The Ringer - Welcome to the ‘Game of Thrones’ Meme Bracket2019-04-12T18:04:28-04:00http://www.theringer.com/rss/stream/180678382019-04-12T18:04:28-04:002019-04-12T18:04:28-04:00‘Game of Thrones’ Meme Bracket: Jon Snow Claims His Crown
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<p>Jon vs. Everyone topped Tormund and Brienne to claim the title as the best ‘Thrones’ meme in existence</p> <p id="BCbkV5">After five grueling days of online carnage, the internet has declared Jon vs. Everyone the greatest meme in <em>Game of Thrones </em>history.</p>
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<p id="D21r3E">Jon vs. Everyone takes its rightful place on the internet’s Iron Throne after defeating Brienne and Tormund in a championship matchup that was as lopsided as Jon’s fistfight with Ramsay Bolton. In a contest that was over seemingly within minutes, Jon vs. Everyone prevailed with 64 percent of voters across The Ringer dot com, Twitter, and Instagram picking the King in the North.</p>
<aside id="SWslcg"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"All Memes Must Die: The ‘Game of Thrones’ Meme Bracket","url":"https://www.theringer.com/tv/2019/4/8/18299556/game-of-thrones-meme-bracket"}]}'></div></aside><p id="kKAJwN"><a href="https://www.theringer.com/tv/2019/4/8/18299556/game-of-thrones-meme-bracket">Experts (me) pegged</a> Jon vs. Everyone as the most versatile meme in the entire bracket. But not even the most ride-or-die Stark fans could have foreseen how, to paraphrase Barristan Selmy, this meme would cut through its five opponents like carving a cake. After easily defeating Laughing Arya (78 percent to 22 percent), and “Hold the Door” (80 percent to 20 percent) in the first two rounds, Jon vs. Everyone vanquished “You Know Nothing” in the Elite Eight (62 percent to 38 percent). But it was Jon vs. Everyone’s performance on Thursday that landed it among the most dominant memes of our time, drubbing Drogon vs. Loot Train, 83 percent to 17 percent. It is perhaps the most dominant victory in the history of meme bracketology.</p>
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<p id="IPVQDU">This meme’s victory isn’t just an internet joke getting its rightful due. It’s a restoration of faith in the democratic process. Jon’s charge toward the Bolton cavalry in the Battle of the Bastards is the perfect meme for our time. As <em>The Ringer</em>’s maester, Jason Concepcion, originally laid out in <em>The Ringer</em>’s NBA Meme Bracket: </p>
<blockquote><p id="xVxCVN">Memes can be GIFs. But not all GIFs are memes. To be considered a meme, the content must have a core set of characteristics that can be recontextualized into other content, while retaining the same identifiers.</p></blockquote>
<p id="BrcEJU">There was no meme in the entire bracket easier to recontextualize than Jon vs. Everyone. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to exacerbate the enormity of their own problems or the number of their perceived enemies. In other words, it’s perfect for everyone on the internet. Congratulations, voters. When we look back on the great histories of our time, we will remember this day as the moment when Western civilization’s wavering faith in democracy was restored.</p>
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https://www.theringer.com/game-of-thrones/2019/4/12/18308534/game-of-thrones-meme-bracket-jon-vs-everyone-championshipDanny Heifetz2019-04-12T05:30:00-04:002019-04-12T05:30:00-04:00‘Game of Thrones’ Meme Bracket: Vote in the Finals!
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<p>Can Jon Snow vs. Everyone be stopped? Or will (unrequited) love conquer all? You decide.</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="1AoZx3">All of the best <em>Game of Thrones</em> conflicts feature beloved characters going head to head. At the Battle of the Blackwater, Tyrion Lannister and Davos Seaworth are on opposing sides. The Battle of Castle Black pits Jon Snow against Ygritte. In the Loot Train Attack, Jaime nearly dies attacking Daenerys. And in the Great Battle of the Memes, Jon Snow will go up against Brienne and Tormund.</p>
<p id="3V1x0W">That’s right, our Finals has been set. Jon vs. Everyone absolutely demolished Drogon vs. Loot Train, earning a whopping 83 percent of the vote. The White Wolf may have faced long odds at the actual Battle of the Bastards, but the third-seeded meme enters the Finals as a heavy favorite after a string of similarly lopsided performances. </p>
<p id="Bwionf">On the other side of the bracket, Tormund and Brienne narrowly defeated Tyrion Dancing in the Final Four, gathering 53 percent of votes. The dwarf of Casterly Rock may be <em>Thrones</em>’ most popular character, but even he could not overcome the power of true love. Or … at least Tormund’s true love for Brienne, and her extreme repulsion. That mix of emotions is classic meme fodder, though—no wonder the 2-seed has made it all the way to the Finals.</p>
<p id="kIQoLv">Which will ultimately wear the meme crown? On the one hand, Jon vs. Everyone is one of the most versatile memes in our entire bracket, good for any situation in which a protagonist faces some kind of overwhelming opponent. Tormund and Brienne is a little more complex, expressing two ideas at once: Unrequited love and massive annoyance. Both resonate, but only one can win.</p>
<p id="cZOtmx">The choice is yours. Vote in our Finals now right here, <a href="http://twitter.com/ringer">on Twitter</a>, and <a href="http://instagram.com/ringer">on Instagram</a> until polls close at 5 p.m. Eastern.</p>
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<h3 id="WvbMWg">The Championship</h3>
<h4 id="4wIJzv"><strong>(3) Jon vs. Everyone v. (2) Tormund and Brienne</strong></h4>
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<p id="AchT9z"><strong>3. Jon vs. Everyone:</strong> The premiere meme for any and all hot takes. Jon’s charge toward the Bolton cavalry in the Battle of the Bastards works for any controversial opinion because internet users are bloodthirsty spectators and social media is our virtual colosseum. When a great hot take enters the arena, it doesn’t matter who is unsheathing their sword against the galloping hordes of groupthink. It only matters that we are promised blood.</p>
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<p id="n1eoPN">Don’t be surprised if this meme, like Jon, beats the odds.</p>
<p id="SX1BqZ"><strong>2. Tormund and Brienne:</strong> The unrequited love that launched a thousand memes.</p>
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<p class="c-end-para" id="WzV9l2"><em>Disclosure: HBO is an initial investor in </em>The Ringer.</p>
https://www.theringer.com/game-of-thrones/2019/4/12/18307031/game-of-thrones-meme-bracket-finalsRiley McAtee2019-04-11T05:20:00-04:002019-04-11T05:20:00-04:00‘Game of Thrones’ Meme Bracket: Brienne and Tormund Skate Into the Final Four
