Top 3 Game of Thrones episodes written by GGRRM, ranked 

Writer And Screenwriter George R. R. Martin At Press Conference In St. Petersburg - Source: Getty
Writer And Screenwriter George R. R. Martin At Press Conference In St. Petersburg - Source: Getty

Game of Thrones may have had many talented writers, but the few episodes written by George R.R. Martin have a certain weight added to them.

George R.R. Martin in Saint-Petersburg - Source: Getty
George R.R. Martin in Saint-Petersburg - Source: Getty

Martin's writing brought out an unmatched depth in character and theme for the show. While he wrote just four episodes for the show, three of the episodes stand out for their craft and narrative payoff.

Here's a ranked look at his top three episodes.


Top 3 Game of Thrones episodes written byGeorge R.R. Martin

3. The Lion and the Rose

Among the most talked-about Game of Thrones episodes, The Lion and the Rose didn't just shock audiences with a royal death, but it gave them an unforgettable wedding disaster.

The second episode of Season 4 saw Joffrey Baratheon finally get what was coming to him, and Martin handled that scene with striking care. While the poisoning at the Purple Wedding was front and center, it wasn't the only thread Martin carefully pulled at.

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The episode is peppered with face-offs, not with swords, but with words. From Cersei and Brienne's slight tension to Olenna and Tywin's exchanges, Martin uses the wedding celebration to shuffle characters like a deck of cards.

Tyrion's heartbreaking breakup with Shae and the uneasy Bolton family scenes add more layers to the story. What sets this Game of Thrones episode apart is how Martin writes with both cruelty and compassion, capturing joy, discomfort, and tragedy in one setting.


2. The Pointy End

Season 1's eighth episode, The Pointy End, acts like a loaded pause before Game of Thrones dives into chaos. With Ned Stark captured, the Stark family is thrown into turmoil, and Martin uses this episode to show how cracks begin to form across every storyline.

From Sansa's heartbreaking plea to Robb's first steps as a leader, the Stark family's unraveling takes emotional center stage.

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But it isn't all heartbreak. Daenerys stepping up as Khaleesi and saving the enslaved women shows her early strength. Meanwhile, Khal Drogo's injury hints at the unraveling of his power.

Even on the Wall, Jon Snow confronts a supernatural threat and saves Mormont from a wight, hinting at the darkness beyond. Add to that Tyrion's witty bribing of the hill tribes, and you've got a script full of tension, movement, and hints at what's to come.

Martin makes this episode of Game of Thrones feel quiet but crucial, just like a held breath before a loud scream.


1. Blackwater

The ninth episode of Season 2, Blackwater, stands tall as the most impactful Game of Thrones episode written by Martin. What makes this one so remarkable is not just the scale of the battle, but how it manages to keep its human core intact even amid fire and fury.

From Tyrion's desperate courage to Davos' paternal tenderness, the buildup is rich with emotion before the first sword is even raised.

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The episode paints a clear contrast between those rising to the occasion and those crumbling under pressure. Cersei's disturbing lessons to Sansa and Joffrey's cowardice play off each other to heighten the stakes.

This wasn't just a fight for King's Landing, but it was a battle of values, egos, and survival. Martin's skillful balance of brutality and vulnerability makes Blackwater not only the best episode he wrote but also one of the show's finest overall.


George R.R. Martin's episodes of Game of Thrones remind us why the source material became a global sensation. Through emotional weight, sharp dialogue, and world-shaking moments, he crafted scenes that still linger in memory.

Of the episodes he penned, these three rose above, with each of these episodes capturing the very soul of the series in a different way.


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Edited by Ishita Banerjee