‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Joins the Top-Rated ‘Game of Thrones’ Franchise Episodes

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Warning: Includes SPOILERS for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1, Episode 5!

The new Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is receiving excellent reviews and has quickly achieved a remarkable milestone for the series. The ninth episode of the first season, “In the Name of the Mother,” has earned an impressive 9.8/10 rating on IMDb, making it one of the best episodes in the entire Game of Thrones universe and among the highest-rated television episodes ever made.

In terms of Game of Thrones, the top-rated installments are as follows:

  • 9.8 – “Hardhome” – Game of Thrones Season 5, Episode 10
  • 9.8 – “In the Name of the Mother” – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1, Episode 5
  • 9.9 – “The Battle of the Bastards” – Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 9
  • 9.9 – “The Reins of Castamere” – Game of Thrones Season 3, Episode 9
  • 9.9 – “The Winds of Winter” – Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 10

The episode ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ ranks among the top four best in the entire series, sharing that spot with its flashback scenes. This is a higher score than any episode of ‘House of the Dragon’ has achieved, with its highest-rated episode, ‘The Red Dragon and the Gold,’ reaching a 9.4. ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 aims to improve on this, promising numerous battles to address the mixed reactions to its second season. Ultimately, the question remains: is ‘In the Name of the Mother’ truly a standout episode?

“In the Name of the Mother” Deserves Praise — But It’s a Flawed Episode


HBO

As a huge fan of the Game of Thrones universe, I have to say A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a real win. It’s actually getting me excited about this world again! What’s really cool is that, unlike House of the Dragon, this series is based on finished stories – each season adapts a single, complete novella. After the disappointment many felt with how Game of Thrones ended, it’s clear that sticking closely to the source material is what fans want. It feels like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms could be the more dependable, charming little brother to House of the Dragon – the one we root for, even when it reminds us of some of the issues with the original series.

The show is clearly gaining momentum again. The strong reaction to episode 4, “Seven,” proved that. Seeing the trial unfold and the realistic combat—finally showing armor actually working—was really thrilling. I expected some viewers, especially those familiar with the books, might feel differently about the longer flashback, and thought excitement might dip a little after “Seven.” But it seems the captivating story of Dunk and his early experiences, and the satisfaction of seeing him defeat Aerion, were enough to keep everyone engaged.

Let’s be honest, this episode didn’t quite reach the heights of “Hardhome.” However, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. It’s a strong episode with well-developed characters, a unique story, and the high visual quality we’ve come to expect from the show. But compared to the series as a whole, it doesn’t quite earn a top rating. Online scores can be easily influenced by current trends and excitement. For example, the episode where Jon Snow’s group goes after a wight, “Beyond the Wall,” received a high score despite being one of the weaker installments – action and hype often drive those ratings.

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While events like the Trial of Seven, Aerion’s loss, and Baelor’s death are significant, the flashback sequence feels somewhat simple and isn’t fully fleshed out. It reminds me of similar side stories in The Last of Us, which I’m calling “metaphor sequences” – smaller, more direct stories that develop characters by exploring related themes outside the main plot. This sequence takes up a good chunk of the episode, but isn’t the strongest storytelling. Standout moments include Sir Arlan’s surprising Dothraki song and the excellent choice of actor for young Dunk.

The latest episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms received a fantastic 9.8 score, putting it among the very best episodes of the series. However, this enthusiastic response mostly shows how much fans want—and are excited by the possibility of—this show being great again. It’s a truly well-made episode, and it’s wonderful to see the series gaining attention, but the fourth episode remains the strongest of the season so far.

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2026-02-17 02:05