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<p>A mere 44 votes sent the Night King packing in the Elite Eight. Who will move forward as the tournament nears its conclusion?</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="DsnVja">Even in the notoriously dark, depressing <em>Game of Thrones</em> universe, love can conquer death. Or, at least in the case of <em>The Ringer</em>’s meme bracket, creepy leering can. </p>
<p id="mhbbdl">On Wednesday, Tormund and Brienne took down the Night King by the skin of its teeth—44 votes, to be exact—and returned summer to the realm. The battle was tough, the closest the meme bracket has seen to this point, and if this were the NCAA tournament, we’d probably say that Tormund and Brienne won on a buzzer-beater. And deservedly so. While the Night King GIF is iconic—who can forget the chilling moment that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mmIHkMRKeo">he stared down Jon Snow at Hardhome</a>, raised his arms, and brought many of Jon’s recently fallen friends back from the dead?—this is ultimately a victory for one of the show’s most <a href="https://www.theringer.com/tv/2019/4/9/18297340/game-of-thrones-season-8-characters-shipping-jon-snow-daenerys-targaryen-brienne">highly regarded ships</a>.</p>
<p id="xgnAo1">One of the biggest (or at least my biggest) questions entering Season 8 is <a href="https://www.theringer.com/game-of-thrones/2019/4/4/18294434/game-of-thrones-loose-ends-brienne-jaime-tormund">whom Brienne will end up with</a>. Tormund is an obvious choice for a few reasons: First, he’s made his love for her abundantly clear (see: the GIF in reference); and second, once he gets past the whole freaky staring phase, it seems like he could legitimately make Brienne happy. But of course, there are other contenders. Jaime Lannister for one, who, though he and Brienne have never openly acknowledged any possible feelings for one another, clearly has an immense respect for her—he gave her a Valyrian-steel sword, after all!—and is currently riding for Winterfell. And of course, who can count out <a href="https://www.theringer.com/tv/2019/2/22/18235245/game-of-thrones-loose-ends-podrick-payne-sex-god">Sex God Pod</a>? The show has given no indication that there’s attraction on either side of that relationship, but at this point, it’s basically impossible to ignore one of the <em>Thrones</em>’s biggest romantic free agents.</p>
<p id="63nYvc">For now, though, I’ll take this joint Tormund-Brienne victory as a sign that they’re MFEO—or at least MTWTB (Made to Win This Bracket).</p>
<p id="AWLsU1">There is one downside to their victory, however, and that’s the world being denied a Night King vs. Jon Snow battle in the championship. It feels strange watching Jon vs. Everyone—the winner of the Stark Region—advance when the “everyone” Jon will face in Season 8 is the Night King and his 100,000-plus undead army. But alas, I guess we’ll just have to wait to see how that plays out in a few weeks. At least we’ll have the heat of Tormund’s stare to keep us warm in the meantime. </p>
<p id="dVzXJg">Outside of Tormund and Brienne, which took the Field Region, and Jon vs. Everyone, we also have Tyrion Dancing and Drogon vs. Loot Train advancing to the Final Four out of the Lannister and Targaryen Regions, respectively. The Drogon-Jon matchup looks to be a tough contest, and it’ll be strange watching Jon square off against the child of his aunt/lover and the sibling of Rhaegal, who maybe, JUST MAYBE, he’ll ride this season. Tyrion Dancing is the last no. 1 seed remaining in the tournament, so Tormund and Brienne will have its work cut out for it this round. </p>
<p id="RW8epC">Voting is open now, and you can cast your ballots here, <a href="http://twitter.com/ringer">on Twitter</a>, and on <a href="http://instagram.com/ringer">Instagram</a> until 5 p.m. Eastern. With all heroes left in the field, which will take home the ultimate prize as meme champion?</p>
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<h3 id="KT5jsV">Final Four</h3>
<h4 id="qIC8ye"><strong>(3) Jon vs. Everyone v. (2) Drogon vs. Loot Train</strong></h4>
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<p id="eP98ZJ"><strong>3. Jon vs. Everyone:</strong> The premiere meme for any and all hot takes. Jon’s charge toward the Bolton cavalry in the Battle of the Bastards works for any controversial opinion because internet users are bloodthirsty spectators and social media is our virtual colosseum. When a great hot take enters the arena, it doesn’t matter who is unsheathing their sword against the galloping hordes of groupthink. It only matters that we are promised blood.</p>
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<p id="HP4aPe">Don’t be surprised if this meme, like Jon, beats the odds.</p>
<p id="ppfm8r"><strong>2. Drogon vs. Loot Train:</strong> A highlight tape of Golden State Warriors playoff games.</p>
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<h4 id="4wIJzv"><strong>(1) Tyrion Dancing v. (2) Tormund and Brienne</strong></h4>
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<p id="qQAdFM"><strong>1. Tyrion Dancing:</strong> Tyrion’s trial in Season 4 is among the tensest scenes of the entire series. The bloopers, not so much.</p>
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<p id="w2f167">I assume this is how Paul Manafort walked into his various trials.</p>
<p id="EjtFyb"><strong>2. Tormund and Brienne:</strong> The unrequited love that launched a thousand memes.</p>
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<p id="FFY0IM"><em>Disclosure: HBO is an initial investor in </em>The Ringer.</p>
https://www.theringer.com/tv/2019/4/11/18305683/game-of-thrones-meme-bracket-brienne-and-tormund-skate-into-the-final-fourMegan Schuster2019-04-10T05:40:00-04:002019-04-10T05:40:00-04:00‘Game of Thrones’ Meme Bracket: Brace Yourself, Upsets Are Coming
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<p>The top overall seed lost to “You Know Nothing, Jon Snow” as the tournament moves to the Elite Eight.</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="6vhLEW">What do you call an upset when it’s entirely foreseeable?</p>
<p id="k87wGU">This is the question I’m left with, as after two days of voting and almost half a million ballots tallied, three no. 1 seeds remain, but none of them are the top overall seed entering the tourney. In a shocking defeat, Brace Yourself—a meme based on words Ned Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Lord Paramount of the North, never once uttered—fell to “You Know Nothing” by more than 1,000 votes.</p>
<p id="xxoJXU">Brace Yourself was the first meme in the <em>Thrones</em> canon. When it first came to prominence during the show’s inaugural season, the internet was a quieter place. Barack Obama was president, Facebook hadn’t yet purchased Instagram for a then-laughable $1 billion, and Chatroulette was still a thing parents worried about their kids checking on the family desktop. </p>
