--- title: Here's Why Fans Are Shipping Brienne & Tormund on 'Thrones' description: Here are all the moments that got fans excited about shipping Brienne of Tarth and Tormund Giantsbane on 'Game of Thrones' so far. canonical: https://time.com/5568012/brienne-tormund-thrones/ author: Raisa Bruner article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2019-04-11T14:26:22.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-12T23:59:41.000Z og:title: Here's Why Fans Are Shipping Brienne & Tormund on 'Thrones' og:description: Here are the moments that got fans shipping Brienne and Tormund on 'Thrones' og:url: https://time.com/5568012/brienne-tormund-thrones/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2a53fef51d45613c/6988d6544ee262752130e37e/game-of-thrones-dragonstone-tormund-brienne.jpeg?branch=production&width=660&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 660 og:image:height: 371 og:image:alt: Game-of-Thrones-Dragonstone-Tormund-Brienne og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Here's Why Fans Are Shipping Brienne & Tormund on 'Thrones' twitter:description: Here are the moments that got fans shipping Brienne and Tormund on 'Thrones' twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2a53fef51d45613c/6988d6544ee262752130e37e/game-of-thrones-dragonstone-tormund-brienne.jpeg?branch=production&width=660&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Let's Look At the Moments That Got People Shipping Brienne and Tormund on _Game of Thrones_ > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: The Final Season of Game of Thrones Is Here. Who Will Win the Iron Throne? [Watch (HLS stream): The Final Season of Game of Thrones Is Here. Who Will Win the Iron Throne?](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/hZmr87c4.m3u8) (2:25)  _Published 2019-03-13. The Final Season of Game of Thrones Is One Month Away. Who Will Win the Iron Throne?_  by [Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)  ## Raisa Bruner Updated: Dec 12, 2023 11:59 PM UTCPublished: Apr 11, 2019 2:26 PM UTC The Final Season of Game of Thrones Is One Month Away. Who Will Win the Iron Throne?  by [Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)  ## Raisa Bruner Updated: Dec 12, 2023 11:59 PM UTCPublished: Apr 11, 2019 2:26 PM UTC It took a minute, but eventually [_Game of Thrones_](http://time.com/5566093/game-of-thrones-season-8-fan-theories/) fan favorites [Brienne of Tarth](http://time.com/4356059/george-rr-martin-brienne-duncan-the-tall/) (Gwendoline Christie) and [Tormund Giantsbane](http://time.com/4928981/game-of-thrones-brienne-on-tormund-romance/) (Kristofer Hivju) were bound to reunite in season eight — and to the delight of the show’s viewers, their brief interactions continued to provide all fans needed to keep on shipping their relationship as “Tarthbane.” The lady knight and the Free Man from north of the Wall share a few traits: they’re both very tall, are fearsome fighters and are extremely loyal to the Starks they’ve come across. But the [gloriously profane Tormund](http://time.com/5575272/game-of-thrones-tormund-reactions/) may have an uphill battle in winning Brienne’s affections, based on her reactions to his attempts at flirting so far. Still, on the final night at Winterfell before the expected attack of the Night King and his army of the dead, it’s Tormund who questions Brienne about her lack of knighthood status; women, Brienne explains, are not traditionally given that title. Yet Tormund’s inquiry encourages Jaime Lannister [to honor her](http://time.com/5575440/game-of-thrones-brienne-reactions/) with an official knighting at last. Tormund: a true champion for women’s equality. We don’t know if either of them will come out of this season alive, but at least we’ve seen them share important moments. Here’s a rundown of all the times in _Game of Thrones_ that Brienne and Tormund got viewers excited about their potential relationship in the lead-up to the [eighth season](http://time.com/5566688/game-of-thrones-playlist/). ## Book of the Stranger: Season 6, Episode 4 Brienne of Tarth and Tormund Giantsbane first encounter each other as Brienne rides in to the courtyard at Castle Black in the north, arriving at the Night’s Watch’s keep with Sansa Stark and Podrick Payne to meet up with Jon Snow and discuss their options in taking back Winterfell. The camera captures Tormund gazing admiringly at Brienne on her arrival, seemingly stunned by the sight of a woman in armor on horseback. Then, over dinner inside, Tormund only has eyes for Brienne, raising his eyebrows suggestively as he gnaws on his food. Brienne maintains her composure, holding his gaze before looking away. According to an interview with episode director Daniel Sackheim, these nonverbal clues were very much intentional. “I wasn’t even sure that when I delivered the episode it was really clear,” [he told TVGuide.com](https://www.tvguide.com/news/game-of-thrones-brienne-tormund-couple-tarthbane/). “It was like a fun little bit, but I wasn’t sure it was really clear that he had these amorous feelings for Brienne. I’m always amazed what fans pick up.” He added: “I think it was fairly one-sided, but that’s OK… There’s nothing like a challenge. Men love a challenge.” ## The Door: Season 6, Episode 5 During a war council at Castle Black, both Tormund and Brienne are present, alongside Davos, Sansa, Podrick, Jon, Melisandre