Overview of Forum Ratings

[Ran]

Figured I'd share all the past votes for episodes, updated to today, with folks who are interested in a history of polling on the forum:

Season 1

Episode 1: 8.40 (of 269 votes) | ((1*0)+(2*0)+(3*0)+(4*1)+(5*4)+(6*15)+(7*38)+(8*60)+(9*68)+(10*43))/269
Episode 2: 8.19 (of 284 votes) | ((1*0)+(2*0)+(3*0)+(4*2)+(5*3)+(6*18)+(7*40)+(8*104)+(9*86)+(10*31))/284
Episode 3: 7.87 (of 235 votes) | ((1*1)+(2*0)+(3*1)+(4*6)+(5*4)+(6*15)+(7*52)+(8*76)+(9*61)+(10*19))/235
Episode 4: 8.00 (of 291 votes) | ((1*1)+(2*2)+(3*6)+(4*3)+(5*9)+(6*25)+(7*39)+(8*69)+(9*96)+(10*41))/291
Episode 5: 8.65 (of 274 votes) | ((1*0)+(2*2)+(3*4)+(4*3)+(5*1)+(6*6)+(7*25)+(8*50)+(9*105)+(10*78))/274
Episode 6: 8.81 (of 244 votes) | ((1*0)+(2*0)+(3*3)+(4*3)+(5*2)+(6*6)+(7*14)+(8*37)+(9*102)+(10*77))/244
Episode 7: 8.15 (of 241 votes) | ((1*1)+(2*1)+(3*1)+(4*7)+(5*7)+(6*14)+(7*34)+(8*59)+(9*69)+(10*48))/241
Episode 8: 9.03 (of 280 votes) | ((1*0)+(2*0)+(3*0)+(4*1)+(5*4)+(6*5)+(7*15)+(8*48)+(9*84)+(10*123))/280
Episode 9: 8.84 (of 383 votes) | ((1*2)+(2*4)+(3*2)+(4*4)+(5*11)+(6*13)+(7*20)+(8*47)+(9*96)+(10*184))/383
Episode 10: 9.09 (of 401 votes)| ((1*1)+(2*0)+(3*2)+(4*2)+(5*2)+(6*6)+(7*13)+(8*52)+(9*141)+(10*181))/401
Average to date : 8.50 (8.4+8.19+7.87+8.00+8.65+8.81+8.15+9.03+8.84+9.09)/10

Season 2

Episode 1: 7.58 (of 573 votes) | ((1*2)+(2*0)+(3*8)+(4*7)+(5*30)+(6*43)+(7*147)+(8*198)+(9*92)+(10*44))/573
Episode 2: 7.07 (of 398 votes) | ((1*7)+(2*5)+(3*10)+(4*12)+(5*28)+(6*51)+(7*100)+(8*102)+(9*62)+(10*20))/398
Episode 3: 8.56 (of 438 votes) | ((1*1)+(2*2)+(3*3)+(4*1)+(5*5)+(6*17)+(7*34)+(8*104)+(9*176)+(10*95))/438
Episode 4: 7.73 (of 427 votes) | ((1*5)+(2*3)+(3*10)+(4*8)+(5*19)+(6*34)+(7*69)+(8*122)+(9*102)+(10*55))/427
Episode 5: 8.26 (of 415 votes) | ((1*2)+(2*1)+(3*3)+(4*5)+(5*12)+(6*17)+(7*51)+(8*111)+(9*144)+(10*69))/415
Episode 6: 8.11 (of 441 votes) | ((1*2)+(2*7)+(3*9)+(4*11)+(5*17)+(6*21)+(7*43)+(8*85)+(9*141)+(10*103))/441
Episode 7: 7.87 (of 408 votes) | ((1*5)+(2*8)+(3*9)+(4*7)+(5*14)+(6*23)+(7*53)+(8*108)+(9*118)+(10*63))/408
Episode 8: 7.32 (of 399 votes) | ((1*5)+(2*5)+(3*10)+(4*15)+(5*18)+(6*46)+(7*88)+(8*107)+(9*71)+(10*34))/399
Episode 9: 9.5 (of 738 votes) | ((1*2)+(2*1)+(3*5)+(4*3)+(5*2)+(6*8)+(7*15)+(8*28)+(9*126)+(10*546))/738
Episode 10: 7.63 (of 914 votes)| ((1*18)+(2*14)+(3*23)+(4*32)+(5*47)+(6*72)+(7*112)+(8*196)+(9*236)+(10*159))/914
Average to date: 7.96 |(7.58+7.07+8.56+7.73+8.26+8.11+7.87+7.32+9.5+7.63)/10

