How Your Favorite Game of Thrones Characters Evolved Through the Seasons
The Stark kids used to be so little.
A lot has happened on Game of Thrones since it first aired in 2011. New storylines poured in, fan favorites were tragically murdered and young characters grew up before viewers' eyes—taking on some new hairstyles and wardrobes along the way. Arya disguised as a boy, Sansa went through a minor goth phase, Cersei got an unexpected haircut, and Jon Snow hopped on the man bun trend. Flip through to see how your favorite characters from around the Seven Kingdoms have changed throughout the years, from the first season to the very last.
Game of Thrones Season 8 airs on HBO on April 14.
Jon Snow
Season 1
Jon (Kit Harington) looked so baby-faced in the show's first season. Is that even a hint of a smile we see?
Jon Snow
Season 2
Jon took the black and learned the ropes as a member of the Night's Watch.
Jon Snow
Season 3
Working as a spy beyond the Wall, Snow traded his raven-black outfit for assorted Wildling furs.
Jon Snow
Season 4
There's the brooding Jon we know and love.
Jon Snow
Season 5
In the fifth season, Jon underwent the ultimate character evolution: dying and coming back to life.
Jon Snow
Season 6
With a few more scars, a half bun, and an IKEA rug for a cape, Snow returned to Winterfell ready to take back his family home.
Jon Snow
Season 7
With darker furs and his sword, Longclaw, at his side, Snow looked fit for his new role as King in the North.
Jon Snow
Season 8
The rugged look and man bun are alive and well for GoT's final season.
Arya Stark
Season 1
As one of the youngest surviving characters on the show, Arya's (Maisie Williams) transformation has been one of the most drastic in the series. Williams was just about 12 years old when she made her GoT debut.
Arya Stark
Season 2
After her father Ned Stark's execution, Arya chopped off her hair and disguised herself with a group of men heading north to join the Night's Watch.
Arya Stark
Season 3
Though her hair had grown for the next season, Arya was still rocking the same rags while traveling with friends Gendry and Hot Pie.
Arya Stark
Season 4
Arya got especially rugged on the road with the Hound.
Arya Stark
Season 5
Ayra took on a new look, including two buns and a (gasp!) dress before secretly tucking away her sword, Needle, ahead of her stint with the Faceless Men.
Arya Stark
Season 6
Arya briefly went blind as punishment for misusing her Faceless Men privileges.
Arya Stark
Season 6
After earning her sight back later that season, she was ready to go home. Her half ponytail becomes her new signature.
Ayra Stark
Season 7
Stark started off the seventh season in Walder Frey's clothes while disguising to avenge the Red Wedding.
Arya Stark
Season 8
Now a grown-up trained assassin, Arya wears the leathery garb of the North with her weapons hanging at her waist back home in Winterfell.
Bran Stark
Season 1
Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) is the youngest still-surviving Stark family member, but back in the first season, he was especially tiny.
Bran Stark
Season 2
The greenseeing Stark son rocked a serious boy band-like haircut for the early seasons of GoT.
Bran Stark
Season 3
Bran got a bit dirtied up in the third season after traveling in the wild and meeting the Reed siblings.
Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now.
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