Game of Thrones: The hidden meaning in Sansa's hair

WARNING: This article contains spoilers for the series finale of Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones delivered a dramatic series finale which — among other plot twists —saw Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) named Queen of an independent North.

During her coronation, Sansa swaps out her black 'crow' dress for a more appropriate, elegant gown. But it was her hair — worn down instead of in her usual braids — that may have held some significance, according to People.

In fact, Turner herself believes the hairstyle shows just how far Sansa has come in the last eight seasons.

In 2017, Turner told Refinery29 that Sansa's hair has always told a story.

"There's always a pattern," the actress told the outlet. "Sansa's hair is constantly reflecting the people she's learning from, or mimicking, or inspired by at the time. When she's Cersei's prisoner, and she's kind of absorbing all her manipulative techniques, it's reflected in her hairstyle, and when she's finding the spirit of Margaery in herself, she wears her hair like Margaery."

In January — ahead of the eighth and final season — Turner delved further into this theory.

"The first few episodes she was a Northerner in Winterfell and took after her mother with a simple braid down the back," she told InStyle. "Then when she went to King's Landing it was a big, decadent halo that was very much like what [Cersei Lannister] wore. With Littlefinger, she dyes her hair black and wears all black. Then she goes back to Winterfell and returns to her mother's hair."

Turner went on to explain that Sansa's hair also saw the character's evolution into a leader.

"She created her own identity in Season 7 and that kind of runs through to Season 8," she added. "She's chosen how she wants her hair to be, and she's finally the leader and influencer instead of being influenced by everyone else."

So, Sansa's hair — free flowing and unrestricted — is arguably evidence that she has come into her own, and is, for the first time, in control.