The numbers don’t lie. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 5, “In the Name of the Mother,” has officially joined one of Game of Thrones’ most exclusive clubs: the 9.8 rating tier on IMDB. The episode, which aired earlier this year and showed Dunk (Peter Claffey) facing off against Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett) in the Trial of the Seven, now sits alongside Hardhome, the Season 5 episode that fans consider one of the franchise’s finest hours. It’s a remarkable achievement for a prequel series that many questioned could even reach the heights of its predecessor.
Quick read:
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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 5 scored 9.8/10 on IMDB with over 20,000 votes
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Episode matches the exact rating of Game of Thrones’ beloved Hardhome episode
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Only three Game of Thrones episodes score higher than 9.8 on the platform
When a New Series Stands With the Classics
IMDB ratings tell a story. With over 20,000 votes already recorded, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 5 isn’t just a one-off high score—it’s a legitimate achievement backed by significant viewer engagement. The 9.8 rating places it in rarified air. For context, Hardhome, the Season 5 episode that featured Jon Snow’s catastrophic encounter with the White Walkers, earned identical acclaim from viewers.
That episode launched itself into Game of Thrones legend status, becoming shorthand for the series at its absolute peak. The fact that AKOTSK’s Trial of the Seven sequence has matched it suggests something powerful is happening with this prequel: audiences aren’t just watching it because they love Game of Thrones—they’re celebrating it on its own merits.
Image: HBO
The Game of Thrones Episodes Still Standing Taller
Interestingly, Hardhome isn’t actually the highest-rated Game of Thrones episode on IMDB. While the 9.8 rating holds tremendous weight, three episodes managed to climb even higher. “The Rains of Castamere” (Season 3, Episode 9), the episode featuring the shocking Red Wedding, scored 9.9/10. “Battle of the Bastards” (Season 6, Episode 9), with its spectacular Winterfell battle sequence, also sits at 9.9/10.
And “The Winds of Winter” (Season 6, Episode 10), the explosive season finale featuring Cersei’s wildfire destruction of the Sept, similarly achieved 9.9/10. These three episodes represent the absolute ceiling of what Game of Thrones achieved in the eyes of IMDB voters. That A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 5 arrives just one-tenth of a point behind them is nothing short of extraordinary for a series still in its first season.
