April 17, 2026, 6:15 pm | Read time: 10 minutes
If you want to know how well a movie or TV episode is really received, you’ll end up at IMDb sooner or later. The “Internet Movie Database” is one of the world’s largest online databases for movies, series, actors, and directors. Users can find synopses, cast lists, release dates, and most importantly, ratings. Millions of users give scores, making IMDb one of the most important sources for gauging the popularity and reception of films and series.
Fans can rate their favorites on a 10-point scale, and for series, this can be done for individual episodes. What emerges is a list that is constantly updated and changing. Until recently, episode 14 of the fifth season of “Breaking Bad,” titled “Ozymandias,” was the only episode to maintain a perfect 10 out of 10 rating.
Fan Wars Affect Rankings
After an impressive 13 years at the top, “Ozymandias” has now fallen out of the top 50. According to the online magazine “Filmstarts,” this drop is due to the emergence of the sixth episode “In The Name Of The Mother” (in German: Im Namen der Mutter) from “A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms,” the “Game of Thrones” spin-off. This episode also briefly received a perfect 10 out of 10 rating, threatening to dethrone “Ozymandias.”
According to Filmstarts, a kind of “war” has broken out between fan communities, with each side deliberately rating the other’s episodes poorly. “A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms” is reportedly not the first series to be held back by “Breaking Bad” fans. Episodes from series like “Heated Rivalry,” “Star Wars: Andor,” “Succession,” “BoJack Horseman,” “Attack on Titan,” and “Mr. Robot” also briefly held a 10 out of 10 rating. Due to targeted downvoting, other titles now enjoy the top spots. But what is the current status of the list of top episodes of all time?
The 10 Best TV Episodes According to IMDb
All episodes on this list have at least 10,000 ratings, with positions 1 to 10 theoretically all tied for first place, as all titles have a rating of 9.9 stars (as of April 17, 2026). There is likely an internal extended rating that users cannot influence.
Spoiler Alert: Some titles are from later seasons and may contain spoilers.
Rank 10: “Hunter x Hunter,” Season 5 Episode 19, “Anger x Light”
“Hunter x Hunter” tells the story of a boy named Gon Freecss, who wants to become a Hunter to find his missing father. On his journey, he meets friends like Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio, and together they repeatedly find themselves in dangerous adventures, testing not only their skills but also their moral boundaries.
In the Chimera Ant Arc, the story reaches its darkest point: The threat posed by King Meruem and his guards forces the Hunters to take extreme measures. As the battle against the ants escalates, many characters cross moral lines, and Gon is increasingly driven by his desire for revenge.
In episode 19 “Anger x Light,” this development comes to a head as Gon confronts the royal guard Neferpitou. Driven by grief and anger over Kite’s fate, Gon sacrifices his own future to gain immense power. In this transformed state, he defeats Pitou with brutal force, but the victory comes at a high cost: Gon is severely injured and on the brink of death, while Killua must witness the consequences of this decision.
Rank 9: “Hunter x Hunter,” Season 5 Episode 14, “Zero x and x Rose”
Also at rank 9 is an episode from the anime “Hunter x Hunter.” In episode 14 “Zero x and x Rose,” which takes place before the events of rank 10, the conflict between Chairman Netero and Meruem reaches its decisive climax. Netero realizes he cannot defeat the king with conventional means and ultimately detonates a bomb hidden within his own body.
The explosion inflicts severe damage on Meruem and simultaneously releases a deadly poison. This episode lays the groundwork for the tragic developments that further escalate in later episodes, such as episode 19.
Rank 8: “Invincible,” Season 3 Episode 8, “I Thought You’d Never Shut Up”
“Invincible” tells the story of Mark Grayson, a seemingly normal teenager who discovers he has inherited the powers of his father Omni-Man–one of Earth’s most powerful superheroes. As Mark learns to manage his abilities, he is increasingly drawn into brutal conflicts and must realize that the world of superheroes is far more dangerous and morally complex than he initially thought.
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In the third season, these conflicts intensify: Mark becomes stronger but also harder, while the threat from the Viltrumites becomes more concrete. At the same time, relationships break down, old enemies reappear, and new adversaries challenge Mark’s convictions. The season strongly builds towards pushing Mark to his limits and forcing him to make decisions that will change him permanently.
In episode 8 “I Thought You’d Never Shut Up,” this development reaches its peak as Mark is drawn into a decisive battle that is both physically and emotionally extreme. An overpowering opponent forces him to surpass himself, while the fate of Earth hangs in the balance. The episode ends with massive consequences for Mark and his surroundings, marking a turning point where it becomes clear what price must be paid to be Invincible.
Rank 7: “Game of Thrones,” Season 3 Episode 9, “The Rains of Castamere”
Ranked 7 is an episode from “Game of Thrones.” In the third season of the fantasy epic, the power struggles in Westeros intensify. The war for the Iron Throne claims more and more victims as various houses try to expand or secure their power.
In episode 9 “The Rains of Castamere,” the infamous Red Wedding takes place. Robb Stark travels with his mother Catelyn and his allies to the Freys to renew an alliance and celebrate Edmure Tully’s wedding. However, Walder Frey and Roose Bolton betray the Starks on behalf of the Lannisters. In a brutal massacre, Robb, Catelyn, and numerous followers are murdered. This betrayal largely collapses the North’s resistance, and the Starks’ hopes for victory in the war are almost completely extinguished.
