Despite being THE Game of Thrones episode I have to admit it doesn't rank among my favorites. Having been a book-reader I was impressed by this adaptation but not blown-away. It is undeniably shocking and well-made but it really misses the constant sense of dread and long foreshadowing of the undeniable end of a plot that had been building since the first episode. As is, it deserves it's place as a cultural event because I can understanding how unbelievable it would have been going in blind.