The Battle for TV Supremacy: When Fandoms Collide in a Review Bomb War
Imagine a world where fans of two iconic shows wage a digital war, not with swords or spells, but with 1-star reviews. This isn’t a plot from a dystopian novel—it’s happening right now between Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad enthusiasts. But here’s where it gets controversial: an episode of the Game of Thrones spinoff A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms dared to challenge Breaking Bad’s legendary episode Ozymandias for the coveted 10/10 rating on IMDb. And the fallout? A full-blown review bomb war that’s left both fanbases reeling.
For years, Ozymandias held an almost mythical status as the only TV episode with a perfect 10/10 user rating on IMDb. But when A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 5, In the Name of the Mother, premiered on HBO Max earlier this month, it threatened to share that throne. And this is the part most people miss: it’s unclear who fired the first shot, but Breaking Bad fans quickly mobilized to review-bomb A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, dragging its rating down from a potential 10/10. Predictably, Game of Thrones fans retaliated, launching a counter-offensive against Ozymandias. The result? A never-ending exchange of 1/10 reviews that has left both episodes with a 9.5/10 rating.
Ozymandias, which first aired in September 2013, is now down from its perfect score. One 1/10 review laments, ‘Good show, but this episode was a letdown. They should have done a better job with character development. This episode was an egg when it should have been a slam dunk.’ Another reviewer admits, ‘Changed my rating cuz of BB fans. This episode deserves a 10, but I’m tired of Breaking Bad fans review-bombing anything that comes close to 10.’ The frustration is palpable, with fans questioning the maturity of their counterparts: ‘We are taught how to share at a very young age, and it amazes me how adults don’t understand it still.’
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 5 hasn’t fared much better. One reviewer confesses, ‘I am just a victim of the review bombing. Both series are really good, and both episodes deserve a perfect 10, but I’m here defending the honor of Breaking Bad.’ Another declares, ‘REVENGE FOR OZYMANDIAS. This rating isn’t about quality, it’s about history. Petty? Yes. Necessary? Also yes.’
The conflict has even spilled over into A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Season 1 finale, The Morrow. One reviewer apologetically writes, ‘I never review-bombed anything before, but you made Ozymandias 9.5. This is insane. I didn’t even know we were in a conflict until you started review-bombing.’ Another pleads, ‘Leave Breaking Bad alone. Attacking Ozymandias because you don’t wanna share a 10/10? Quit being petty and let game acknowledge game!’
The irony? Breaking Bad fans could have shared the 10/10 spotlight with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, but instead, they’ve lost their exclusive claim. HBO, meanwhile, is leaning into the drama, with HBO Max Nordic posting a cheeky clip of Game of Thrones’ Battle of the Bastards, captioned, ‘The fans called the banners quickly.’
Beneath the humor lies a serious issue: the vulnerability of user review ratings to online mob mentality. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen review bombing—Stranger Things faced backlash in December, and in 2023, a single person’s grudge propelled an obscure DSiWare game to the top of Metacritic. Even Steam, the PC gaming platform, is no stranger to such campaigns.
So, here’s the question: Is review bombing a fair way for fans to protect their favorite shows, or is it a toxic practice that undermines the integrity of user ratings? Let us know in the comments—we’re eager to hear your take on this digital battlefield.
