As Game of Thrones’ final season approaches, fans are more antsy than ever to find out how their favorite characters will fare – and what better way to ring in the new season than to pay homage to some of these iconic individuals?
As one of the most popular fantasy franchises in recent history, it comes as no surprise that cosplayers across the globe have tried their hands at recreating the book series-turned-HBO-special’s colorful cast of characters.
Although it was difficult to choose, we’ve gathered just a few of the best Game of Thrones cosplays below. Which one is your favorite?
[WARNING: Spoilers ahead!]
#10 Daenerys Targaryen, Carli Bybel
Popular YouTuber and makeup mogul Carli Bybel has recreated several iconic characters in her makeup tutorials, one of them being the Mother of Dragons.
Bybel’s impressive skills in makeup and special effects truly brings Daenerys to life – and she even has her own Khal Drogo, to boot.
#9 Sam Tarley, Samhain138
Cosplayer Samhain138 brings a stunning rendition of Sam Tarley, as he appears in the Night’s Watch during the show’s earlier seasons.
According to Samhain, the entire costume is made from real leather and sheepskin – although he admitted to being annoyed at having “You know nothing!” shouted at him at conventions while wearing the getup.
#8 – Cersei Lannister, Ferasha
Cosplayer Ferasha shares a faithful rendition of Cersei Lannister, following her infamous punishment via the Walk of Atonement.
“I am Cersei of House Lannister, a lion of the Rock, the rightful queen of these Seven Kingdoms, trueborn daughter of Tywin Lannister. And hair grows back.”
#7 – Jon Snow, Wondercon 2016
Although precious little information was shared about this cosplayer, his take on Jon Snow bears an uncanny resemblance to actor Kit Harington – although we can’t vouch for his famously short stature.
#6 – Sansa Stark, Kira Kelley
Sansa Stark’s drastic character development is shown in full, thanks to cosplayer Kira Kelley’s faithful rendition of her handmade gown toward the show’s later seasons, as created in Winterfell.
Kelley even held a photoshoot of the character in an actual castle, making for some seriously impressive shots with other members of the show’s cast.
#5 – Khal Drogo, René Koiter
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This cosplayer isn’t just a Game of Thrones fan; René Koiter is also an employee at Blizzard, who enlisted the aid of several of the company’s best artists to recreate Khal Drogo’s iconic garb.
Koiter even put on a striking performance at Blizzard’s 2013 Halloween event, shouting a speech authentically delivered in the Dothraki language.
#4 – Margaery Tyrell, Xenia Shelkovskaya
Russian cosplayer Xenia Shelkovskaya looks eerily similar to actress Natalie Dormer, giving Lady Margaery’s signature smirk as she poses for the camera.
That’s not all; Xenia even held a photoshoot in the show’s actual location for King’s Landing, bringing a seriously authentic feel to her photos of the character.
#3 – Tyrion Lannister, Omar Diego
It’s not every day that you see such a faithful rendition of a widely beloved fictional character – but cosplayer Omar Diego has managed to deliver just that, thanks to his stunning take on Tyrion Lannister.
Bearing an uncanny resemblance to actor Peter Dinklage, Diego truly brings Tyrion to life – complete with a glass of wine, for good measure.
#2 – Arya Stark, Ginny Diguiseppi
No, that’s not Maisie Williams; rather, that’s cosplayer Ginny Diguiseppi, who shocked fans due to her nearly identical appearance to the actress.
Posing with her sword, Needle, Diguiseppi is the spitting image of Arya as she appears in the show – although the character has changed considerably since her time with the Hound.
#1 – Lady Olenna Tyrell, Game of Thrones Granny
In honor of Olenna Tyrell’s iconic passing in Season 7, the ‘Game of Thrones Granny’ took to DragonCon with a hilarious take on the character’s famous last words.
In typical Olenna fashion, the ‘Game of Thrones’ Granny appeared to be largely nonplussed by her fame – but her epic cosplay added an extra layer of badassery to one of the show’s most kickass women.
Game of Thrones Season 8 is set to premier on HBO on April 14 at 9 PM EST (2 AM GMT). Get your subscriptions and your popcorn ready – this is gonna be one major TV event fans won’t want to miss out on.