Season 3

Episode 1: 7.58 (of 782 votes) | ((1*3)+(2*3)+(3*3)+(4*17)+(5*26)+(6*73)+(7*186)+(8*298)+(9*126)+(10*45))/782
Episode 2: 7.61 (of 657 votes) | ((1*6)+(2*8)+(3*9)+(4*15)+(5*20)+(6*54)+(7*153)+(8*194)+(9*143)+(10*59))/661
Episode 3: 8.40 (of 693 votes) | ((1*5)+(2*1)+(3*4)+(4*6)+(5*17)+(6*11)+(7*72)+(8*182)+(9*282)+(10*113))/693
Episode 4: 9.23 (of 842 votes) | ((1*0)+(2*1)+(3*0)+(4*2)+(5*2)+(6*12)+(7*28)+(8*105)+(9*275)+(10*417))/842
Episode 5: 8.81 (of 684 votes) | ((1*2)+(2*0)+(3*2)+(4*2)+(5*8)+(6*14)+(7*36)+(8*139)+(9*288)+(10*193))/684
Episode 6: 7.31 (of 746 votes) | ((1*7)+(2*11)+(3*9)+(4*22)+(5*42)+(6*87)+(7*183)+(8*225)+(9*103)+(10*57))/746
Episode 7: 7.14 (of 749 votes) | ((1*15)+(2*12)+(3*14)+(4*19)+(5*54)+(6*91)+(7*171)+(8*226)+(9*102)+(10*45))/749
Episode 8: 8.36 (of 735 votes) | ((1*2)+(2*4)+(3*5)+(4*6)+(5*9)+(6*26)+(7*80)+(8*206)+(9*286)+(10*111))/735
Episode 9: 9.24 (of 1270 votes)| ((1*10)+(2*2)+(3*4)+(4*9)+(5*10)+(6*15)+(7*26)+(8*138)+(9*295)+(10*759))/1270
Episode 10: 7.38 (of 1097 votes) | ((1*28)+(2*15)+(3*30)+(4*34)+(5*69)+(6*88)+(7*201)+(8*287)+(9*217)+(10*128))/1097
Average to date: 8.11 | (7.58+7.61+8.4+9.23+8.81+7.31+7.14+8.36+9.24+7.38)/10

Season 4

Episode 1: 8.18 (of 661 votes) ((1*3)+(2*1)+(3*2)+(4*10)+(5*12)+(6*23)+(7*99)+(8*228)+(9*189)+(10*94))/661
Episode 2: 8.41 (of 595 votes) ((1*6)+(2*1)+(3*3)+(4*15)+(5*15)+(6*33)+(7*66)+(8*153)+(9*181)+(10*134))/595
Episode 3: 6.98 (of 597 votes) ((1*13)+(2*10)+(3*14)+(4*28)+(5*55)+(6*72)+(7*137)+(8*141)+(9*83)+(10*44))/597
Episode 4: 7.78 (of 633 votes) ((1*16)+(2*9)+(3*18)+(4*20)+(5*23)+(6*38)+(7*72)+(8*118)+(9*203)+(10*114))/633
Episode 5: 7.40 (of 509 votes) ((1*3)+(2*6)+(3*6)+(4*8)+(5*34)+(6*65)+(7*119)+(8*138)+(9*95)+(10*35))/509
Average to date (mid-season): 7.75

Midpoint average: 7.75

Series average to date (35 episodes): 8.13 (8.4+8.19+7.87+8.00+8.65+8.81+8.15+9.03+8.84+9.09+7.58+7.07+8.56+7.73+8.26+8.11+7.87+7.32+9.5+7.63+7.58+7.61+8.4+9.23+8.81+7.31+7.14+8.36+9.24+7.38+8.18+8.41+6.98+7.78+7.40)/35

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A couple of points:

S4's first 5 episodes are the lowest rated first half a season to date -- yes, even season 2 comes out better. Similarly, S4 is the first season to score 3 sub-8.0 episodes in a row.

