Where did Boatsex come from?

The term appeared on the /r/freefolk subreddit after Redditor matserban shared a leaked clip of the scene on October 27, 2016, calling it 'boat sex'.

What does Boatsex mean?

Within Game of Thrones fandom, Boatsex refers specifically to the Jon-and-Daenerys ship scene; some fans used 'Boatcest' to acknowledge the characters' aunt-and-nephew relationship.

How do you use Boatsex?

Fans used it in Reddit countdown posts such as '32 days until Boatsex,' ironic prediction threads, and all-caps 'EPIC BOATSEX' comments before the episode aired on August 27, 2017.

Is Boatsex still popular?

Boatsex peaked around the season seven finale on August 27, 2017; the /r/Boatsex subreddit had grown to about 160 subscribers by that August, with references trailing off after the show ended.

Boatsex

2016catchphrasedead

Published October 26, 2026

Boatsex is Game of Thrones fan slang for the sex scene between Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen aboard a ship in the season seven finale. Reddit's /r/freefolk coined the term in October 2016 after script leaks hinted at the pairing, and the hype grew for almost a year until HBO aired the scene on August 27, 2017.

game of thrones memes fandom shipping memes subreddit origin memes portmanteau memes fandom hype memes

Overview

Posts tagged with the term usually mixed anticipation with ironic reverence: countdown threads and photoshopped stills of Jon and Daenerys meeting on screen. Fans on /r/freefolk often attached the modifier 'epic' to the phrase, which gave rise to the all-caps variant 'EPIC BOATSEX' used in headlines and comment sections4. A related nickname, 'Boatcest,' acknowledged the fact that the two characters are aunt and nephew in George R. R. Martin's books.

Content ranged from genuine shipping edits to joke posts marking how many days remained until the finale aired4. Reaction posts after the episode cast the moment as a before-and-after marker, comparing it to earlier shocking Game of Thrones events like King Joffrey's death9. The dedicated subreddit /r/Boatsex, launched in May 2017, collected clips and discussion in one place8.

Gallery

Origin & Background

Platform

Date

2016

Spoilers for the seventh season of Game of Thrones leaked online in October 2016, prompting intense discussion on /r/freefolk, a subreddit for show fans. On October 17, 2016, Redditor maureencreates posted a timeline predicting which plot points would land in which episode, flagging the Jon-and-Daenerys boat scene for episode seven1. The phrase 'boat sex' then appeared on October 27, 2016, when Redditor matserban shared a now-removed leaked clip of the scene in /r/freefolk, giving the term one of its earliest documented uses2.

Two days after maureencreates' timeline, Instagram user @kortajarenajon posted a photo from the Game of Thrones shoot in the Basque Country with the caption 'So proud of having these talented people filming in my hometown,' which /r/freefolk users cited as more evidence of the pairing3. The post gathered more than 24,000 likes5.

How It Spread

References escalated through 2017. On May 29, a now-deleted Reddit account launched the /r/Boatsex subreddit as a dedicated home for the hype, which grew to roughly 160 subscribers by that August8. On July 26, Redditor petyr_b posted '32 days until Boatsex,' a captioned image set of Jon and Daenerys meeting for the first time, which drew more than 11,700 points and 395 comments on /r/freefolk4. The following day, Redditor iampissed0ff shared a composite of Jon landing on a beach next to a behind-the-scenes photo of Daenerys10.

By July 30, the term had spilled far enough outside Game of Thrones circles that Redditor Other_accountant asked /r/OutOfTheLoop for an explanation7. HBO aired the season seven finale on August 27, 2017, and the scene played out as predicted. Later that day, Redditor snowstormms posted a thread titled 'there will only be two types of people after epic boatsex,' using screencaps of Joffrey's death to mark a cultural dividing line9.

One day after the finale, Redditor DankisKhan launched the BOATSEX UPVOTE PARTY in an attempt to send the term to Reddit's front page, drawing more than 55,000 points and 4,000 comments6. Know Your Meme documented the full timeline soon after5.

Timeline

2016-10-17

Redditor maureencreates posts a /r/freefolk timeline laying out leaked Game of Thrones season seven plot points, including the Jon-and-Daenerys boat scene.

2016-10-19

Instagram user @kortajarenajon posts a photo from the Game of Thrones shoot in the Basque Country, fueling /r/freefolk speculation.

2016-10-27

Redditor matserban shares a leaked clip of the scene on /r/freefolk, giving the phrase 'boat sex' its earliest documented use.

2017-05-29

The /r/Boatsex subreddit launches as a dedicated hub for anticipation of the scene.

2017-07-26

'32 days until Boatsex' by Redditor petyr_b hits more than 11,700 points on /r/freefolk.

2017-07-30

Redditor Other_accountant asks /r/OutOfTheLoop what 'boat sex' means, signaling the term reached outsiders.

2017-08-27

HBO airs the Game of Thrones season seven finale, which includes the Jon-and-Daenerys scene on the ship.

2017-08-28

Redditor DankisKhan starts the BOATSEX UPVOTE PARTY, which draws more than 55,000 points and 4,000 comments.

How to Use This Meme

Boatsex works as both an insider shipping tag and a joke format. Common conventions include countdown posts along the lines of '32 days until Boatsex,' reaction edits comparing the scene to earlier Game of Thrones shocks, and the all-caps 'EPIC BOATSEX' spelling in excited Reddit comments4.