and Eddison Tollett. As they hash out the plan for [reconquering Winterfell](http://time.com/5542922/game-of-thrones-season-8-battle-of-winterfell/), with Davos laying out the situation, Brienne shoots Tormund a sideways look across the table; he conveniently happens to be sitting across from her. She immediately looks back down. Later, as they prepare to ride off in their separate directions, both are mounted on horseback in the courtyard. That’s when Tormund gives her a bright smile. Brienne’s response? To roll her eyes and look away. Ah, love. ## Dragonstone: Season 7, Episode 1 At Winterfell, Brienne is sparring with Podrick when Tormund happens upon the pair’s training and walks toward them. While Brienne is momentarily distracted, Podrick lands a blow on her. She promptly punches him in retaliation, throwing him down. “You’re a lucky man,” Tormund tells a fallen Pod before continuing to saunter up to Brienne. Unfortunately, the show cuts to a conversation between Littlefinger and Sansa at this point, so we will never know if Tormund won or lost points with Brienne with that interaction. ## Beyond the Wall: Season 7, Episode 6 While Brienne and Tormund don’t have any interactions in season seven — Tormund is north of the Wall by now, while Brienne remains at Winterfell and further south — the show makes it clear Tormund can’t keep his mind off her. “I have a beauty waiting for me back at Winterfell, if I ever get back there,” Tormund tells The Hound as they trek across the snowy wilderness. “Yellow hair. Blue eyes. Tallest woman you’ve ever seen. Almost as tall as you!” The Hound quickly realizes he’s talking about Brienne. “You’re with Brienne of f–king Tarth?” he asks, incredulous. (They have something of a history: Brienne [nearly killed him](http://time.com/5558803/game-of-thrones-battles-ranked/), after all.) “Well, not with her yet, but I see the way she looks at me,” Tormund says. “I want to make babies with her,” he goes on. “Think of them, great big monsters! They’ll conquer the world.” So in season eight, fans of “Tarthbane” will have to hope that Tormund survives long enough to return to the south (he’s at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea when the seventh season ends), find Brienne (who’s currently at King’s Landing) and convince her that she shares his feelings. Romance is alive and well on _Thrones_, indeed. ## Transcript [00:00] [ MUSIC ] [00:05] After a nearly 20 month hiatus, Game of Thrones is set [00:08] to return for it's eighth and final season on April 14th. [00:11] As the highly anticipated conclusion draws near, [00:13] predictions about how the show will end are flying [00:14] Throughout Game of Thrones' eight year run, the [00:18] central question has always been, who will end up on [00:20] the Iron Throne? Some fans predict that the final [00:23] season will actually conclude with either the literal or [00:25] figurative destruction of the throne. When all is said [00:29] and done, is it possible than no one, and we don't [00:31] mean Arya, will rule over the Seven Kingdoms? If the [00:33] throne is still standing at the end of season eight. [00:36] There are a number of remaining power players who [00:37] can still win it. While Cersei Lannister currently wears [00:42] the crown, there are several prophecies that seem to [00:44] be working against her, including Maggy the Frog's [00:47] prediction that another, younger, more beautiful queen [00:50] will come to cast her down and take all she holds dear. [00:52] That certainly sounds a lot like Daenerys to us, but [00:55] both Sansa and Arya Stark have a score to settle with [00:57] Cersei as well. Meanwhile, Red Priestesses of the Lord [01:00] of Light have declared both Daenerys and Jon to be [01:02] the Prince Who was Promised, a prophesied savior who [01:07] is the reincarnation of legendary hero Azor Ahai. Who [01:09] is destined to lead the people against the darkness, [01:11] which we can only assume is a reference to the White [01:13] Walkers. [ MUSIC ] While, the common interpretation of [01:16] the prophecy seem to make John the more likely [01:20] candidate. Daenerys' right hand woman, Lassonde [01:21] pointed out that the word, Prince, is considered [01:23] gender neutral in high Valerian. [ MUSIC ] Meaning, [01:27] the proper translation is the Prince or Princess, who [01:30] was promised. This is an important distinction. [01:32] Especially, considering that some fans believe, there's [01:35] evidence to believe The Mother of Dragons is actually [01:37] the chosen one. But, hold up, what about the Knight [01:40] King? If neither John nor Danny manages to take down [01:45] the later of the Night Walkers who is now in possession [01:46] of his very own ice dragon, another popular theory [01:50] suggests that Bran Stark will try to use his time [01:53] traveling abilities to prevent the Children of the Forest [01:55] ever creating the Knight. That seem somewhat unlikely, [01:59] considering the former three eye raven's plain that the [02:01] past is already written, the ink is dry. Ultimately no [02:05] matter who ends up on top when season eight comes [02:07] to a close, it seems all but certain that at least some of [02:10] our favorite characters Characters will be lost along the [02:12] way. This is Game of Thrones after all. 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