It’s difficult to determine what elements combine to make the best TV show battle scenes to grace the small screen. However, a few things are certain: gorgeous visuals, intricate fight choreography, and emotional urgency must all be present for the audience to be moved by what they see on television. While violence and gore are frequently discussed when it comes to fight sequences, the moments of interpersonal drama and loss stick with the viewer the longest. However, this is elevated all the more by showrunners and creators who are dedicated to making the most dynamic and incredible battle scene possible.

Epic battles in fantasy movies and TV shows are typically cited as some of the best because fights within this genre can push the boundaries of realism and magic, leading to incredible visuals. However, plenty of true-to-life war and battle moments are just as compelling, often because they’re so rooted in reality and draw inspiration from actual events. This creates an automatic sense of urgency and stakes because the audience understands that something similar has happened to real people. Conversely, fantasy TV series must work even harder to create emotional resonance, which results in amazing worldbuilding and strong character development.

10

The Raid/Shootout – True Detective (2014–Present)

Season 1, Episode 4, “Who Goes There”

True Detective season 1 is inarguably the best season of the anthology crime drama series and boasts two incredible performances thanks to the work of Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey. They play the unlikely duo who come together to take down a notorious and terrifying serial killer after decades of investigation and hot pursuit. Told through a frame story of interviews and flashbacks, True Detective has many moments of quiet contemplation, but this makes the action sequences even more explosive and thrilling when they do come around.

A great example of this is the sequence in season 1, episode 4, “Who Goes There.” McConaughey’s character, Rust, and Harrelson’s, Marty, are searching for a suspect in their case, leading them to a biker gang with connections to the drug world. While posing undercover for information, Rust gets in too deep and must participate in a raid against another gang. Immediately, the suspense is overwhelming, and it quickly erupts into an all-out gunfight. Though the True Detective season 1 ending has a more intense chase scene, no fight in the series has reached the heights of the raid.

9

Defeating The First At The Hellmouth – Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)

Season 7, Episode 22, “Chosen”

Every season finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer ends in an epic fight, and there are merits to be found in every single one for different reasons. However, the series finale, “Chosen,” is the ultimate culmination of the themes and journey Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) has gone on since the beginning of the show. Buffy and all the potential Slayers gather at the Hellmouth to engage in a final battle with the First Evil, and Willow (Alyson Hannigan) unlocks the power of the Slayer, allowing every potential to become a full Slayer to beat back the First and triumph.

While much of the episode and fight scene is uplifting, losses and strong emotional beats punctuate the last time the audience sees Buffy and her friends in action. Season 7 has its share of darkness, and there’s a moment during the battle of the Hellmouth when the audience isn’t sure that Buffy will prevail. However, the most important part of the episode is not her victory but that she doesn’t achieve it alone. The final of Buffy the Vampire Slayer sees Buffy never having to shoulder the weight of the world alone ever again.

8

The Siege Of Alesia – Rome (2005–2007)

Season 1, Episode 1, “The Stolen Eagle”

While tales of Greek mythology have never been more popular in film, TV, and literature, the Roman Empire should not be overlooked in its impact on popular culture. The short-lived TV series Rome might have only aired for two seasons, but because of its budget and incredible dedication to visual effects and realistic battle sequences, it remains a cult classic. In the series premiere, “The Stolen Eagle,” the show comes out of the gate swinging with the incredible battle of Alesia. Based on the real conflict of the same name, Rome recreated this engagement with gritty realism.

Rome differed from the sweeping grandness of old Hollywood epics, but this was a refreshing take in 2005 when few TV shows were taking on such intense historical subject matter. Though the politics of Rome and the rise to power of Julius Caesar are important, the series stood apart in its story and fight scene because it spent ample time on the experiences of foot soldiers. From their perspective, the Siege of Alesia is not a glowing victory but a brutal grasp for power, grand in scale but immediate and crushing to the people bearing the brunt of the assault.

7

The Battle Of Nasiriyah – Generation Kill (2008)

Season 1, Episode 2, “The Cradle of Civilization”

Alexander Skarsgård plays Sgt. Brad ‘Iceman’ Colbert in Generation Kill, an adaptation of Evan Wright’s 2004 book of the same name. Wright’s book chronicled his time with some of the first soldiers deployed in the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and was shocking to many Americans who were unaware of the way warfare had evolved in the 21st century. It’s common for war miniseries like Generation Kill to focus on older wars, most often World War II, because there’s distance from the conflict, and the major battles of the war are well known to most people.

However, Generation Kill took on a piece of recent history and wasn’t afraid to grapple with the harsh realities of war and the way it changes the people who fight in it. In the second episode of the series, “The Cradle of Civilization,” the characters’ desire to see combat and the truth of civilian casualties are brought into sharp relief during the battle of Nasiriyah. One of the best parts of the episode, and Generation Kill, in general, is how well it paces the action, keeping the audience in a constant state of anticipation.

6

The Battle Of Peleliu – The Pacific (2010)

Season 1, Episode 6, “Peleliu Airfield”

Though The Pacific never reached the heights of critical or audience acclaim as its predecessor, Band of Brothers, did, it still boasts some incredible action sequences and moving portraits of soldiers risking their lives. A young Rami Malek can be seen in the series, and his performance is a highlight as it carries emotional resonance in even the most confusing and terrifying moments of battle. While the European Theater is the best-known part of World War II, the Pacific Theater had a staggering casualty rate and some of the most brutal operations of the conflict.

