Alas all good things must come to an end, and so it is with season 6 of Game of Thrones. Coming off the back of what may well have been the weakest season yet (I know season 5 had Hardhome, but a lot of it was very slow) I think the show has delivered one of it’s stronger seasons. To reflect back on it I decided that I would pick my 10 favourite moments from the season for you to enjoy.

10) Tarly family dinner (Episode 6 – Blood of My Blood). Sam and Gilly’s storyline this season might have been a little forgetful, but this scene was fantastic. The way Sam’s father, who we have heard a fair amount about, brought him right back to the character that we knew when we first met him back in season 1, was so believable and tough to watch for a character I’m a big fan off. This was just a great human moment in the show.

9) Jon’s resurrection (Episode 2 – Home). This is a moment that really should have been higher for me. Given the build up that it was given, it’s all people had been talking about between seasons, I actually found it slightly anticlimactic and formulaic. It was still such a big and pivotal moment for the series and finished off the months of speculation about the length of Kit Harrington’s hair, so it has to be included.

8) Ramsey kills Rickon (Episode 9 – Battle of the Bastards). This kind of encompasses Ramsey’s tactics in baiting Jon, he played it absolutely perfecting, manipulating his enemy into the exact position he wanted. To watch such a genius plan put into play gave me some kind of gleeful enjoyment, although someone should have taught Rickon about zig zagging.

7) Jaime takes Riverrun (Episode 8 – No One). This was a very divisive one for many people, but I loved it. It all came down to the scene between Jaime and Edmure Tully in the tent. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is so incredible in this scene, he goes from friendly and understanding to mean and cruel. The dialogue was so perfectly written, and I loved that he was successful in sacking it with only the single death, although we should have been shown the Blackfish’s last stand.

6) Jon’s parentage revealed (Episode 10 – The Winds of Winter). Now I’m not a long time book reader (I only read about one and a half of them) but to those who were this is something that they will have been waiting to be revealed for up to 20 years now. That said it is nice to finally end the speculation that Jon is indeed the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark.

5) Ned v Ser Arthur Dayne (Episode 3 – Oathbreaker). Game of Thrones has given us some very entertaining sword fights, both of Tyrion’s trials or the Hound v Beric Dondarrion, but none of them have been able to compare to this flashback sequence. To see Arthur Dayne dual wielding his swords against 4 or 5 men was spectacular. The choreography in this scene was just fantastic, and equivalent to a beautiful dance.

4) King in the North (Episode 10 – The Winds of Winter). So much of Game of Thrones’ emotional moments make you sad or devastated by what has happened, but here is one that really lifted you up. From Lyanna Mormont’s epic speech calling out the houses for their failure to support the Stark’s, to the whole hall chanting “the King in the North” this felt good. And don’t forget that moment between Sansa and Baelish that said so much in just a look.

3) The Battle (Episode 9 – Battle of the Bastards). It may have been predictable, but the scale and brilliant direction of it made it one of the greatest battles ever seen, and not just on TV either, this matches most battle sequence in film. It really captured the chaos and brutality of battles like this. The scene where Jon was getting buried under the bodies gave you such a claustrophobic feeling as viewer you can do nothing but praise the incredible direction, of that moment and the entire sequence.

2) Hodor’s Death (Episode 5 – The Door). This was probably the most emotional moment in the history of Game of Thrones. After it occurred I walked into my housemate’s room with tears streaming down my face. It delivered on scale, emotional impact, and it also gave us some resolution on Hodor’s story. And that has been one of the best things about this season of Game of Thrones, resolution as we move towards the ending. This was one of the most brilliantly directed moments in the history of the series, only beaten by…

1) Cersei and the wildfire (Episode 10 – The Winds of Winter). The entire opening of the season finale was absolutely incredible. So atmospheric and beautifully directed, all being set to that wonderful piece of music (it’s called Light of the Seven and you’re welcome). And then to crown it with that moment of retribution for Cersei and the audience as the High Sparrow, his followers, and the nobles who had mistreated Cersei, were vaporised in the wildfire explosion (which looked spectacular).

So those were my favourite moments of season 6 of Game of Thrones, I’d love to hear from you guys about what your favourite parts of the season were, and why.