Of course, this is all thrown off by the dooziy of a mistake they made with the sept scene, an outrage that certainly had a spill-over effect on to episode 4 when the episode didn't really touch on it. Had the sept scene gone differently, I expect the show would be on track to match season 1.

[Frey Pies]

Wow, you people are way too harsh on Season 4- it's been the best so far. How's Breaker of Chains below The Night Lands, The Bear and the Maiden Fair? I'm surprised to see The Ghost of Harrenhal has such a high rating- everyone I've talked to outside this forum considers it one of the most average episodes the show has done.

Thanks for the post :)

So, the top 10 episodes according to the forum are:

1. Blackwater

2. The Rains of Castamere

3. And Now His Watch Is Ended

4. Fire and Blood

5. The Pointy End

6. Baelor

7. Kissed By Fire

7. The Golden Crown

9. The Wolf and the Lion

10. What is Dead May Never Die

Edited May 7, 2014 by Frey Pies

[Fez]

Season 1 is the highest rated?

I am definitely way out of step with the majority on this site. I understand that it was most faithful adaption, but in nearly every other sense it is significantly weaker than everything that came after it. Less crisp writing, too many actors not fully settled into their roles yet, less impressive set designs and visual effects, etc.

The only other thing it really had in its favor was a more focused narrative, as so many characters were either in the same places or not introduced yet.

[Cyril]

I am definitely way out of step with the majority on this site.

Pretty much this.

[Stannis Eats No Peaches]

Weird. I actually think that season 4 has been the strongest so far.

[ground_control]

S4's first 5 episodes are the lowest rated first half a season to date -- yes, even season 2 comes out better. Similarly, S4 is the first season to score 3 sub-8.0 episodes in a row.

Of course, this is all thrown off by the dooziy of a mistake they made with the sept scene, an outrage that certainly had a spill-over effect on to episode 4 when the episode didn't really touch on it. Had the sept scene gone differently, I expect the show would be on track to match season 1.

I'd have to disagree -- the Sept scene was Episode 3, and deservedly weighed it down, but I think any effect it had on episodes 4 and 5 was minimal compared to the strong opinions many have about the North scenes. Since many people give the show high ratings by default, a strong negative opinion is more noticeable than a strong negative opinion. I think that those three episodes all earned their < 8 ratings on their own merits.

Again, it would be interesting to see polls set up to allow per-scene ratings as well. :)

[averde]

Season 4 just isn't a great season, its a lull in the storm, but the books themselves are the same way. The material in the books after the purple wedding was just meh and all a build up for Winds atleast to me it felt like that. The shows trying to throw in things like Crasters with Bran and Asha attacking the Dreadfort to spice it up and keep it interesting because the book material itself at this point in the story isn't all that interesting and good for TV material.

[Frey Pies]

I'd have to disagree -- the Sept scene was Episode 3, and deservedly weighed it down, but I think any effect it had on episodes 4 and 5 was minimal compared to the strong opinions many have about the North scenes. Since many people give the show high ratings by default, a strong negative opinion is more noticeable than a strong negative opinion. I think that those three episodes all earned their < 8 ratings on their own merits.

Again, it would be interesting to see polls set up to allow per-scene ratings as well. :)

No, the episodes themselves were extremely solid. Many just rated them down on this site due to them diverging from the books, saying things like "Craster's was useless", when it was far better than anything happening in the book at the time. If you go on other sites, you'll see that they were actually very well liked.

[ground_control]

No, the episodes themselves were extremely solid. Many just rated them down on this site due to them diverging from the books, saying things like "Craster's was useless", when it was far better than anything happening in the book at the time. If you go on other sites, you'll see that they were actually very well liked.

I don't think you get what I was saying. I really the like GOT, if I didn't I wouldn't bother watching it or posting about. So, what I consider to be an "ok" episode of GOT is about a 7.5. That means if I think an episode of GOT is truly "one of the best" and I give it a 10, that's only 2.5 points higher than I'd give an average episode. Now, if I really hate an episode, I can give it a '1', which is 6.5 points below my 'average'.

Now, assume that I am not unique, and am, in fact, typical. That means that, on average, any one person hating the episode outweighs 2-3 people loving the episode, which is what my point was.

