Image Credit: HBO
Fans of Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad are embroiled in a veritable review bombing war after an episode of the spinoff A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms threatened to dethrone Ozymandias as the only television episode with a perfect 10/10 rating on IMDb. For years, Ozymandias maintained an almost mythical status online as the only TV episode with a 10/10 rating from IMDb users. However, Episode 5 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, titled In the Name of the Mother, came dangerously close to that feat after its premiere on HBO Max earlier this month.
It’s hard to tell who fired the first shot, but Breaking Bad fans began giving A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms 1/10 ratings to lower the episode’s average and preserve, at least theoretically, Ozymandias’ primacy. The response was swift: fans of the Westeros universe launched a similar counteroffensive, attacking Ozymandias with minimal ratings. Since then, the two communities have been exchanging 1/10 ratings like arrows in a digital battle.
The Targaryens in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
At present, Ozymandias, originally aired in September 2013, has dropped to 9.5/10 on IMDb. Among the 1/10 ratings, one reads: “Good series, but this episode was a disappointment. They should have done a better job developing the characters. This episode was a flop when it should have been a slam dunk.” A comment that makes clear the ironic and provocative tone that dominates this ratings war.
Another user wrote: “I changed my rating because of BB fans. This episode deserves a 10 and has been a 10 for 13 years. But I’m tired of seeing Breaking Bad fans bombarding anything that comes close to a 10.” The tension between fan communities reveals how online rankings have become symbols of cultural prestige. Meanwhile, In the Name of the Mother also has a 9.5/10 rating on IMDb. One user who gave it a 1/10 justified: “I’m just a victim of review bombing. Both series deserve a 10, but Ozymandias deserves a perfect 10. I’m here to defend the honor of Breaking Bad.”
Another comment sums up the spirit of retaliation: “REVENGE FOR OZYMANDIAS. I gave it one star purely out of loyalty. This isn’t about quality, it’s about history. Petty? Yes. Necessary? Also.” The review war even extended to the final episode of Season 1, The Morrow, which recently premiered on HBO Max. “I’ve never review bombed before, but you guys dropped Ozymandias to 9.5. This is insane,” wrote one user. Another appealed: “Leave Breaking Bad alone. This series is great, the episode is great, but you’re fools for starting this rivalry.”
@hbomaxnordic The fans called the banners quickly 😭😭 #aknightofthesevenkingdoms #gameofthrones #edit #breakingbad #imdb ♬ original sound – caroline:)
“Walter sends his regards,” concludes another 1/10 review, in a direct reference to Walter White.
The result of this digital battle is that Ozymandias lost its status as the only episode with a perfect score on IMDb after 13 years. Episode 14 of Breaking Bad’s fifth season is widely considered the climax of the series, where all the accumulated tensions culminate in an inevitable confrontation. In the Name of the Mother depicts the Trial of the Seven and reveals the tragic past of Ser Dunk the Tall, played by Peter Claffey.
While some fans classify the whole situation as pathetic, HBO has decided to adopt a humorous tone on social media. The HBO Max Nordic account posted an excerpt from the iconic Battle of the Bastards from Game of Thrones, symbolically placing fans of the two series on opposite sides, with the caption: “The fans called the banners quickly.” The irony is clear: Breaking Bad fans could have shared the top spot with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, but ended up losing their exclusive 10/10 rating.
Beyond the rivalry, the situation raises a serious question about the credibility of user ratings. Review bombing has become a recurring tool in online cultural disputes. In December, the series Stranger Things faced a similar wave after controversy surrounding the episode The Bridge. In 2023, a case involving AI: The Somnium Files took an obscure DSiWare title to the top of Metacritic for reasons unrelated to the game’s quality. In the world of video games, platforms such as Steam regularly deal with organized campaigns of negative reviews as a form of protest.
In a digital ecosystem where public metrics influence reputation, marketing, and even creative decisions, this battle between fans demonstrates how passion can quickly turn into tribalism. And in the end, the loser is not just a number on IMDb, but healthy discussion about television quality itself.
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