George R.R. Martin's Favorite Game of Thrones Episode Has a Perfect 100% Rating
The author and the audience see eye to eye on this one.
When HBO's iconic show Game of Thrones premiered in 2011, it quickly became a worldwide sensation and keeps attracting millions of viewers to this day. Even in 2023, four years after the last episode aired, this series is the one most closely associated with the network, having surpassed HBO's previous flagship — Sex and the City — in popularity.
During its eight-season run, Game of Thrones launched its extensive cast into stardom, allowing them to make millions of dollars for their roles. And of course, it earned quite a lot of money for the author of the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, on which the show is based on — George R. R. Martin.
Martin's favorite
Besides writing the original saga, Martin also scripted a total of four Game of Thrones episodes. According to the author, 'Blackwater' is his personal favorite. The penultimate Season 2 episode is one of the series' most memorable, following Stannis Baratheon's assault of King's Landing on sea.
Meanwhile, the beloved characters showcase their best and worst facets. Cersei rules the city and commands the defense as her son King Joffrey is overridden by cowardice. Sansa further explores the world of court intrigues. And Tyrion finds his true worth as he leads the city's defense.
'Blackwater' feels somewhat different compared to other GoT episodes, as it doesn't feature many of the series' characteristic traits. There's no magic, no dragons or White Walkers, but Martin's skillful writing was enough to create an intense and entertaining story, spruced up by the green glow of wildfire.
Fans agree Blackwater is TV masterpiece
The fact that George R. R. Martin names 'Blackwater' as his favorite GoT episode is not surprising, as fans and critics have also recognized the episode's quality, giving it a 100% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes.
'This was a heart-stopping hour of near-perfect television in which various characters in King's Landing found inner strength or had their hidden weaknesses exposed while battle raged around them,' a critic's review on Rotten Tomatoes goes.
So perhaps it's time to rewatch 'Blackwater' and appreciate its greatness once again.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes, Not a Blog.