15 Years Later, 'Game of Thrones' Greatest Episode Is Still the Best Hour in TV History

Published Oct 19, 2026, 11:27 AM EDT

Kendall Myers is a Senior Author with Collider. As part of the TV and Movies Features team, she writes about some of the most popular releases before, during, and after they premiere. In three years, she has written over 900 articles with topics ranging from classic sitcoms to fantasy epics.

Seven years after its series finale, HBO’s Game of Thrones remains one of television’s most well-known shows and has even inspired an ever-growing franchise. When it comes to naming the flagship series’ best-ever episode, every fan has an opinion, with popular choices including “The Rains of Castamere” and “Battle of the Bastards.” However, Game of Thrones delivered one unforgettable episode before either of those installments.

Though it may not deliver the same awe-inspiring spectacle that Game of Thrones’ later run was known for, this Season 1 installment is fundamental to the series. As the penultimate installment of Season 1, it’s an episode that’s responsible for major story points, but it does more than set up certain conflicts. In many ways, **this episode establishes Game of Thrones itself by setting the expectation that no one in the series is safe.

The biggest event of “Baelor, of course,” is Ned Stark’s (Sean Bean) death, a tragic and brutal twist that dramatically impacts the narrative. Game of Thrones would later become infamous for killing off central characters, but Ned’s beheading helps establish that reputation. In the first season, Ned is the story’s natural hero, with an honor that contrasts the behavior of almost everyone around him. Bean was also one of the more recognizable names in the cast when Game of Thrones premiered, leading to the expectation that Ned would be saved despite the threat to his life. Instead, the leader of House Stark willingly confesses to treason to protect his family and is executed as a result.

Ned’s death is only the first of many twists that prove no character is safe, which became a defining trait of Game of Thrones, but the shocking tragedy is only part of what makes “Baelor” a significant episode that fans still discuss. The series thrived on creating characters people love to hate, and Joffrey’s (Jack Gleeson) unchecked villainy is one of the earliest instances. While he’s insufferable from the beginning, his treatment of Ned hints at the greater chaos he’d be capable of as ruler of the Seven Kingdoms.

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