As supplementary reading to the Season 6 recap, we count down some of the best moments – from intimate character moments to sweeping spectacle – that make this a standout season in the show’s history.

10. The Resurrection of Jon Snow

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With fan theories running amok on the internet, one of the most closely guarded plot secrets was finally revealed when Melissandre works her magic on Jon’s dead corpse. Her attempts appear to be unsuccessful, but when Ghost looks up expectantly, we brace ourselves and Jon wakes up gasping for air!

9. Stark Reunion

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After so many close calls, this has been a long time coming. As Jon and Sansa embrace, it’s an incredibly touching reunion for the two characters (and the audience alike) who have been through so much.

8. Khaleesi

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As the Khals gather to decide Dany’s fate, all the while verbally taunting her, she watches it all unfold with a badass smirk on her face. In an incredible demonstration of power, she burns them alive and emerges unscathed as the rest of the Dothraki horde watches in awe and bows down to their new Khaleesi.

7. Frey Pie

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Arya, now equipped with a “very particular set of skills”, exacts revenge on Walder Frey by cooking (!) his children and feeding them to him, before calmly slitting his throat.

6. Battle of Mereen

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While Thrones had been teasing the Bastard Bowl throughout the season, the Battle of Mereen turned out to be a surprise treat. In a spectacularly shot battle, Dany and her dragons rain fire and incinerate the masters’ ships.

5. The Light of the Seven

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Ramin Djawadi’s haunting orchestral score shepherds us through the trial at the Sept of Baelor, as Cersei’s plan is finally revealed. Cersei unleashes a fiery vengeance on the High Sparrow, the Faith Militant, her uncle, the Tyrells, and countless others, in a huge wildfire explosion.

4. The King in the North – Part II

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We’ve heard all this before when the Northerners rallied around Robb Stark, the young wolf. This time, after a stirring speech by Lyanna Mormont, the Northern houses declare their banners for Jon Snow, the White Wolf, the King in the North!

3. Hold the Door

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In one of the most tragic and ingenious reveals ever, Hodor holds the door to save Bran and Meera, and gets caught in a horrific time-loop, involving his own heartbreaking death.

2. Tower of Joy (R + L = J)

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One of the most fiercely speculated fan theories of all time finally comes to fruition at the Tower of Joy, in one of Bran’s flashbacks. After an epic sword fight between Ned Stark’s allies and members of Aerys Targaryen’s Kingsguard, led by the legendary Arthur Dayne, Ned finds his sister Lyanna and her newborn baby at the tower. The baby is revealed to be Jon, making him the offspring of Rhaegar Targaryen.

1. Battle of the Bastards

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After an epic battle full of suspense, terror, and redemption, Jon and Sansa mete out an extremely gratifying death for the show’s most loathed character, by punching Ramsay to a bloody pulp, before feeding him to his dogs.

I had called the last bit quite rightly in my fanfic, where I had dished out a similarly painful death for Ramsay.

Honorable Mentions:

Brienne and Tormund (which deserves its own fanfic), Brienne saves Sansa, Tyrion feeds the dragons (I’m here to help, don’t eat the help), the Hound is back, Arya kills the Waif, the origin of White Walkers.

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