AboutWhat does the meme depict?

The "Brace Yourselves, Winter is Coming" meme, also known as Imminent Ned, features the character Eddard 'Ned' Stark, portrayed by Sean Bean, from the HBO series Game of Thrones. The image used in the meme typically shows Ned Stark dressed in his Northern attire, often looking serious or contemplative. The accompanying text usually follows the format 'Brace Yourselves, X is Coming,' making it adaptable for heralding the anticipated arrival of various events, products, or internet phenomena.

OriginWho did it first?

The phrase 'winter is coming' originates from George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire where it is the motto of House Stark. It gained further prominence in HBO's adaptation, Game of Thrones, being featured in the title of the pilot episode aired on April 17, 2011, and various promotional materials. The meme version began to take shape when an owl image macro using the phrase emerged on Quickmeme in July 2011. However, it became more popular once paired with an HBO promotional portrait of Ned Stark following an earthquake on the U.S. East Coast on August 23, 2011. The meme's application expanded as it was widely shared across various platforms. For a detailed look at the usage of the phrase in the series, watch this video.^[1]

Origin: 2011