Rank 6: “Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion,” Season 2 Episode 25, “Re;”
“Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion” tells the story of Lelouch vi Britannia, a disowned prince of the Holy Britannian Empire, who gains the power of “Geass”–the ability to issue absolute commands to others. With this power, he assumes the identity of the masked rebel leader Zero and starts an uprising against the empire that has oppressed Japan, aiming to create a fairer world and protect his sister Nunnally.
In the second season, the political and personal conflicts intensify. Lelouch expands his power but increasingly finds himself caught between friends and foes, while his identity as Zero is repeatedly threatened.
In episode 25 “Re;,” this development reaches its climax: Lelouch deliberately assumes the role of a tyrannical ruler to serve as a common enemy. As part of his secret “Zero Requiem” plan, he allows himself to be killed by Suzaku, who has taken on the role of Zero, during a public parade. Through this sacrifice, Lelouch ends the era of war and lays the foundation for peace, while his own fate and the question of whether he truly died remain open.
Rank 5: “Better Call Saul,” Season 6 Episode 7, “Plan and Execution”
In the sixth and final season of the “Breaking Bad” spin-off, the storylines around Jimmy, Kim, Mike, Gus, and Lalo finally converge. Jimmy McGill has almost fully transformed into Saul Goodman and is increasingly working with the criminal world.
In episode 7 “Plan and Execution,” Jimmy and Kim bring their long-prepared plan against Howard Hamlin to a climax. Through elaborate manipulations, they ensure that Howard appears confused and unprofessional during an important negotiation, severely damaging his reputation.
At the end of the episode, the humiliated Howard confronts Jimmy and Kim in their apartment. However, Lalo Salamanca, who is pursuing his own plans in the background, suddenly appears. Without warning, he shoots Howard, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The episode ends shockingly and marks a drastic turning point for Jimmy and Kim, as their intrigue has deadly consequences.
Rank 4: “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” Season 3 Episode 21, “Sozin’s Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang”
In the third season of the fantasy animated series, Aang finds himself in a particularly difficult situation after the events in the Earth Kingdom. He and his friends hide in the Fire Nation territory as they prepare for the decisive confrontation with Fire Lord Ozai.
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In episode 21 “Sozin’s Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang,” Aang finally faces Fire Lord Ozai in the final battle. Ozai is stronger than ever due to Sozin’s Comet and puts Aang under immense pressure. Meanwhile, Zuko and Katara fight against Azula, who is increasingly losing touch with reality. In an intense duel, Katara eventually overpowers Azula, but Azula severely injures Zuko. In the end, Aang manages to defeat Ozai without killing him. This ends the war, the world returns to balance, and Zuko ascends the throne as the new Fire Lord.
Rank 3: “Vinland Saga,” Season 1 Episode 24, “End of the Prologue”
“Vinland Saga” is set during the Viking era in the early 11th century and tells the story of Thorfinn, the son of a once-legendary warrior. Against the backdrop of wars between Danes and Englishmen, the anime depicts the harsh, brutal life of the Vikings and the political intrigues surrounding the Danish prince Knut.
In episode 24 “End of the Prologue,” Askeladd kills King Sweyn in a surprising act to protect Prince Knut and save Wales from invasion. He then provokes Knut to publicly execute him. With his death, Askeladd secures Knut’s rise to the throne.
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For Thorfinn, his long-standing goal of killing Askeladd in a fair duel collapses at this moment. Overwhelmed by rage, he attacks Knut and ends up in police custody. The episode marks the end of Thorfinn’s vengeful childhood and initiates a fundamental change in his life.
Rank 2: “BoJack Horseman,” Season 6 Episode 15, “The View from Halfway Down”
In the sixth season, BoJack must seriously confront the consequences of his years of self-destructive behavior. While he slowly makes progress and even works as an acting teacher, his past catches up with him piece by piece.
In episode 15 “The View from Halfway Down,” BoJack finds himself in a dreamlike limbo after relapsing. In a surreal vision, he attends a dinner with deceased people from his life, including Sarah Lynn, Herb Kazzaz, and his mother Beatrice.
The guests talk about death, regret, and unspoken feelings before they each take the stage and symbolically fall into nothingness. Particularly haunting is the poem “The View from Halfway Down,” which describes the panic and desire to live in the moment of falling.
Rank 1: “Six Feet Under,” Season 5 Episode 12, “Everyone’s Waiting”
The fifth and final season concludes the stories of the Fisher family. The focus is on farewells, new beginnings, and the question of how to live with loss, guilt, and missed opportunities.
In episode 12 “Everyone’s Waiting,” the Fishers must finally learn to move on without Nate. David and Keith struggle with their fears and their future as a family, Claire prepares to leave Los Angeles, and Ruth tries to find her own path. The episode focuses less on external events and more on internal farewells and decisions. In the famous closing montage, a time-lapse sequence shows how the lives of all the main characters continue until their respective deaths. This closes the series’ circle and emphasizes that every path eventually ends, but the life in between matters.