For a frame of reference, I rated the first 5 episodes as follows: 8,8,7,1,3

Without the North Scenes, my ratings would have been 8,8,7,7,7 (The Sept and Mereen scenes dragging down episodes 3-5).

My objections to the North Scenes are not because they are not book content, but because I think they were horribly written and shot. The fact that they were lumped into a 20-minute and 15-minute block in two consecutive episodes only made it worse -- had the scenes been distributed throughout more episodes, with even just a little better setup, I would have hardly rated every episode with parts of them in it in the 1-3 range, they probably would have brought them down to the 7 (maybe 6) range.

And, it's for things like that, that I think it would be interesting to rate *scenes* as well as the episodes.

[scolbert08]

Interesting to compare these numbers against IMDb's ratings. In general, IMDb has a much lower variance than the forum does. Furthermore, on IMDb, Season 4 has by far the highest average rating, followed by S1, S3, and S2. Here the order is S1, S3, S2, S4.

The top five episodes liked more by this forum relative to IMDb:

1. S1E8: The Pointy End (+0.03 Forum)

2. S3E5: Kissed by Fire (+0.09 IMDb)

3. S2E9: Blackwater (+0.20 IMDb)

4. S3E4: And Now His Watch Is Ended (+0.27 IMDb)

5. S1E6: A Golden Crown (+0.29 IMDb)

The top five episodes liked more by IMDb relative to the forum:

1. S4E3: Breaker of Chains (+1.92 IMDb)

2. S2E10: Valar Morghulis (+1.77)

3. S3E10: Mhysa (+1.72)

4. S2E8: The Prince of Winterfell (+1.48)

5. S3E7: The Bear and the Maiden Fair (+1.46)

[Matoro]

Can someone explain me why is The Bear and the Maiden Fair considered to be so bad? I find it quite average episode.

[Mr Fixit]

Weird. I actually think that season 4 has been the strongest so far.

I wouldn't say that exactly, but I think it's been very good. I maintain that low figures given for the last three episodes can be explained by 2 simple things: sept scene for 4x03 and Craster's for 4x04 and 4x05.

Book readers hate hate hate invented material with a passion. Ah well, what can you do?

Edited May 8, 2014 by Mr Fixit

[Ran]

People can strongly dislike the Craster's material for the stupid logic and the fact that it's a closed circle that literally just filled time.

Others have suggested things they could have done alternatively -- even things to make Jon's trip up there make sense, and then to generate something more for him-- and I suspect they would have been happier with it (I certainly would have been). Hell, some people were probably as annoyed by the fact that Locke -- an invented character taking part in a new storyline! -- was killed off in a way that they felt undercut the potential there was to that new storyline. Amazing! People who "hate hate hate invented material with a passion" who disliked the writers waste the potentials in "invented material"!

You're not going to find anyone who feels apologetic for not liking when writers contort logic to make a story line work, or then fritter away anything worthwhile from it to reduce it to a (fairly unexciting) action beat. If you want to reduce that to "not liking new story lines", feel free, but I think those who rate it as they did know why, precisely, they did so.

Edited May 8, 2014 by Ran

[Konradsmith]

If there are such glaring flaws with the invented Craster's material then how come critics and unsullied haven't noticed them? Surely something that didn't make sense, wouldn't make sense to them either. And yet it's only particular people who've read the books who think that the added material is somehow implausible. That's why Mr Fixit has made the point he has. If the scenes were actually outrageous wouldn't they have inspired a little more outrage. Instead "First of His Name" has 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Mind you, that is way too generous of RT, but they try to establish consensus just like Ran's OP here.

Edited May 8, 2014 by Konradsmith

[Mr Fixit]

People can strongly dislike the Craster's material for the stupid logic and the fact that it's a closed circle that literally just filled time.

Others have suggested things they could have done alternatively -- even things to make Jon's trip up there make sense, and then to generate something more for him-- and I suspect they would have been happier with it (I certainly would have been). Hell, some people were probably as annoyed by the fact that Locke -- an invented character taking part in a new storyline! -- was killed off in a way that they felt undercut the potential there was to that new storyline. Amazing! People who "hate hate hate invented material with a passion" who disliked the writers waste the potentials in "invented material"!

