Game Of Thrones Franchise Officially Sets Highest-Rated Episode Since OG Series’ 9-Year-Old Epic Battle

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1, episode 4, “Seven.”A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms achieves a remarkable victory for its parent franchise.

The second official Game of Thrones spinoff from HBO follows the comparatively small-scale story of hedge knight Dunk (Peter Claffey) and his squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). The format allows the story to explore new facets of this world, showing more of the lives of Westeros’ “smallfolk” than ever before, and delve into themes of honor and justice. And the latest episode shows how this is paying off.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1, episode 4, “Seven,” is now the highest-rated episode of the Game of Thrones franchise in nine years, with a 9.7 out of 10 user rating on IMDb. The last installment to reach this mark was Game of Thrones season 7, episode 4, “Spoils of War.” No episode after this point in the flagship achieved a higher rating, nor has any episode from House of the Dragon.

Three episodes of Game of Thrones have a 9.9, one has a 9.8, and six more, in addition to “Spoils of War,” have a 9.7. Despite the decline in Game of Thrones in the later seasons, the seventh outing is still relatively well reviewed. “Spoils of War” depicts Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) decimating the Lannisters’ forces with her dragon Drogon, as well as the Dothraki army, considered to be an iconic sequence.

The thrilling and harrowing turning point of Daenerys using one of her dragons in battle for the first time in Westeros stands out in season 7. On the other hand, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ “Seven” offers an impactful plot that questions the morals of knighthood in Westeros. Dunk, having defended Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford) from cruel Prince Aerion (Finn Bennett), must find six other knights to fight beside him in a trial by combat.

While a few friends he has made along the way eagerly join him, one is bribed by the other side. This leads to Lyonel Baratheon (Danien Ings) knighting Raymun Fossoway (Shaun Thomas) at the last minute — allowing us to hear again the oath to protect the innocent that all knights take — and then Prince Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel) joining Dunk against his own family.

Maekar and Baelor in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

It’s evident why “Seven” has immediately become a standout of the franchise since it aired on February 6, with Dunk’s speech to the crowd calling out the hypocrisy of Westeros’ nobles and the heir to the Iron Throne being the one to take a stand with him (as the famous Game of Thrones’ theme plays). The episode ends before the trial by combat commences, letting this point rest.

With A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ 12 to 15 season plan, there will be many, many more chances for the new spinoff to illustrate its core themes in inevitably iconic moments like this. Meanwhile, House of the Dragon season 3 is expected this summer — the generally acclaimed series could still reveal its best episodes, and possibly overtake the rating for “Seven.”

The final two episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 will be released on HBO and HBO Max on February 15 and 22, 2026.