Spoilers ahead — don’t read if you haven’t seen the season-four finale of Game of Thrones.
In the Game of Thrones season-four finale, Bran and Co. encountered a pack of skeletal wights, and Brienne and the Hound beat the hell out of each other in one of the most violent fights we’ve yet seen on this gleefully violent show. Over the years, there have been many one-on-one (and two-on-one, and even a three-on-one) face-offs. Where did this week’s fall among the show’s most notable?
Brienne vs. The Hound (Season 4)
Rocks to the face, rocks to the head.
Oberyn vs. the Mountain (Season 4)
Trial by combat by way of Gallagher. (If you don’t get that reference, young ones, Gallagher was a “comedian” who used a giant mallet onstage to crush watermelons.)
The Hound vs. Beric Dondarrion (Season 3)
A flaming sword and a man who comes back from the dead? More like Brotherhood of Bosses.
Daario Naharis vs. the Champion of Mereen (Season 4)
Basically a cross between the beginning of that scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail where Lancelot storms the castle and the moment in Raiders of the Lost Ark when Indy shoots the sword guy. (Horse lovers, beware.)
The Hound vs. the Mountain (Season 1)
Or, brother vs. brother. (Horse lovers, beware.)
Brienne and Jaime vs. the Bear (Season 3)
Bear lovers, rejoice!
Jon Snow vs. Karl (Season 4)
Actor Burn Gorman is so good at being the worst.
Brienne vs. Loras (Season 2)
In which it is revealed that a woman is one of the most potent fighters in all of Westeros.
Brienne vs. These Three Guys (Season 2)
For real.
Bronn vs. Ser Vardis Egen (Season 1)
Tyrion’s first trial by combat. If something works …
Jon Snow vs. Qhorin Halfhand (Season 2)
“We are the watchers on the Wall.”
Jon Snow vs. the Wildlings (Season 3)
Snow’s really the master of sticking his entire sword up through someone.
Ned Stark vs. Jaime Lannister (Season 1)
Just some clean, classic, well-lit sword-fighting.
Jaime Lannister vs. Brienne of Tarth (Season 3)
“You shouldn’t grimace before you lunge. Gives away the game.”
Khal Drogo vs. Mago (Season 1)
You do not call someone a “foreign whore” and get away with it.
Jorah vs. Qotho (Season 1)
You do not push a Khaleesi down on the ground and get away with it.
Syrio Forel vs. the Kingsguard (Season 1)
You ever dance with a Braavosi in the pale daylight?
Arya and the Hound vs. the Lannister men (Season 4)
“You gonna die for some chickens?” “Someone is.”