You're not going to find anyone who feels apologetic for not liking when writers contort logic to make a story line work, or then fritter away anything worthwhile from it to reduce it to a (fairly unexciting) action beat. If you want to reduce that to "not liking new story lines", feel free, but I think those who rate it as they did know why, precisely, they did so.

Notice that I didn't make any value judgement as to the quality of the invented material. I can perfectly understand that people think it was bad stuff. As for 4x03, neither the Seven nor the Old Gods (and the Drowned God too!) will convince me that Breaker of Chains was the worst episode ever aired.

Edited May 8, 2014 by Mr Fixit

[Konradsmith]

^Of course it isn't. Once again, it's pretty well-reviewed. There was just a convergence of fan outrage and ideologue outrage over that one scene and that coloured how a lot of folks saw it. Wrongly IMO.

I don't go by averages though for AFOIAF ep ratings, I go by which number gets the most votes. From that viewpoint, s4 is doing very well. More importantly of course, it's been the best-received first half of a season yet. As much as I love this forum, TV critics are more objective than posters who have a dog in this fight.

Edited May 8, 2014 by Konradsmith

[Mr Fixit]

^Of course it isn't. Once again, it's pretty well-reviewed. There was just a convergence of fan outrage and ideologue outrage over that one scene and that coloured how a lot of folks saw it. Wrongly IMO.

Agreed. Oathkeeper, too, was a really good episode, one of my favourites actually. Cogman was up to the task, us usual. Give that man more episodes! I do agree though that First of His Name was solid, but no more. For me personally, the weakest episode of the five aired so far.

Edited May 8, 2014 by Mr Fixit

[Daske]

People can strongly dislike the Craster's material for the stupid logic and the fact that it's a closed circle that literally just filled time.

It's not just 'filled time' if it is entertaining. It being fun is after all what watching a show is about for those not worried so much about book changes. The general concensus was that it was entertaining even by many who are usually critical of the show, but there was also clear disapproval of diverging this far from the books by some who were not liking it and marking down based on this alone.

[Ran]

Konradsmith,

Most critics I've read called the Craster's storyline "filler" or something of that ilk. They weren't particularly keen on it. Both AV Club reviewers considered it the worst episode of the season so far, Wired's reviewer was sick of the story line almost immediately, etc. I did a quick review of the reviews out there and I can't see anyone who called it the best of the season or anything like.

Critics did respond. They just responded with a shrug about it, because they were either not fully committed to it being filler and so allowed that maybe there'd be a point, or they simply strongly disliked it but they're not going to give the episode a C because of it for whatever reason.

Mr. Fixit,

I agree on Breaker of Chains. That's what I meant in the initial post. They executed something badly which led to a highly negative interpretation of what went on, and that spilled over to Oathkeeper. Had they executed what they had intended in a way that people understood, BoC would be more highly rated and Oathkeeper would be nearer to where "First of His Name" ended, IMO. But the vote is the vote.

Daske,

People also marked it up because of the divergence. You can't cherry pick. This forum has a spectrum of views, which is why it's interesting to see them all gathered in one place, and be able to draw conclusions. But I do maintain that for a number of people (i.e. me), the negative of the episode was the shoddiness of the construction of the storyline. They wasted some real opportunities.

Sometimes I feel like I'm having this conversation:

"Hey, wouldn't it be awesome if one night Jon woke up, and he had dragon wings, and he flew off to Greywater Watch, and he finally met Howland Reed and learned about his past? Wouldn't that be awesome?"

".... No."

"Wait, you have to admit Jon and Howland Reed finally meeting and Jon learning about his pastwould be awesome!"

"Well, yes--"

"Then what the fuck are you complaining about?!"

Edited May 8, 2014 by Ran

[Konradsmith]

Erik Adams, the Unsullied gentleman for the AV Club gave "First of His Name" the full "A" actually.

The Craster's business wasn't filler to the Unsullied who didn't know if Jon or Bran would live or not. I think it was pulled of pretty well and made for a decent mid-season. When you know what's to come, I guess you could say it was buying time but I think it was a helpful addition, particularly for Jon's characterization. He learned some lessons and I think his fighting against Karl will have taught him some useful pointers for when he takes on Styr in episode nine.

Edited May 8, 2014 by Konradsmith