War has gripped both the House of the Dragon and beyond. With the second season of the hit HBO series nearing its finale in just 5 days, the Draconian realm faces a level of estrangement reminiscent of Stranger Things. As fans eagerly anticipate the season's conclusion, the ongoing chaos has brought back an old Joseph Quinn meme to poke fun at the bizarre events unfolding in Westeros. Even though Quinn is no longer part of the Stranger Things universe, his return to the Draconian realm has come about in the strangest of ways.

While the 5-day wait has cost something precious, it has also found something new that had been lost.

Several scenes from the season 2 finale of House of the Dragon, set to air on August 4, were leaked on TikTok Tuesday night, just five days before the episode's release. Although the TikTok account responsible for the leak was banned within hours, the videos spread to other social platforms, including X and Reddit. While these leaks already revealed the return of a mysterious character from Game of Thrones, an old Joseph Quinn meme also resurfaced, recalling his role as a Winterfell guard.

Joseph Quinn, known for his portrayal of Eddie Munson in Stranger Things, appeared in the fourth episode of Game of Thrones season 7, The Spoils of War. In that episode, Quinn, playing Koner, is one of the guards at Winterfell when Arya Stark returns. Despite his efforts with fellow guard Henk to prevent Arya from entering the premises, their security measures fail, and Arya manages to slip past them as they turn their backs.

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For fans, this situation reflects HBO's repeated struggle to maintain the suspense of their finales, resulting once more in the resurgence of the meme.

House of the Dragon has a track record of problematic rollouts, especially with its season finales. Prior to the release of the final episode of its first season in October 2022, the show experienced a leak just two days before the air date, attributed to a distribution partner in Europe, the Middle East, or Africa, according to HBO. For the latest leak, however, fans were more focused on reviving the Joseph Quinn meme from his Game of Thrones days.

Many fans mocked HBO’s security measures, comparing them to Quinn’s security role in Game of Thrones, while others expressed concern over the recurring leaks. 

Some viewers were eager to see the entire episode, having waited two years for it, while others, despite having seen the leak, pledged to watch the finale on Sunday. Although this season has already been leaning towards the Game of Thrones formula, the leak has underscored how House of the Dragon, in both its success and exposure, mirrors its predecessor.

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What do you think of the reappearance of the Joseph Quinn meme after the House of the Dragon's finale's leak? Let us know in the comments below!