George R.R. Martin shares his favorite Game of Thrones episode. Martin is the author of the ongoing epic saga A Song of Ice and Fire, which was transformed into HBO’s phenomenally popular series that concluded in 2019. The author, who previously worked as a screenwriter on The Twilight Zone, penned several individual Game of Thrones episodes, including “The Pointy End,” “Blackwater,” “The Bear and the Maiden Fair,” and “The Lion and the Rose.”
In response to Vanity Fair‘s listing of “Blackwater” as one of the “25 Perfect TV Episodes From the Last 25 Years,” George R.R. Martin took to his website to make a statement. The author humbly acknowledges that the episode is not perfect, but he states that “Blackwater” is his favorite Game of Thrones episode that he wrote. He also liked “The Lion and the Rose” from Season 4. Read Martin’s complete response below:
“I have never claimed to be perfect… but if the good folks at VANITY FAIR want to say so, who I am to argue? Of course, they are not actually saying I am perfect. They are talking about “Blackwater,” one of the episodes I wrote for GAME OF THRONES. (I scripted four. And yes, “Blackwater” is my own favorite of those, although I thought “The Lion and the Rose” turned out very well too, and I have a soft spot for that one).”
Why Blackwater Is Considered A Perfect Games of Thrones Episode
Game of Thrones season two episode 9, “Blackwater,” which aired on May 27, 2012, is hailed as one of the best episodes ever produced. The episode, which was directed by Neil Marshall, depicts the Battle of Blackwater Bay, in which Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage), the acting Hand of the King, commands the Lannister forces to defend King’s Landing from a naval invasion by Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane), who intends to claim the Iron Throne for himself. The premiere episode not only included thrilling and expertly staged action and character moments, but it also featured several major firsts for Game of Thrones.
The Battle of Blackwater Bay was the first significant battle sequence depicted in the program; later episodes of Game of Thrones would feature epic battles like “Battle of the Bastards.” Before “Blackwater,” conflicts took place off-screen. By deciding to focus on capturing one on-screen, it became the first episode to occur fully in one spot, enabling it to maintain intensity without pauses. Other noteworthy scenes in “Blackwater” include Tyrion deploying wildfire to obliterate the Baratheon fleet in a blinding explosion followed by an uplifting speech delivered to motivate the Lannister troops to victory.