In episodes five and six, the soldiers the series focuses on start to experience the true horrors of war at the Battle of Peleliu as drinkable water quickly disappears and the heat level rises. The Pacific does an amazing job of humanizing its characters and allowing the soldiers it centers on to show fear and hesitation in the face of terror. This makes their bravery even more impactful, as bravery cannot be demonstrated without first feeling scared. There is also a sense of isolation that permeates the scene, as the only way out of the battle is by boat.

5

The Battle Of New Caprica – Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009)

Season 3, Episode 4, “Exodus: Part 2”

Though battles in space can sometimes lose momentum because so much of the action must be created with visual effects, Battlestar Galactica‘s Battle of New Caprica didn’t have this problem. The reboot of the 1978 original series quickly proved to be an amazing addition to the sci-fi genre on television, which is currently having its heyday and bringing sci-fi to younger audiences who connect with the stories and aesthetics of the shows. While it only aired for four seasons, Battlestar Galactica is frequently highlighted in conversations about the most influential sci-fi projects of the 21st century.

The thrust of the series revolves around the ongoing battle between humans and Cylons, which takes place across the stars on different worlds as each group struggles for dominance. With amazing fight sequences both on the planet of New Caprica, which is a Cylon stronghold, and in space between ships, the battle has high stakes as many humans are trapped on New Caprica, and it takes an enormous force to liberate them. A recurring theme in Battlestar Galactica that’s touched upon in the episode is the cost of using advanced technology.

4

The Siege Of Paris – Vikings (2013–2020)

Season 3, Episode 7, “Paris”

While plenty of television focuses on the conflict between the Saxons and the Vikings from the perspective of the Saxons, Vikings look at it through the lens of the legendary leader, Ragnar Lodbrok (Travis Fimmel). In the series, Lodbrok is portrayed as a fearsome young man looking to conquer new worlds, and eventually, his head is turned West, where he encounters the Saxons and the city of Paris. It’s interesting to see what these modern cities looked like hundreds of years ago, and Vikings does a great job portraying both the physical landmarks and the heat of battle.

Though the Vikings attempted to sack Paris several times throughout the series, season 3, episode 7, “Paris,” is the most iconic invasion and one of the more successful. The attack occurs over the next several episodes, but it’s kicked off in episode 7, as the stage is set for the political intrigue that led to the conflict. In the following episodes, the Vikings continually use all their might to break down Paris’ barriers, eventually tricking the King into lowering the city’s defenses and claiming it as their own.

3

D-Day – Band Of Brothers (2001)

Season 1, Episode 2, “Day of Days”

Band of Brothers is considered one of the most accurate and instrumental adaptations of the experiences of soldiers on the front lines during World War II. All the best World War II shows focus on different aspects of the conflicts across the wide range of the battlefield. However, Band of Brothers focuses on the 101st Airborne Division, a real regiment who were part of some of the most dangerous and instrumental battles of the war. It follows the men in the company from basic training to their participation in moments that changed the course of the war.

Knowing that the Allies won the war doesn’t make Band of Brothers any less compelling, and the fact that any of the characters could lose their lives at any moment makes it impossible to look away. D-Day is well-known as the invasion of Normandy and marks the beginning of the liberation of Europe. However, in “Day of Days,” the young men onscreen are unaware of what heroism lies ahead of them, only as best they can at the moment and providing insight into the men who parachuted into the battle.

2

The Battle Of Edington – The Last Kingdom (2015–2022)

Season 1, Episode 8, “Episode 8”

Throughout its five seasons, The Last Kingdom maintained interest and intrigue in the conflicts between the Vikings and the Anglo-Saxons in the late 800s and early 900s. It’s loosely based on The Saxon Stories, the novel series by Bernard Cornwell that chronicles the struggles for power and territory disputes that defined northern Europe during this period of history. The show itself centers on the experience of Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon), whose identity sits at the intersection of Saxon and Viking, making it difficult for him to determine where his loyalties lie.

As Uhtred faces his own demons, he watches kings rise and fall around him, as in the Battle of Edington in season 1. While the budget and quality of the show were helped after Netflix acquired the series in season 3, the season 1 fight sequence remains the best of the series. In the season finale, the Saxons and the Vikings meet on the battlefield in a dramatized recreation of a real battle between armies in 878. Featuring insight into the tactical strategies and the horrors of the battle, it’s an unforgettable addition to the show.

1

The Battle Of The Bastards – Game Of Thrones (2011–2019)

Season 6, Episode 9, “Battle of the Bastards”

The Battle of the Bastards was such an iconic fight sequence and pivotal moment in Game of Thrones that the event became the title of the episode it’s in. Game of Thrones season 6 was a turning point for the show, as the original books had run out, and it was the series’ first outing without a book story to draw from. However, Jon Snow’s (Kit Harington) return and incredible faceoff with Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) resulted in one of the highest-rated episodes of the series. The sheer number of extras and the careful attention to detail that went into the sequences are awe-inspiring.

There are plenty of amazing one-on-one fights in the series with hand-to-hand combat, as well as Game of Thrones‘ best sword fights. However, the epic scale of the Battle of the Bastards sets it apart and elevates it above anything before seen on television. By following Jon’s movements and placing him at the center of a wall of bodies and aggressors, the audience gets a sense of how it would feel to be in a battle of this scale. Additionally, as Ramsay was one of the ultimate villains of the series, watching his demise is incredibly satisfying.