ending.

7 "Mother's Mercy" (2015)

Season 5, Episode 10

Beyond the infamous "The Iron Throne," all the Game of Thrones season finales were celebrated accomplishments, with season five's "Mother's Mercy" a strong episode despite its lower ranking. It made the internet explode as people discussed the final sequence in which Jon Snow was killed by fellow members of the Night's Watch. The episode's other major storyline sees Cersei Lannister's (Lena Headey) forced walk of atonement. In Essos, Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) stays behind to govern Meereen as Jorah (Iain Glen) and Daario (Michiel Huisman) go out in search of Daenerys, who has been captured by the Dothraki. In the North, Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) helps Sansa escape Winterfell, while Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) dies by Brienne of Tarth's (Gwendoline Christie) hand following his failed attack on the stronghold.

While it was intensely debated by fans and critics alike, "Mother's Mercy" has become somewhat forgettable compared to other Game of Thrones finales as many of its major twists had little direct impact on the overall story. Fan speculation all but confirmed Jon Snow would be resurrected in season six, weakening the episode's most shocking moment. Similarly, Stannis' demise and Daenerys' capture were dealt with rather quickly. However, the episode still presented an epic and heart-stopping spectacle, which was a highlight of Game of Thrones' fifth season.