‘Game of Thrones’ Stars Pay Emotional Tribute to Series Ahead of Finale: ‘Now Our Watch Has Ended’

Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO

'Game of Thrones' Stars Pay Emotional Tribute to Series Ahead of Finale: 'Now Our Watch Has Ended'

"If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention." The immortal words of Game of Thrones' Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) live on as the series comes to a close on Sunday, May 19. Some members of the star-studded cast, including leading ladies Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) and Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), took to Instagram to pay tribute to the show that kickstarted their careers. "The mother of dragons chapter has taken up the whole of my adult life," Clarke, 32, who was in her early twenties when the drama premiered in 2011, captioned a series of snapshots of the cast and crew. "This woman has taken up the whole of my heart. I've sweated in the blaze of dragon fire, shed many tears at those who left our family early, and wrung my brain dry trying to do Khaleesi and the masterful words, actions (and names) I was given, justice." (Her character's full title was Daenerys of the House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, The Unburnt, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Protector of the Realm, Lady Regent of the Seven Kingdoms, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons.) [jwplayer Z1k13JkZ-l3ahXupL] Turner, 23, also showed her love for her character. "Sansa, Thank you for teaching me resilience, bravery and what true strength really is," she wrote on Sunday. "Thank you [for] teaching me to be kind and patient and to lead with love. I grew up with you. I fell in love with you at 13 and now 10 years on.. at 23 I leave you behind, but I will never leave behind what you’ve taught me." HBO posted a message to fans hours before the finale, saying: "Thank you to the cast, crew, and fans around the world. We bend the knee to you." Scroll down for more tributes from the cast! The series finale airs on HBO Sunday, May 19 at 9 p.m. ET.

Credit: Courtesy of Emilia Clarke/Instagram

Emilia Clarke

The Solo: A Star Wars Story actress continued her farewell, noting that Game of Thrones "shaped" her "as an actor and as a human being."

"I just wish my darling dad was here now to see how far we've flown," she added of her father, who died in July 2016. "But to you, dear kind magical fans, I owe you so much thanks, for your steady gaze at what we've made and what I've done with a character that was already in the hearts of many before I slipped on the platinum wig of dreams. Without you there is no us."

The final line of her text was the most poignant: "And now our watch has ended."

Credit: Courtesy Sophie Turner/Instagram

Sophie Turner

The Dark Phoenix actress praised the series that launched her to stardom. "To the show and the incredible people who make it, thank you for giving me the best life and drama lessons I could have ever asked for," she captioned a series of snaps on Instagram. "Without you I wouldn't be the person I am today. Thank you for giving me this chance all those years ago. And finally to the fans. Thank you for falling in love with these characters and supporting this show right through till the end. I'll miss this more than anything."

Credit: Courtesy of John Bradley/Instagram

John Bradley

Bradley, who's played Jon Snow's best friend, Samwell Tarly, since episode 4, echoed his costars' sentiments on his own Instagram.

"So tonight we have our very last episode. It's the final step of a long and wonderful journey. A journey that, for me, started at 10am on Monday 19th of July 2010," Bradley, 30, captioned a photo of himself holding his rehearsal and prep schedule from season 1, week 1. "Listed here is the rehearsal where I first met Kit [Harington], and the first time I wore the costume that's seen me through 8 seasons."

The Patient Zero actor said he "met so many people that week who have come to mean so much to me. Back then we couldn't have known the journey we'd go on together. I wouldn't swap that experience, or those people, for the world. Enjoy the episode and thanks for everything."

Credit: Courtesy of Kristofer Hivju/Instagram

Kristofer Hivju

As for Hivju, who's played fan-favorite wildling Tormund Giantsbane since season 3, he was all smiles in his tribute pic, posing in between the object of his affections, on screen and off. "Definitely a win win situation," he captioned the photo. "Homage to Gwendoline Christie @gwendolineuniverse for her brilliant preformance [sic] as the warrior, the knight and the beautiful human being Brienne Of Tarth #GOTafterparty With my wife [Gry Molvær Hivju]."