The Best Game of Thrones Memes

Game of (Pine) Cones meme squirrels on wicker chair surrounded by dragons

Geert Weggen / Aurora Photos / Getty Images

Game of Thrones is an immensely popular HBO show that is based on an epic series of fantasy novels written by George R.R. Martin. The series started in 1991 with the novel A Game of Thrones. When the similarly-named HBO show arrived 20 years later, it touched off a firestorm of hilarious memes.

What Do Game of Thrones Memes Mean?

Game of Thrones memes are often in-jokes among fans of the show. While it is possible to discern the meaning of most Game of Thrones memes without reading the books or watching the show, most of the humor requires an understanding of the characters and plots. The meaning varies from one meme to the next, but a lot of them make some type of joke about the show.

How Are Game of Thrones Memes Used?

Game of Thrones memes are used in a lot of different ways. Most of them are simply used to get a laugh based on an in-joke that only fans of the show will understand, but some act as reaction images that convey a specific feeling or emotion, or modify other types of memes with a Game of Thrones flair.

Examples of Game of Thrones Memes:

Example #1

Image: Ned Stark holding his sword Ice and dressed in furs.
Text line one: Brace yourself
Text line two:
Spoilers are coming


Meaning:
 This meme is a play on House Stark's words, or motto, "Winter is coming." This image of Ned Stark is commonly used in a joking way, warning the reader to brace for various things. This particular example warns about spoilers, as any list of Game of Thrones memes will invariably include at least some spoilers to a sharp-eyed reader. 

Example #2

Image: Sansa Stark on top and Arya Stark on the bottom.
Text line one: Accept what you can't change
Text line two:
Kill what you can't accept


Meaning:
 This meme uses a twist on the Serenity Prayer, most commonly associated with 12 step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, to comedic effect. It also uses the Stark girls to show how two very different sisters used radically different methods to get through similarly awful situations.

Example #3

Image: Littlefinger smiling smugly on the top, and Littlefinger soiling his smallclothes on the bottom.
Text line one: Me at the beginning of a season
Text line two:
 Me at the end of a season


Meaning:
 This meme is meant to convey a common experience shared among many Game of Thrones fans. In posting this, the poster is suggesting that they are happy that Game of Thrones has returned at the start of each season, but the terrible things that happen during the season invariably result in a very different emotion by the end. An alternate interpretation is that the poster dreads the long wait between the end of the season and the start of the next.

01
of 20

The Internet Is Dark and Full of Spoilers

Brace yourself, spoilers are coming meme

Screenshot/VH1

But we'll try and keep them to a minimum. Promise.

02
of 20

A Tale of Two Sisters

accept what your can't kill/kill what you can't accept meme

Screenshot/Pinterest

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. No, nevermind. It was just the worst of times and then also still the worst of times.

03
of 20

Keep Smiling, Littlefinger

Me at the beginning of the season vs me at the end of the season littlefinger meme

Screenshot/Twitter

Winter is coming, friendo.

04
of 20

That Awkward Feeling

The girl you like Cersei and Jamie meme

Screenshot/Reddit

 When you occupy one too many slots in a list like this.

05
of 20

That's No Avocado

Game of thrones, Daenerys avocado meme

Screenshot/TV Guide

 Stop squeezing it.

06
of 20

They Wanted to Call It Resting Lyanna Mormont Face

Lyanna Mormont meme
Screenshot: uproxx.com

 But not a single one survived.

07
of 20

Spoiler Alert

Game of thrones and All my friends are dead meme

Screenshot/thechive.com

People die in Game of Thrones

08
of 20

Sansa Stark, Fridge Artist

Sansa and littlefinger meme

Screenshot/pizzabottle.co

 It's a pretty good likeness if you ask us.

09
of 20

Lyanna Mormont. Deal With It

John Snow and Ramsey Bolton meme

Screenshot/pizzabottle.co

And at that moment, Ramsey Bolton regretted the decision to hang around being a jerk in the north instead of buying that timeshare down in Dorne.

10
of 20

When You Know Bae Saw Your Message

Jorah and Daenerys I love you meme

Screenshot/piximus.net

But she didn't reply. 

11
of 20

He Isn't Fat, He's Just Big Boned

Samwell Tarley still fat meme

Screenshot/weknowmemes.com

Hey, he lost more weight than Hurley on Lost.

12
of 20

See, Look at That Svelte Young Maester

Samwell start a job quit a job meme

Screenshot/Facebook

Samwell for President of Westeros. 

13
of 20

Hodor

Hodor meme

Screenshot/Imgur

 Like a boss.

14
of 20

The Cersei Lannister Guide to Life

Cersei me and my problems meme

Screenshot/Instagram

Say what you want, the woman gets things done.

15
of 20

The Arya Stark Guide to Life

Arya Stark life and lemons meme

Screenshot/pastemagazine.com

Who would win? All the Lannisters and Boltons, or one little faceless girl?

16
of 20

Additional Spoiler

Ramsey Bolton happy ending you haven't been paying attention meme

Screenshot/arttattoos.us

 This guy is a jerk. No one cares if he's right, he's still a jerk.

17
of 20

Is That Really All It Took?

Be a dragon meme

Screenshot/Twitter

 Such a dragon. Very majestic. 

18
of 20

There's Something About Sam

Sam game of thrones and lord of the rings meme

Screenshot/viraltalks.com

Something tells me that George R.R. Martin read Tolkien, so this probably isn't as much of a coincidence as it seems.

19
of 20

Even a Night King Needs Some Down Time

Night king meme

Screenshot/Reddit

 Stop the presses, winter is here.

20
of 20

What, Were They Out of Sharks to Jump?

Ed Sheeran game of thrones meme

Screenshot/me.me

That thing about living too long and becoming the villain really is true.