Man, the wait for the last season of Game of Thrones has been like one of their winters, hasn’t it? It’s been an unimaginably long, cold, dark time, right? But going back to re-watch the older episodes to get all caught up before the big premiere shows just how far everyone has come, especially if you go all the way back to the start.
Also a fun exercise: Going back to that first year’s red carpet and comparing it to the last one. My goodness, the show had some humble origins, and it wears its success with pride now. You could say it’s a pretty stark difference (pun intended without apology).
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister)
Jaime Lannister has had one of the more interesting character arcs in the show, and Nikolaj has stayed handsome throughout.
But this time around, he’s sporting a fresh haircut, a necktie, and a pretty fancy suit.
Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth)
Gwendoline got some great scenes alongside Nikolaj in seasons two and three, and she had one of the most amazing transformations from 2012, going from subdued and sultry to absolutely stunning.
Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark)
I don’t know if Isaac took his Bran money directly to Savile Row, but he’s done well for himself growing up on the biggest show on TV, just like Maisie and Sophie.
Rory McCann (Sandor “The Hound” Clegane)
Man, back in 2012, doesn’t Rory McCann just look happy to be there? And now, after his brutal character has somehow survived some awful circumstances, he’s just looking slick.
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Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister)
Apparently Peter didn’t make it to the 2012 premiere — or he evaded the cameras there — so here he is picking up some early GoT hardware, his Golden Globe for playing Tyrion.
Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont)
Okay, so Iain has ditched the beard, but he still has his go-to gestures for the paparazzi. Or maybe he just keeps recognizing the photogs that line the red carpets.
Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark)
Sophie was only two years older than Maisie, playing Arya’s older sister, Sansa, so again, she has grown up in front of the world over the past seven years.
Rose Leslie (Ygritte)
Even though she hasn’t been on the show since 2014, Rose still had a memorable turn as the wildling kissed by fire, Ygritte, and you can’t help hearing her voice whenever anyone tells Jon Snow that he knows nothing.
Kit Harington (Jon Snow)
Just like Peter Dinklage, Kit wasn’t at the 2012 premiere, and just like John Bradley, he seems to have adopted his character’s black wardrobe. Maybe he’s as much of a leader off-screen as he is on-screen?
Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister)
For a show that has done a remarkable job of casting its many characters, Charles Dance as the severe, calculating Tywin Lannister still stands out as absolute perfection.
John Bradley (Samwell Tarly)
Does anybody else feel like John took Sam’s oath seriously? Like, Sam took the black, and John just ran with it.
It still seems like something vaguely upsetting is happening off-camera, though.
Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen)
Knowing what we know now about her brain aneurysms — the pic on the left was taken about a year after her first aneurysm — it’s just a joy to see a bright, happy Emilia in the pic on the right.
Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner
Sure, they’ve changed a lot, but their friendship is as strong as ever — sisters on-screen, sisters from different misters off-screen. You’ve got to love their bond!
Maisie Williams (Arya Stark)
Maisie was just 14 years old when Game of Thrones first appeared on HBO, so of course she has changed a lot in the past seven years.
