Anyone who is a fan of George R. R. Martin and his novels should regularly check his blog posts. Through his Not A Blog page, the esteemed author shares updates on developing <em>Game of Thrones</em> spin-off projects, charming insights into his personal and professional lives, critiques of films, books, games, and series that interest him, and even introspective analyses of how he crafted some of his best novels. An intriguing moment arose in August 2023 when Martin commented on some TV show episodes he considered perfect.
Inspired by a Vanity Fair article discussing the best episodes of the past 25 years, which included Martin’s “Blackwater,” the novelist expressed gratitude for being featured on the list and highlighted his favorite episodes from other series. With selections ranging from gripping crime thrillers to period piece dramas, Martin’s choices for television perfection serve as excellent recommendations.
6
“The Suitcase” (2010)
‘Mad Men’ – Season 4, Episode 7
There have been few episodes in recent history as celebrated for their individual brilliance as Mad Men’s now iconic Season 4 installment, “The Suitcase.” With the firm pressed by a looming deadline, Don Draper (Jon Hamm) insists on Peggy (Elizabeth Moss) staying late to finalize work on the Samsonite ad, causing her to miss a birthday dinner with her boyfriend. The episode’s focus on Don and Peggy’s relationship rather than a wide range of characters proves to be an inspired choice.
As such, “The Suitcase” is widely regarded as the single best episode of Mad Men, and in the eyes of some, the greatest episode of any series ever. It eliminates ensemble distractions in favor of a two-character emotional confrontation, making it a truly creative episode. Vanity Fair may not have gone quite that far in their coverage of the episode, but their praise was emphatic. George R. R. Martin listed it first when discussing the episodes that resonated with him most from the article.
5
“Pine Barrens” (2001)
‘The Sopranos’ – Season 3, Episode 11
Following New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) as he secretly begins seeing a psychiatrist after suffering panic attacks due to his complex work-life balance, The Sopranos is an enduring and medium-defining masterpiece of razor-sharp tension, explosive violence, engrossing drama, and even bursts of comedy. Season 3’s “Pine Barrens” showcases all these qualities abundantly as it focuses on Christopher (Michael Imperioli) and Paulie’s (Tony Sirico) attempts to kill a Russian gangster while romantic troubles plague Tony’s family.
Certainly, there are episodes of The Sopranos that are more viscerally dramatic or thematically significant and play a more substantial role in the overall story. However, “Pine Barrens” is long regarded among the series’ finest installments because it is simply so much fun. George R. R. Martin echoed this sentiment in his blog, stating “The Sopranos had lots of great episodes, but “Pine Barrens” was special.”
4
“Ozymandias” (2013)
‘Breaking Bad’ – Season 5, Episode 14
Famously standing as the highest-rated episode of any series ever made according to IMDb—and the only episode with over 1000 votes to achieve a perfect score of 10—“Ozymandias” exemplifies the brilliance of Breaking Bad. As the third-last episode of the entire series, it marks the point where all of Walter White’s (Bryan Cranston) grand schemes unravel. The fallout creates chaos, death, and despair that alienates Walter from his family and forces him to flee from law enforcement. Every action he’s taken culminates in a spectacular collapse that turns the desert into a graveyard of consequences.
Directed by Rian Johnson and written by Moira Walley-Beckett, this episode is widely regarded as Breaking Bad’s finest hour—a masterful blend of high drama and suspense that propels the series toward its conclusion. George R. R. Martin appeared to fully agree with Vanity Fair’s decision to include it on their prestigious list, describing “Ozymandias” as “heart-wrenching” in his blog post.
3
“Middle Ground” (2004)
‘The Wire’ – Season 3, Episode 11
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