Brace Yourselves X Is Coming

Origin

This meme comes from a scene in HBO's Game of Thrones that aired its first episode on April 17, 2011. The character Ned Stark, portrayed by Sean Bean, delivers a line instructing his children to prepare themselves for difficult information. Internet users took this moment and turned it into a template by swapping out a word with different subjects, creating jokes about anything from mundane to absurd scenarios. The meme exploded in popularity partly because Game of Thrones was such a talked-about show, and people found the format perfect for commenting on upcoming events or situations. The flexibility of the template makes it work for almost any topic, blending the tone of dread with humor. Since then, it has spread across nearly every social media platform and remains a consistent part of how people joke online about things heading their way.