<p id="mJxQbG">The simplicity of Brace Yourself—a portrait of a leering Sean Bean, cloaked in pelts and carrying a Valyrian steel sword, with GIANT BLOCK LETTERS WITH NO OBVIOUS AESTHETIC VALUE covering half the screen—gave it a versatility that other memes lack. LeBron James lost his first Finals series with Miami just months after bolting for South Beach with <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/7/2/17524572/lebron-james-the-decision-miami-heat-2010">an almost preposterous lack of self-awareness</a>? Brace yourself, LeBron takes are coming. New Year’s Eve is right around the corner? You better brace yourself, because resolution posts are coming. The <a href="https://media.gq.com/photos/558300b23655c24c6c955b2d/master/w_768%2Cc_limit/news-politics-blogs-death-race-ericandpaul450.jpg">Republican nominee</a> for <a href="https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/time_paulryan_20111205_0373.jpg?quality=85">vice president of the United States</a> drops a series of <a href="https://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/fashion/daily/2018/04/11/paul-ryan-workout/1.nocrop.w710.h2147483647.2x.jpg">wildly unnecessary workout photos</a> in the middle of the campaign? If you’re not bracing yourself for that, I don’t know what you’d brace yourself for.</p>
<p id="UoCtma">For a time, basic formulas like this one were all we needed to have fun online. Something funny, frustrating, or generally mundane happened in the world that was likely to rile some people up, and those with decent enough internet connection bolted to their meme generators to warn folks about the ensuing onslaught of posts. The public needed to be prepared. But times have changed. The blocky, gaudy lettering iconic to Brace Yourself feels of another time. The 24/7 nature of the internet makes having time to <em>brace yourself</em> seem outdated. And it shouldn’t be surprising that a meme centered around a character that was ceremoniously beheaded in 2011 suffered an early exit.</p>
<p id="sCStWu">It was time for Brace Yourself to stand down as the de facto Lord of <em>Thrones</em> Memes. Perhaps Season 8 will deliver a new Stark Meme front-runner. But for now, kudos to Ygritte and “You Know Nothing.”</p>
<p id="3ysNix">Voting for the Elite Eight is now open. You can cast your ballots here, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/ringer">on Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ringer/">on Instagram</a> until 5 p.m. Eastern. <em>Game of Thrones</em> taught us that heroes die early and often. Your votes did as much to kill Ned Stark as Ilyn Payne did. And just as Robb Stark rose in his place, so too will another dank <em>Thrones </em>meme.</p>
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<h3 id="qzMEP3">Elite Eight</h3>
<h4 id="jzgJRp"><strong>(4) “You Know Nothing” v. (3) Jon vs. Everyone</strong></h4>
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<p id="w2Iprs"><strong>4.</strong> “<strong>You Know Nothing”</strong>: If you’ve ever had an ex say something that still rattles around the inside of your skull like a DVD player’s screensaver, you know how deeply this phrase cuts our boy Jon. “You know nothing, Jon Snow” was Ygritte’s go-to putdown for her southern lover, and they were the final words she said to Jon as she lay dying in his arms. The phrase bothers Jon, but it also bothers actor Kit Harington, who does not understand what the phrase means.</p>
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<p id="xT7HZM">I know what you’re thinking: “Jon Snow was<em> </em>in<em> Pompeii</em>?”<em> </em>But it’s either outstanding method acting or a terrible omen for his marriage to Rose Leslie, the actor who plays Ygritte.</p>
<p id="cmadmy"><strong>3. Jon vs. Everyone:</strong> The premiere meme for any and all hot takes. Jon’s charge toward the Bolton cavalry in the Battle of the Bastards works for any controversial opinion because internet users are bloodthirsty spectators and social media is our virtual colosseum. When a great hot take enters the arena, it doesn’t matter who is unsheathing their sword against the galloping hordes of groupthink. It only matters that we are promised blood.</p>
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<p id="FHj2B6">Don’t be surprised if this meme, like Jon, beats the odds.</p>
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<h4 id="qIC8ye"><strong>(1) “Dracarys” v. (2) Drogon vs. Loot Train</strong></h4>
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<p id="1nMuiG"><strong>1. “Dracarys”: </strong>Dany has done so much conquering, killing, city-razing, and slave-freeing over the years that it’s easy to forget how legendary her initial conquest was. She swaps a dragon for an Unsullied army as her advisors openly express doubt, reveals she speaks Valyrian, orders the Unsullied to kill the masters, and then says the word that puts the “fire” in “fire and blood.”</p>
<p id="6Z2Pfe"><strong>2. Drogon vs. Loot Train:</strong> A highlight tape of Golden State Warriors playoff games.</p>
<div id="8VpljA"><div data-anthem-component="poll:6045362"></div></div>
<h4 id="I1oCKR"><strong>(1) Tyrion Dancing v. (6) Tyrion Slapping Joffrey</strong></h4>
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<p id="J9bfSh"><strong>1. Tyrion Dancing:</strong> Tyrion’s trial in Season 4 is among the tensest scenes of the entire series. The bloopers, not so much.</p>
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<p id="iSee0D">I assume this is how Paul Manafort walked into his various trials.</p>
<p id="Qlcfja"><strong>6. Tyrion Slapping Joffrey:</strong> Nothing short of mesmerizing. It’s <em>Game of Thrones </em>ASMR.</p>
<p id="2IkmwJ">This could be on a loop for two hours in a movie theater and it would be better than watching <em>Green Book</em>.</p>
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<h4 id="4wIJzv"><strong>(1) Night King Raises Arms v. (2) Tormund and Brienne</strong></h4>
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<p id="Vw8Sx8"><strong>1. Night King Raises Arms:</strong> The end of “Hardhome” was seared into our corneas, and the ensuing meme of the Night King raising his arms immediately replaced Brace Yourself as the best (and most overused) meme on the <em>Thrones </em>power rankings.</p>
<p id="LFIKbk"><strong>2. Tormund and Brienne:</strong> The unrequited love that launched a thousand memes.</p>
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<p id="t2jZUw"><em>An earlier version of this piece included an incorrect bracket image.</em></p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="kgf5QM"><em>Disclosure: HBO is an initial investor in </em>The Ringer.</p>
https://www.theringer.com/tv/2019/4/10/18303720/game-of-thrones-meme-bracket-elite-eightShaker Samman2019-04-09T05:20:00-04:002019-04-09T05:20:00-04:00‘Game of Thrones’ Meme Bracket: A Bloody Day for the 3-Seeds
