Bran isn't exactly a Game of Thrones favorite. His plot in the fantasy epic has surrounded the esoteric Three-Eyed Raven, who can best be described as an all-knowing tree man. Bran, in season 6, becomes the Three-Eyed Raven and has been an odd little chap ever since.
But season 8 could be his redemption story. Not because of anything in the plot, but because the post-premiere memes circulating Twitter and Reddit mostly starred Bran. He wasn't alone, obviously. Arya's activities were also meme-worthy, and an unexpected request from Cersei was guaranteed to go viral.
Warning: Game of Thrones season 8 spoilers below.
Bran's schtick is that he can see most of history in his mind if directed to it, which is why, in season 7, he knew what Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish had said to Ned Stark after betraying him aaaaaall the way back in season one. In the first episode of season 8 (recap here), Bran spends a lot of the show sitting in Winterfell's square and staring at people from a distance. He tells Samwell Tarley that he's waiting for an old friend.
The awkwardness was not lost on the internet.
Bran literally the whole episode.#GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/nUlok9IM2O
— Sam Mercoli (@SamMercoli) April 15, 2019
Lmao someone said “when you get done watching GoT and look outside your window”
— Kimberly (@yoookimberly) April 15, 2019
IM DEAD WITH THEE BRAN MEMES #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/k5jKXKwQBp
YOU: [switches to private browsing]
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) April 15, 2019
BRAN STARK: pic.twitter.com/YP1kitZDBd
Ok cool, but why is Bran Orin from parks and rec #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/rNm7Z84s9H
— big tuna (@ItsAllens) April 15, 2019
One of Reddit's dedicated Game of Thrones subreddits, r/FreeFolk, were also all about it. This one, from user GaryOaksAlcoholism, was my favorite.
The FreeFolk subreddit was very much into mocking Bran Stark.
Reddit user GaryOaksAlcoholismThe episode opened with Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow and their army of Unsullied, Dothraki and dragons marching to Winterfell. Jon reunites with Bran after years apart -- the last time Jon saw Bran, the young Stark was in a coma after Jaime Lannister pushed him off a window ledge -- and introduces Sansa Stark to Daenerys.
Bran interrupts, saying there's no time for such formalities when a White Walker dragon is on the way to Winterfell. Oh, and that old friend Bran was waiting for. It's Jaime Lannister, who has been riding to Winterfell since the end of season 7.
Both moments have been memified.
#GameofThrones
— _CLiFF_ (@Ayyee_CLiFF) April 15, 2019
Daenerys- “The north is as beautiful as your brother claimed,as are you”
Sansa- “Winterfell is yours, Your grace.”
Bran- pic.twitter.com/lX1wGRzfDD
I present to you..
— Shahbaz Khan (@ShahbazMKhan) April 15, 2019
Dr. Dre’s The Next Episode ft. Bran#GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/rrlNeQHrw1
Bran has been getting absolutely destroyed for 24 hours.
— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) April 15, 2019
Who wins the Iron Throne is anyone's guess and, at this point in the show, not even the point anymore. So far, though, it looks like Bran will be Game of Thrones' 2019 meme lord. But he's got competition. Arya enjoyed reunions with both big brother Jon, friend/enemy The Hound and fellow Fleebottom scumbag Gendry, both of which caused some strong reactions. It was a feelstrip for sure.
#GameofThrones
— Slartibartfast (@Slartib60957079) April 15, 2019
The Hound: You left me to die.
Arya: I robbed you first
The Hound: pic.twitter.com/av4hWQbdBU
Arya: pic.twitter.com/1aTjiJEt1V
— The Big Bag Wolf (@KidFury) April 15, 2019
Me when Arya and Jon reunited vs. Me when Arya and The Hound reunited #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/iyOeyYT5nr
— Garner of House Montgomery (@garner_mont) April 15, 2019
arya&jon reunion #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/NqVWkiXXGg
— elif (@alxithymia) April 15, 2019
Arya and Gendry need to stop playing games and do what the late King Rob predicted them to do #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/cdEikZW4HB
— Deepa (@deepahere1807) April 15, 2019
Another episode highlight, at least when it comes to meme creation, was when Euron Greyjoy and his Iron Fleet brought the Golden Company mercenary army to Cersei in Kings Landing. Cersei was expecting the army to include elephants. Elephants couldn't travel across the world on boats, though. Cersei got no elephants.
Where my elephants? #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/k96QrGYeSh
— Westeros Watch (@WesterosWatch) April 15, 2019
#got
— Colm McWeeney (@ColmMcW) April 15, 2019
Get the woman elephants!! pic.twitter.com/rjeRoP6qle
Cersei reaction to no elephants is exactly how I am when Postmates forgets the extra spicy salsa.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) April 15, 2019
She really wanted those elephants #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/4dbuSKtzyM
— Westeros Watch (@WesterosWatch) April 15, 2019
A trailer for next week's episode teased a trial for Jaime Lannister, who killed Daenerys' father and paralyzed Bran, as well as the first of what will surely be many White Walker battles. With luck, Bran will retain his status of GOT season 8 meme king. With no luck, he might die. Hey, it's a dangerous game.
Originally published April 14.
Update, April 15: Adds day two memes.