With the much-anticipated arrival of Game of Thrones focusing on the reign of House Targaryen and set to debut in August, fans of the world are eager to get back into the excitement.
The eighth and final season of the previous series is arguably the most despised season both in the show's history and in the history of television, but that doesn't stop fans from creating some entertaining memes in honor of the six-episode finale. Hundreds of memes have been created to depict the shock, excitement, and horror that followed the season, and these memes are a perfect representation of fans' reactions to the end of Game of Thrones.
The Long, Long Night
One of the most notable episodes of the final season is "The Long Night." In this installment, one of the most anticipated endings is featured, the war between the living and the dead coming to a conclusion.
While fans weren't thrilled with how difficult it was to see what was going on in such a dark episode, it still featured some of the most intense scenes. This meme hilariously depicts the reaction of seeing the Dothraki face off against the Army of the Dead at Winterfell and watching all their flames disappear.
It's Not So Secret
Sansa Stark may have a character arc that rises above many other storylines, but that doesn't stop fans from shaming her for telling Jon's secret about being a Targaryen.
When Jon confides in her and asks her to not tell anyone, she almost immediately breaks that promise by telling Tyrion Lannister. While she had good intentions, believing Jon would make a fitting king, it went against his desires and his trust. This meme reflects her dishonesty by telling his secret, therefore turning the tables on the whole plot surrounding him and Daenerys.
The Big Woman
The best episode of Game of Thrones' final season features Brienne getting knighted by Jamie Lannister. However, one of the most humorous and heartwarming aspects of this scene is when Tormund Giantsbane claps his applause.
One of the few lighthearted aspects of this season is Tormund's appreciation for Brienne, who he dubs "The Big Woman". While Brienne has been shamed for her size and desires to be a knight for much of her life, Tormund immediately respects and becomes fascinated with her, rooting for her every step of the way. This meme humorously depicts his love for Brienne of Tarth.
Game Of Dragons
From the moment Daenerys hatched her three dragons at the end of the first season, fans loved the magical and fearsome beasts of legend. After Viserion is killed by the Night King in season 7, it was a devastating loss to see Rhaegal slaughtered so easily by Cersei and Euron's naval forces in the final season.
After losing two of the three beasts, everyone was on the edge of their seats to see what would become of the rebellious Drogon, as referenced in this meme.
Say The Word
There were a few distinct shifts in approach in the final season, and the major one for Dany was when she witnessed Cersei slaughter her beloved friend Missandei. As mentioned in this meme, Missandei's last word to Dany was "Dracarys".
All fans knew this word well, as it means "dragonfire". It is also the command Daenerys uses to signal to her dragons to breathe fire. So, the final message from her dear friend was quite clear: the way she was going to win was by fire, or rather, by breathing fire.
The Bells Do Not Dismiss You
Tyrion Lannister was a dedicated advisor to Daenerys long before she landed in Winterfell and proceeded to destroy King's Landing. While he believed in her as a leader, he also wanted to create peace, not more war and despair.
This meme references Tyrion's mention that the bells in King's Landing mean surrender and Dany's choice to ignore the surrender. The whole series led up to the moment Dany makes it to the Iron Throne and fights for her claim, and she clearly wasn't letting anything get in the way of that.
She Wasn't Sorry
This moment in the final season has prompted many memes, so it deserves two dedications. Daenerys Targaryen fought from the start of the series to find her place and gain enough momentum to regain the throne that her family had been deposed from.
The Mother of Dragons' decision to burn King's Landing, despite their surrender, sealed her fate in the series. In addition, it was also her seemingly content nature and lack of empathy for the destruction she caused that forced Jon Snow to inevitably stab her before she could carry on more devastation.
He Knows, Doesn't He?
While many fans dislike Bran's character, despite him not being one of the most hated on Game of Thrones, that didn't stop them from making hilarious memes at his expense.
Despite all of the shocking revelations in the series finale, the showrunners still left the fans with breadcrumbs about the future of the living characters. Arya decides to sail west of Westeros to see other parts of the world. She makes a point that people don't know what is beyond Westeros, but that leaves the audience wondering if Bran has a little insight he fails to share.
Not The Ending Expected
While some main episodes featuring Tormund can be considered fillers, that doesn't stop fans from loving his character.
However, many fans were not content to see Jon's fate in the final episode. Instead of being assassinated for the murder of Daenerys, Jon leaves Westeros for the North with the wildlings, as expressed in this meme. It seemed fitting to see the brooding hero have a peaceful ending, but that also leaves the audience wondering what kind of life Jon will have away from his home and family, especially considering he was the next in line for the Iron Throne.
The Most Satisfying End
The final season of Game of Thrones was an ending, but not one most fans appreciated or found fitting for the storyline.
There was a lot to enjoy in the final season, but it felt below par for how captivating the rest of the series was. In most cases, audiences of the show rank the eighth and final season, comprised of just six episodes, the least favorite of all. This meme depicts the ending fans may have preferred, though there are a dozen ways it could have ended that would have pleased the audience more than the real conclusion.