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<p>How did Ramsay and a piece of pork sausage top “Tell Cersei It Was Me”? It’s chaos—and as Littlefinger would say: Chaos is a ladder. Which memes will climb to the next rung in the Sweet 16?</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="S0z18b">We’ve whittled down our list of memes to 16, and it wouldn’t be a proper <em>Game of Thrones</em> bracket without a couple shocking twists along the way. Let’s break down the action from the first day of voting, for the memes are dank and full of spoilers. </p>
<p id="SV7yO4">While the top two seeds for our four Westerosi meme regions came away unscathed, a few 3-seeds weren’t so lucky. In the Targaryen region’s battle of all-caps fury, Dany’s “WHERE ARE MY DRAGONS?!?!?!” fell to her Mad King father’s versatile proclamation to “BURN THEM ALL!!!!” which I’ve used to express contempt for anyone who doesn’t like the <em>John Wick</em> franchise or prefers dogs over cats. (Why do you have a problem with an animal that is independent, self-cleans, and doesn’t need to be held on a leash to poop? Dogs are great; cats are better!) </p>
<p id="NiwnAF">Dany’s loss in this matchup might be the subject of <em>Thrones</em> recency bias on behalf of the voting contingent: Her incessant dragon-related inquiries happened all the way back in 2012, during the first term of the Obama administration. Meanwhile, the Mad King’s brief but memorable cameo was part of Bran Stark’s trippy Three-Eyed Raven visions in Season 6. It’s just fresher on the mind; not to mention, it’s the <em>only</em> thing that happened on-screen we can associate with the Mad King. Since the “WHERE ARE MY DRAGONS?” incident, we’ve seen Dany set assholes on fire—“Dracarys” is the no. 1 seed in the region for a reason—preside over Slaver’s Bay, finally set sail to Westeros, and slam her mopey nephew between the sheets. Also, she found her dragons, and they’re big now. </p>
<p id="7jGSHG">Over in the Lannister region, 6-seed Tyrion Slapping Joffrey easily subdued the 3-seed, Drunk Tyrion. The Drunk Tyrion we used—of him pouring wine delicately and celebrating like a child using the potty correctly for the first time—was a controversial pick among the nominees. There’s just so many great Drunk Tyrion moments to choose from, and <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/missandei-PVhV8z6rJeJCo">“I Drink and I Know Things”</a> feels like the perfect thesis statement for the character. (More importantly, it’s good for memeing; who among us doesn’t want to drink and know things?) </p>
<p id="rP7TEU">But perhaps no Drunk Tyrion nominee could’ve withstood the visceral joy of Tyrion Slapping Joffrey, an iconic scene from the second episode of Season 1. At first, the slap was a fleeting moment of joy, and it got better as we got to know Joffrey. When he made Sansa look at the severed head of her deceased father, I thought about how satisfying Tyrion’s slap was, and let’s not forget, Tyrion did slap his nephew three times in the scene. Tyrion also slapped him a couple more times in Season 2—this moment was uploaded to YouTube, under the Pulitzer-worthy title <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSXhZItSVpI">“Game of Thrones season 2 -Tyrion OWNS Joffrey AGAIN!!!!”</a>—when some King’s Landing commoners threw shit at their king. (Shoutout to those guys.) Tyrion Slapping Joffrey was, quite simply, a hell of an opponent for the first round, and in this writer’s opinion, worthy of a higher seed to begin with. But I’ll leave those matters to the Small Council of Memes. </p>
<p id="wDgxly">Finally, 3-seed “Tell Cersei It Was Me” fell to the Ramsay Bolton pork sausage GIF. This was arguably the single most shocking result of the opening round. The terribly named Loot Train Attack notwithstanding, Olenna Tyrell’s confession to Jaime Lannister that she poisoned his and Cersei’s son was the best moment of Season 7. It’s an incredible send-off, and probably the only time where a person dying on <em>Thrones</em> comes out of the scene as the victorious party. Olenna got one final “fuck you” to the Lannisters, and as the final vestige of the great House Tyrell, this meme deserved better. </p>
<p id="puodpE">Ramsay and a sausage, what’s there to say? Westeros’s resident sadist and the show’s warning that there are somehow more insidious people than Joffrey in the realm—remember thinking, “Wow, I wish they just brought Joffrey back instead of this psycho”?—terrorized Theon Greyjoy after he lost his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvrp_D_nSO4">favorite toy</a>. I suppose props should be doled out to the valued crewmember who provided Ramsay with the phallic link; it certainly looks, uh, suggestive. But let’s be real: This is a really dumb meme. If “Pork Sausage” wins in the Sweet 16—against the memeable might of Tormund thirsting over Brienne—I will <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay_t-WLlXik">burn this website to the ground</a>. </p>
<p id="E5BfwF">And now, onto the Sweet 16. Don’t forget, you can vote here on the website, <a href="http://twitter.com/ringer">on Twitter</a>, and <a href="http://instagram.com/ringer">on Instagram</a> every day until 5 p.m. Eastern. As always: Valar Memeghulis.</p>
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<h3 id="pyEuVe">Stark Region</h3>
<h4 id="ztNrnH"><strong>(1) Brace Yourself v. (4) “You Know Nothing”</strong></h4>
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<p id="6owSvl"><strong>1. Brace Yourself: </strong>“Brace yourself, winter is coming” is never said in the books or the TV series, but it still serves as <em>Game of Thrones</em>’s first and most iconic meme. Like Ned, the Brace Yourself meme is a charming remnant of a simpler time.</p>
<p id="R6Y5Ix"><strong>4.</strong> “<strong>You Know Nothing”</strong>: If you’ve ever had an ex say something that still rattles around the inside of your skull like a DVD player’s screensaver, you know how deeply this phrase cuts our boy Jon. “You know nothing, Jon Snow” was Ygritte’s go-to putdown for her southern lover, and they were the final words she said to Jon as she lay dying in his arms. The phrase bothers Jon, but it also bothers actor Kit Harington, who does not understand what the phrase means.</p>
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<p id="GffprQ">I know what you’re thinking: “Jon Snow was<em> </em>in<em> Pompeii</em>?”<em> </em>But it’s either outstanding method acting or a terrible omen for his marriage to Rose Leslie, the actor who plays Ygritte.</p>
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<h4 id="jzgJRp"><strong>(3) Jon vs. Everyone v. (2) Hold the Door</strong></h4>
