A new feature article argues that "The Rains of Castamere" — the Game of Thrones episode built around the notorious "Red Wedding" massacre — stands as the greatest single hour of television ever made, surpassing even the show's own finale and other acclaimed episodes such as The Sopranos' "Pine Barrens" and Breaking Bad's "Ozymandias". The piece, published to mark the episode's legacy 13 years after it first aired, credits its direction, score, performances and lasting cultural impact for cementing its status.

The article highlights David Bradley's portrayal of Walder Frey, who deceives both Robb Stark (Richard Madden) and viewers into believing his grievance against the Starks has been resolved, before the wedding erupts into betrayal and slaughter. It also touches on the political significance of marriage alliances within the Game of Thrones world, using the episode's opening scenes to show how Frey's resentment towards the Starks, while monstrous in its execution, had some legitimate grounding.