Why Game of Thrones Remains a Top TV Show Debate on X
Last updated: September 25, 2026 (UTC)
Game of Thrones is generating a fresh wave of conversation on X, with fans debating its place among the greatest television series ever made. The discussion has been energized by posts praising the show’s early seasons as a high-water mark for storytelling, as well as by a widely circulated New York Times list ranking the best TV shows of the 21st century that has prompted strong opinions about which series deserve the top spots.
What Started the Conversation
Two threads appear to have pulled the discussion together. First, a post from @Mrbankstips declaring that “the first 5 seasons of Game of Thrones are the pinnacle of television” and calling it “a masterclass in storytelling” drew nearly 5,000 likes and set the tone for much of the praise that followed. Second, @JamesSurowiecki shared what he described as the New York Times’ list of the 100 best TV shows of the century, offering his own critique that Game of Thrones and Schitt’s Creek are ranked too high, while Deadwood, The Shield, and Halt and Catch Fire are placed too low. That list has given fans a concrete ranking to argue over.
The Case for Game of Thrones as a Masterpiece
A significant portion of the discussion is straightforwardly celebratory. Beyond the widely liked post from @Mrbankstips, one user with nearly 1,700 likes states that in their opinion Game of Thrones is “the greatest show ever created.” Another post, drawing over 1,200 likes, describes rewatching the series and concluding that “everyone needs a Ser Davos in their life,” a nod to one of the show’s most beloved supporting characters. @General_D__ argues that Game of Thrones is “the only series you can overhype to someone and it will still deliver,” suggesting the show holds up even when expectations are set extremely high. These posts reflect a strong current of fan affection that shows no sign of fading.
Comparisons to Other Shows
Not everyone is content to crown Game of Thrones without a fight. One post asks readers to vote on whether Game of Thrones or Vikings is the better show of all time, while another user argues that “Vikings was the better show” and that Ragnar Lothbrok alone “had more aura than half the GoT cast combined.” A separate post takes direct aim at a claim circulating online that Game of Thrones was inspired by Breaking Bad, pushing back sharply by noting that author George R.R. Martin wrote the source novels long before that show existed. Meanwhile, one user argues that Breaking Bad should not be in the top five of the New York Times list, and that Game of Thrones and Succession should not appear in the top 20 at all, calling the list “genuinely terrible.” @RVCJ_FB, a large media account, contributed to the visual side of the appreciation by sharing a striking image from the series.
The NYT Rankings Debate
The New York Times list has become a focal point for broader arguments about how prestige television should be evaluated. According to posts circulating on X, the list places Game of Thrones among the top shows of the century, a placement that @JamesSurowiecki considers inflated, while also arguing that several other critically regarded series were ranked too low or left off entirely. One user echoes a similar frustration from the opposite direction, contending that Game of Thrones does not belong in the top 20. The debate touches on what criteria should even govern such a list, with fans and commentators weighing cultural impact, writing quality, and consistency across seasons.
What Remains Contested
Several claims circulating in the discussion are presented as strong opinions rather than established fact. The assertion that the first five seasons represent the absolute pinnacle of television is widely shared but disputed by fans of other series. The claim that Game of Thrones was inspired by Breaking Bad has been directly challenged in posts, with users calling it inaccurate given the timeline of the source material. The argument that Vikings surpassed Game of Thrones in overall quality remains a point of active disagreement, with no clear consensus emerging. One open question that has attracted particular attention, drawing over 25,000 likes on a single post, is why Game of Thrones was able to produce a season every year while its successor series House of the Dragon has not managed the same pace.
Fan Culture and Lasting Appeal
Beyond the rankings debate, the conversation reflects how deeply embedded Game of Thrones remains in popular culture. A post sharing a Family Guy segment that explains the show’s plot in under seven minutes drew hundreds of likes, suggesting the series is still being introduced to new audiences through secondary content. @jackofficial_01 placed Game of Thrones second on a list of the most explicit series in television history, a reminder that the show’s content remains a talking point in its own right. One user simply described the show as “a gem,” while another pushed back at what they saw as casual or uninformed viewing, suggesting the series demands genuine attention. Taken together, the posts paint a picture of a show that continues to provoke strong reactions, whether from longtime devotees or newcomers encountering it for the first time.
Sources / posts referenced
- @Mrbankstips on X: “The first 5 seasons of Game of Thrones are the pinnacle of television. Nothing before or since has come…”
- @General_D__ on X: “Game of Thrones is the only series you can overhype to someone and it will still deliver. You can’t come…”
- @JamesSurowiecki on X: “Full list of NYT's 100 best shows of the century. Game of Thrones and Schitt's Creek are way…”
- @RVCJ_FB on X: “This Shot From Game of Thrones!!🐦🔥🔥”
- @jackofficial_01 on X: “The top 5 series with the most n*dity in history.. 1. Spartacus 2. Game of Thrones 3 Banshee 4.…”