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<p id="AJUx8i"><strong>3. Jon vs. Everyone:</strong> The premiere meme for any and all hot takes. Jon’s charge toward the Bolton cavalry in the Battle of the Bastards works for any controversial opinion because internet users are bloodthirsty spectators and social media is our virtual colosseum. When a great hot take enters the arena, it doesn’t matter who is unsheathing their sword against the galloping hordes of groupthink. It only matters that we are promised blood.</p>
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<p id="06bNVG">Don’t be surprised if this meme, like Jon, beats the odds.</p>
<p id="RBEpF6"><strong>2. Hold the Door</strong>: Yes, we know Hodor is not a Stark, but we’re granting him honorary Stark status for this moment that involved a member of the Stark clan (and to make this bracket fit. U mad?!?!)</p>
<p id="Lgx1Od">Before “The Door,” we had plenty of Hodor memes that were as pure as the man himself.</p>
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<p id="T7gun6">After “The Door,” we finally learned Hodor’s origin story was, “What if Harry Potter had gone back in time to kill Baby Voldemort but accidentally turned Hagrid into Groot?” Hodor’s demise gave us an appreciation for him in death that will ensure he lives forever. The amount of Hodor doorstops for sale on Etsy is nothing short of stunning.</p>
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<h3 id="E46B4h">Targaryen Region</h3>
<h4 id="cDj888"><strong>(1) “Dracarys” v. (4) “Take Off Your Clothes”</strong></h4>
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<p id="azgSj6"><strong>1. “Dracarys”: </strong>Dany has done so much conquering, killing, city-razing, and slave-freeing over the years that it’s easy to forget how legendary her initial conquest was. She swaps a dragon for an Unsullied army as her advisors openly express doubt, reveals she speaks Valyrian, orders the Unsullied to kill the masters, and then says the word that puts the “fire” in “fire and blood.”</p>
<p id="lWRFBz"><strong>4. “Take Off Your Clothes”: </strong>We’re all adults here.</p>
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<h4 id="qIC8ye"><strong>(6) “Burn Them All” v. (2) Drogon vs. Loot Train</strong></h4>
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<p id="fTJSPj"><strong>6. “Burn Them All”: </strong>The Mad King’s command to torch the citizens of King’s Landing is also an excellent way to express your feelings about people who slice bagels St. Louis style.</p>
<p id="jgVmyZ"><strong>2. Drogon vs. Loot Train:</strong> A highlight tape of Golden State Warriors playoff games.</p>
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<h3 id="06CU8n">Lannister Region</h3>
<h4 id="d1ufej"><strong>(1) Tyrion Dancing v. (5) “More Wine”</strong></h4>
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<p id="EOkQLj"><strong>1. Tyrion Dancing:</strong> Tyrion’s trial in Season 4 is among the tensest scenes of the entire series. The bloopers, not so much.</p>
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<p id="8cF66x">I assume this is how Paul Manafort walked into his various trials.</p>
<p id="Tpt3no"><strong>5. “More Wine”: </strong>Cersei’s defining character trait (after incest and murder) is functional alcoholism, so whittling it down to one meme was nearly as tough as finishing this whole bracket. Thus, we created another conference for all the Cersei wine memes to earn an automatic bid. “More Wine” emerged from a crowded Cersei Drinking Wine conference to defeat <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/game-is-coming-a2PfTCD1QqiUo">Drink</a>, <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/img-rastamouse-zh1kWqO6FGGm4">Regret Drinking 1</a>, <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/thrones-lena-cersei-Ux7F7eWXuO2Y">Feeling Cute, Might Delete Later</a>, <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/game-of-thrones-gif-got-asoiaf-Aab18QlyOnQs0">Regret Drinking 2</a>, and an upset win over <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/gameofthrones-game-of-thrones-hbo-l41YedIbenuBH6ljO">Victory Sip</a>.</p>
<p id="nImEa7">Congratulations to “More Wine,” which will represent all Cersei drinking wine memes in this tournament. (And it won without blowing anybody up!)</p>
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<h4 id="I1oCKR"><strong>(6) Tyrion Slapping Joffrey v. (2) “Shame”</strong></h4>
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<p id="Qlcfja"><strong>6. Tyrion Slapping Joffrey:</strong> Nothing short of mesmerizing. It’s <em>Game of Thrones </em>ASMR.</p>
<p id="2IkmwJ">This could be on a loop for two hours in a movie theater and it would be better than watching <em>Green Book</em>.</p>
<p id="w7lX99"><strong>2. “Shame”: </strong>With Cersei’s shame walk, <em>Game of Thrones</em> answered the question, “What if everyone acted in real life like they do on the internet?”</p>
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<h3 id="10pZsx">The Field Region</h3>
<h4 id="7DugJU"><strong>(1) Night King Raises Arms v. (4) Lyanna Mormont Glare</strong></h4>
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<p id="isdG1A"><strong>1. Night King Raises Arms:</strong> The end of “Hardhome” was seared into our corneas, and the ensuing meme of the Night King raising his arms immediately replaced Brace Yourself as the best (and most overused) meme on the <em>Thrones </em>power rankings.</p>
<p id="CfT5rR"><strong>5. Lyanna Mormont Glare: </strong>Lyanna Mormont’s stare at Ramsay Bolton before the Battle of the Bastards is reason 6,784 that the only good ending to the series would be Lyanna Mormont on the Iron Throne.</p>
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<h4 id="4wIJzv"><strong>(6) “Pork Sausage” v. (2) Tormund and Brienne</strong></h4>
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<p id="ydkE8x"><strong>6. “Pork Sausage”:</strong> “Pork sausage. You think I’m some sort of savage?” is the most savage line in the entire show. Ramsay’s face is key, but the sausage wiggle drives the meme home. Shakespeare said it’s better to have loved your big dick and lost it than to have never had one at all, but, well, that’s not working out so well for Theon.</p>
<p id="jO042z"><strong>2. Tormund and Brienne:</strong> The unrequited love that launched a thousand memes.</p>
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<p class="c-end-para" id="ISDedl"><em>Disclosure: HBO is an initial investor in </em>The Ringer.</p>
https://www.theringer.com/2019/4/9/18301245/game-of-thrones-meme-bracket-a-bloody-day-for-the-3-seedsMiles Surrey2019-04-08T05:20:00-04:002019-04-08T05:20:00-04:00All Memes Must Die: The ‘Game of Thrones’ Meme Bracket
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<figcaption>HBO/Ringer illustration</figcaption>
