The Ending of 'Game of Thrones' Was Hidden In This Season 1 Poster This Whole Time

• Game of Thrones fans have noted that a promotional poster for season 1, first shared all the way back in 2011, may have revealed the final ending all along.
  
• The image features Ned Stark on the Iron Throne, with a raven sitting right by his side.
  
• Sunday night’s final episode saw Ned’s son, Bran Stark, the three-eyed raven himself, be named as the new Lord of the Six Kingdoms.

You have got to kidding me right now. After eight years of dedicated, loyal viewership, endless heart palpitations over gruesome deaths of beloved characters, and dodging spoilers at all costs for the final episode, the ending of Game of Thrones was in plain sight all along.

GoT fans are currently reeling at the discovery that a promotional poster for the very first season of the show, shared back in 2011 before we’d even caught early sight of a dragon, really gave away the final season’s big conclusion. No, seriously.

The poster is almost like a game of hide-and-seek, and it’s not until you take a closer look that you really notice the big clue that has everybody freaking out. Behind the cheery, foreshadowing slogan of "You Win or You Die” sits Ned Stark on the Iron Throne. But take a closer look to his side, and you’ll also notice a black bird, which we can safely assume is a raven.

If your mind hasn’t already been blown by that humble discovery, then put the image into the context of Sunday night’s final episode. Ned Stark’s youngest son, Bran Stark, better known as the three-eyed raven himself, was chosen by his peers in the closing scenes to be crowned Lord of the Six Kingdoms. So, while he didn’t sit on the Iron Throne himself, he did technically win the Game of Thrones.

The pesky season 1 poster either accidentally predicted the eventual outcome, which is kind of amazing, or was sneakily giving the game away all along without anybody even realizing. So all we had to do was look through the poster archives of the past eight years? Are you KIDDING ME?

If it wasn’t intentional, then this is up there with the coffee cup and the plastic water bottle in Game of Thrones Face Palm-worthy Moments.

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

SUBSCRIBE HERE