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<p>‘Game of Thrones’ is the biggest show on TV—it’s also one of the biggest content producers for the internet. From Brace Yourself to “Dracarys,” this is the tournament to decide once and for all which ‘Thrones’ meme is best.</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="49WHug">March Madness is almost over, but winter is just beginning. Less than one week remains until the final season of <em>Game of Throne</em>s, and to count down the end of days, <em>The Ringer</em>’s selection committee has whittled down the top 32 memes in <em>Thrones</em> history. With the field settled, we are asking you, the internet, to determine the winner of the <em>Game of Thrones</em> Meme Bracket. We’ll hold voting every day this week until we find one meme to sit on the internet’s Iron Throne on Friday, April 12.</p>
<p id="w4KJg0">After evaluating a vast number of memes from across the web, the committee was tasked with the following responsibilities:</p>
<ol>
<li id="vpgN5b">Select the best at-large memes</li>
<li id="ScsDNT">Seed the field of 32 memes</li>
<li id="g0O55v">Place the memes into the bracket</li>
</ol>
<p id="qu9uyD">For memes where there was heavy redundancy (e.g., Tyrion drinking memes, Cersei drinking memes, brooding Jon Snow memes) conference tournaments were held and the winner was given an automatic bid. Otherwise, the committee was charged with determining the “best” memes. We understand the definition of “best” is fluid—it could be defined as “funniest,” “most deserving,” or “dankest.” The interpretation of “best” was left up to individual committee members, though it’s worth pointing out that these are meme <em>templates</em>. We do not have the hubris to point to one specific meme and decide it is the funniest <em>Game of Thrones</em> joke on the internet. For example, our no. 1 overall seed is Brace Yourself, Winter Is Coming.</p>
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<p id="eYlHba">All past, present, and future derivations of this meme fall under the Brace Yourself umbrella. A meme’s total impact should be considered when you cast your ballot. You can vote here on the website, <a href="https://twitter.com/ringer">on Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ringer/">on Instagram</a> every day until 5 p.m. ET. Voting will go as follows:</p>
<p id="seSGKq"><strong>Monday:</strong> Round of 32<br><strong>Tuesday</strong>: Sweet 16<br><strong>Wednesday</strong>: Elite Eight<br><strong>Thursday</strong>: Final Four<br><strong>Friday</strong>: Championship</p>
<p id="BxwPOR">And here is your Meme Bracket:</p>
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<p id="K3BHM6">How did we determine which memes to include? This bracket is a legitimized bastard child of <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/10/1/17914716/the-nba-meme-bracket"><em>The Ringer</em>’s NBA Meme Bracket</a><em>. </em>In that bracket, <em>The Ringer</em>’s maester, Jason Concepcion, laid out the meme definition we’ll be using: Memes must have the flexibility to be intertextual. </p>
<blockquote><p id="lcZXho">Memes can be GIFs. But not all GIFs are memes. To be considered a meme, the content must have a core set of characteristics that can be recontextualized into other content, while retaining the same identifiers. </p></blockquote>
<aside id="oIyiOQ"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"The NBA Meme Bracket","url":"https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/10/1/17914716/the-nba-meme-bracket"}]}'></div></aside><p id="E0r1ZP">For most memes on this list, the image is the intertextual device and the text is subject to change (the Ned Stark image remains, while the words change). In some cases, the text is the intertextual device and the images are the variable (e.g., “You know nothing, Jon Snow” or “Hold the door”).</p>
<p id="0ICHjY">You’ll surely disagree with our choices, so the rest is up to you. Valar Memeghulis.</p>
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<h3 id="PAXqox">Stark Region</h3>
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<h4 id="PEYYsh">(1) Brace Yourself v. (8) Sad Robb and Catelyn</h4>
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<p id="gvyL09"><strong>1. Brace Yourself: </strong>“Brace yourself, winter is coming” is never said in the books or the TV series, but it still serves as <em>Game of Thrones</em>’s first and most iconic meme. Like Ned, the Brace Yourself meme is a charming remnant of a simpler time.</p>
<p id="17WFBl"><strong>8. Sad Robb and Catelyn</strong>: So much is communicated in so little time. Shock, failure, shame, then blame, but the most jarring part is seeing Robb and Catelyn standing next to each other alive. An excellent reminder that no matter how sad you are now, things will get worse.</p>
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<h4 id="ztNrnH">(4) “You Know Nothing” v. (5) Jon Wakes Up</h4>
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<p id="xxjSZp"><strong>4.</strong> “<strong>You Know Nothing”</strong>: If you’ve ever had an ex say something that still rattles around the inside of your skull like a DVD player’s screensaver, you know how deeply this phrase cuts our boy Jon. “You know nothing, Jon Snow” was Ygritte’s go-to putdown for her southern lover, and they were the final words she said to Jon as she lay dying in his arms. The phrase bothers Jon, but it also bothers actor Kit Harington, who does not understand what the phrase means.</p>
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<p id="xCZAT5">I know what you’re thinking: “Jon Snow was<em> </em>in<em> Pompeii</em>?”<em> </em>But it’s either outstanding method acting or a terrible omen for his marriage to Rose Leslie, the actor who plays Ygritte. </p>
<p id="HKrWCJ"><strong>5. Jon Wakes Up</strong>: Like Jon Snow, this meme came into the world at the right time. Jon’s miraculous resurrection at Castle Black came in May 2016, a month before the 2016 NBA Finals. The number of times this was captioned as “LeBron’s title chances” during the Cavaliers’ comeback from a 3-1 deficit against the Warriors is countless. Like LeBron James, this meme’s ludicrous usage rates in 2016 have been forgotten.</p>
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<h4 id="mLYiBd">(3) Jon vs. Everyone v. (6) Arya Laughing</h4>
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<p id="KpNZQl"><strong>3. Jon vs. Everyone:</strong> The premiere meme for any and all hot takes. Jon’s charge toward the Bolton cavalry in the Battle of the Bastards works for any controversial opinion because internet users are bloodthirsty spectators and social media is our virtual colosseum. When a great hot take enters the arena, it doesn’t matter who is unsheathing their sword against the galloping hordes of groupthink. It only matters that we are promised blood. </p>
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<p id="yVxK3T">Don’t be surprised if this meme, like Jon, beats the odds.</p>
<p id="7crnDn"><strong>6. Arya Laughing</strong>: When Arya discovers a family member has died just as she arrived on the scene—<em>again—</em>her laughter echoes throughout the empty ravine, mirroring the feelings bouncing around her hollow soul. It’s a jarring and beautiful, “fuck it, we all die anyway” laugh. Of all the normie <em>Thrones </em>memes, this is the dankest.</p>
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<h4 id="jzgJRp">(2) Hold the Door v. (7) Miserable Jon</h4>
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<p id="RBEpF6"><strong>2. Hold the Door</strong>: Yes, we know Hodor is not a Stark, but we’re granting him honorary Stark status for this moment that involved a member of the Stark clan (and to make this bracket fit. U mad?!?!)</p>
<p id="Lgx1Od">Before “The Door,” we had plenty of Hodor memes that were as pure as the man himself.</p>
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<p id="eXW5WY">After “The Door,” we finally learned Hodor’s origin story was, “What if Harry Potter had gone back in time to kill Baby Voldemort but accidentally turned Hagrid into Groot?” Hodor’s demise gave us an appreciation for him in death that will ensure he lives forever. The amount of Hodor doorstops for sale on Etsy is nothing short of stunning. </p>
<p id="eusfXA"><strong>7. Miserable Jon: </strong>This is such a rich genre that we had to create an entire conference to suss out the most miserable Jon face.</p>
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<p id="7hEQBj">Miserable Jon emerged victorious in the Sad Jon Snow conference tournament despite a crowded field from which he barely squeezed out alive. Miserable Jon will be representing all of the sad Jon faces, though he doesn’t look thrilled to have the honor.</p>
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<h3 id="sxHAtP">Targaryen Region</h3>
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<h4 id="Jef7Iv">(1) “Dracarys” v. (8) Baby Drogon</h4>
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<p id="VSGltK"><strong>1. “Dracarys”: </strong>Dany has done so much conquering, killing, city-razing, and slave-freeing over the years that it’s easy to forget how legendary her initial conquest was. She swaps a dragon for an Unsullied army as her advisors openly express doubt, reveals she speaks Valyrian, orders the Unsullied to kill the masters, and then says the word that puts the “fire” in “fire and blood.”</p>
<p id="YK1HCA"><strong>8. Baby Drogon:</strong> Drogon’s prepubescent flamethrowing impotence is the perfect burn (no, I’m not sorry for the pun). It works for DC movies trying to compete with Marvel, with Democratic candidates trying to use Instagram Live as if they’re AOC, and for whatever poor guy is in line behind Podrick at the brothel.</p>
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<h4 id="cDj888">(4) “Take Off Your Clothes” v. (5) Tired Drogon</h4>
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<p id="l0R5gV"><strong>4. “Take Off Your Clothes”: </strong>We’re all adults here.</p>
<p id="9wrJuR"><strong>5. Tired Drogon: </strong>Khaleesi’s children get crabby when they are tired. Who among us has not been put in timeout for scorching a herd of goats, eating their charred remains, and then chewing on the bones of a toddler? Still, you can’t talk to your mother like this:</p>
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<h4 id="EB5DIP">(3) “WHERE ARE MY DRAGONS?” v. (6) “Burn Them All”</h4>
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<p id="04WV8A"><strong>3. “WHERE ARE MY DRAGONS?”:</strong> The respect for this meme has rusted in the years since it peaked, but whenever you reach into a McDonald’s bag and can’t find the french fries, the voice in your head shrieks, “WHERE ARE MY DRAGONS?” Also, kudos to <a href="https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/327/956/2ff.jpg">whoever did this</a>.</p>
<p id="fdnEga"><strong>6. “Burn Them All”: </strong>The Mad King’s command to torch the citizens of King’s Landing is also an excellent way to express your feelings about people who slice bagels St. Louis style.</p>
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<h4 id="qIC8ye">(2) Drogon vs. Loot Train v. (7) Dany’s Titles</h4>
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<p id="BibNRa"><strong>2. Drogon vs. Loot Train:</strong> A highlight tape of Golden State Warriors playoff games.</p>
<p id="wNVdmK"><strong>7. Dany’s Titles</strong>: Making fun of Dany’s name is a cathartic exercise for those who didn’t read the books. If you’ve ever called Dany “Khaleesi” and been corrected by a book reader, these are the memes for you.</p>
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<h3 id="w26SaI">Lannister Region</h3>
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<h4 id="Gj4Iqn">(1) Tyrion Dancing v. (8) Joffrey Clapping</h4>
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<p id="HFIbKb"><strong>1. Tyrion Dancing:</strong> Tyrion’s trial in Season 4 is among the tensest scenes of the entire series. The bloopers, not so much. </p>
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<p id="oJd6DZ">I assume this is how Paul Manafort walked into his various trials.</p>
<p id="15IMrR"><strong>8. Joffrey Clapping: </strong>Joffrey is applauding a singer in this scene. Seconds later, he orders his goons to cut out the singer’s tongue. This moment is not quite the same without the snipping noise.</p>
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<h4 id="d1ufej">(4) Podrick Smiling v. (5) “More Wine”</h4>
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<p id="svOGuT"><strong>4. Podrick Smiling</strong>: In the episode, the camera zooms out from Pod, but in the most widespread version of the meme it is reversed, as the camera zooms in on his grin. Pod does not care about these semantics. He is a sex God with a hefty log. It’s surprising he ever stops smiling. </p>
<p id="Tpt3no"><strong>5. “More Wine”: </strong> Cersei’s defining character trait (after incest and murder) is functional alcoholism, so whittling it down to one meme was nearly as tough as finishing this whole bracket. Thus, we created another conference for all the Cersei wine memes to earn an automatic bid. “More Wine” emerged from a crowded Cersei Drinking Wine conference to defeat <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/game-is-coming-a2PfTCD1QqiUo">Drink</a>, <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/img-rastamouse-zh1kWqO6FGGm4">Regret Drinking 1</a>, <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/thrones-lena-cersei-Ux7F7eWXuO2Y">Feeling Cute, Might Delete Later</a>, <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/game-of-thrones-gif-got-asoiaf-Aab18QlyOnQs0">Regret Drinking 2</a>, and an upset win over <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/gameofthrones-game-of-thrones-hbo-l41YedIbenuBH6ljO">Victory Sip</a>.</p>
<p id="nImEa7">Congratulations to “More Wine,” which will represent all Cersei drinking wine memes in this tournament. (And it won without blowing anybody up!)</p>
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<h4 id="igzHUY">(3) Drunk Tyrion v. (6) Tyrion Slapping Joffrey</h4>
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<p id="Zi4yYR"><strong>3. Drunk Tyrion</strong>: Our third conference tournament winner is Drunk Tyrion, who will represent all Tyrion drinking memes after winning the hyper-competitive Tyrion Drinking conference tournament that included “<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/missandei-PVhV8z6rJeJCo">I Drink and I Know Things</a>,” <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/game-drinking-drink-VoTndFgTSyELe">Tyrion Vomiting</a>, and “<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/gameofthrones-hbo-game-of-thrones-tyrion-lannister-5fBH6zdtDYMWsv3PDQk">Drink Until You Feel Like You Did the Right Thing</a>.” Drunk Tyrion’s upset victory over “<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/tyrion-lannister-house-99TrLm9NWthAI">It’s Not Easy Being Drunk All the Time</a>” was an extremely controversial victory (and some maintain a double-dribble should have been called) but the Drunk Tyrion meme stands out because of the classic drunk concentration he employs when he tries not to spill the wine followed by the immense satisfaction of completing a basic task. Every man who has tried to pee while hammered without sploshing the toilet rim knows this feeling.</p>
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<p id="Qlcfja"><strong>6. Tyrion Slapping Joffrey:</strong> Nothing short of mesmerizing. It’s <em>Game of Thrones </em>ASMR.</p>
<p id="2IkmwJ">This could be on a loop for two hours in a movie theater and it would be better than watching <em>Green Book</em>.</p>
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<h4 id="I1oCKR">(2) “Shame” v. (7) Jaime’s Hand Wave</h4>
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<p id="DVcVMS"><strong>2. “Shame”: </strong>With Cersei’s shame walk, <em>Game of Thrones</em> answered the question, “What if everyone acted in real life like they do on the internet?”</p>
<p id="x3K27b"><strong>7. Jaime’s Hand Wave:</strong> This wave comes from the scene where Qyburn attaches Jaime’s golden hand for the first time, but the best part is that after Jaime waves Qyburn out of the room, he calls Qyburn an “odd little man.” But based on the sound of the door opening and closing, Qyburn <em>clearly</em> had not left the room yet. He definitely heard Jaime’s remark. Did Jaime not realize Qyburn could hear? Or did he not care? Either a dick move or sloppy comms by Jaime.</p>
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<h3 id="za2RIJ">The Field Region</h3>
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<h4 id="6qCua3">(1) Night King Raises Arms v. (8) Gendry Rowing</h4>
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<p id="1RT0uB"><strong>1. Night King Raises Arms:</strong> The end of “Hardhome” was seared into our corneas, and the ensuing meme of the Night King raising his arms immediately replaced Brace Yourself as the best (and most overused) meme on the <em>Thrones</em> power rankings. </p>
<p id="FdElWz"><strong>8. Gendry Rowing</strong>: A surprisingly rich text. Gendry was last seen in a rowboat at the end of Season 3. He did not return until four real-life years later, in Season 7. To put Gendry’s absence in perspective, he got into that boat when Carmelo Anthony led the NBA in scoring, and he returned weeks before Kyrie Irving became a Boston Celtic. In Gendry’s absence, he gained a true-crime-like cult following, and, well, cults are great with memes.</p>
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<h4 id="7DugJU">(4) Lyanna Mormont Glare v. (5) The Hound Drinks Ale</h4>
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<p id="fn3HHh"><strong>5. Lyanna Mormont Glare: </strong>Lyanna Mormont’s stare at Ramsay Bolton before the Battle of the Bastards is reason 6,784 that the only good ending to the series would be Lyanna Mormont on the Iron Throne.</p>
<p id="eltJir"><strong>6. The Hound Drinks Ale: </strong>Arya and the Hound’s sojourn through the countryside is the most endearing plotline in the entire series. They reach an inn where a few Lannister soldiers are terrorizing the owner and his family, and one of the soldiers attempts to bond with the Hound over the spoils of war. The ensuing exchange is one of the best moments in the series. In a conversation that devolves from friendly to deadly in two minutes, the Hound:</p>
<ol>
<li id="W21ACY">Says “Fuck the King.”</li>
<li id="1l1zwV">Gulps his entire beer</li>
<li id="scuWkW">Demands a chicken</li>
<li id="Ts5Ou2">Reaches across the table and takes the soldier’s beer</li>
<li id="5s22pj">Chugs it</li>
<li id="mnbXpW">Demands a second chicken</li>
<li id="aUiWcK">Tells the soldier that, “If any more words come pouring out of your cunt mouth, I’m gonna have to eat every fucking chicken in this room.”</li>
<li id="3L2weV">Says someone is going to die over chickens</li>
<li id="grx8Wp">Kills people over chickens</li>
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<p id="XkYyf1">That is the king’s justice if I’ve ever seen it, and the <a href="https://imgur.com/gallery/oKFoD">Hound chicken memes</a> from this scene are some of the best the show has ever produced.</p>
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<h4 id="PujDDu">(3) “Tell Cersei It Was Me” v. (6) “Pork Sausage”</h4>
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<p id="kkatB1"><strong>3. “Tell Cersei It Was Me”:</strong> Olenna’s dying confession went viral when it became the rallying cry for people who put clothes on their cats.</p>
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<p id="uoJqjC">Winning in<em> Thrones </em>requires allies, and there is no alliance on the internet quite like <em>Game of Thrones</em> and cats.</p>
<p id="sVdeYJ"><strong>6. “Pork Sausage”:</strong> “Pork sausage. You think I’m some sort of savage?” is the most savage line in the entire show. Ramsay’s face is key, but the sausage wiggle drives the meme home. Shakespeare said it’s better to have loved your big dick and lost it than to have never had one at all, but, well, that’s not working out so well for Theon. </p>
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<h4 id="4wIJzv">(2) Tormund and Brienne v. (7) Ice Viserion</h4>
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<p id="0sdSsZ"><strong>2. Tormund and Brienne:</strong> The unrequited love that launched a thousand memes.</p>
<p id="FGDJyE"><strong>7. Ice Viserion:</strong> One of the newest entries in the canon is the perfect meme for a heel turn. Think Antonio Brown remembering to subtweet JuJu Smith-Schuster.</p>
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https://www.theringer.com/tv/2019/4/8/18299556/game-of-thrones-meme-bracketDanny Heifetz