This is what Tormund from “Game of Thrones” looks like without a beard, in case you were wondering

Everyone’s favorite wildling (except maybe Ygritte?) Tormund has slowly become a major player in the hearts of Game of Thrones fans thanks to his new bestie status with Jon Snow and potential-love-interest status with our favorite knight, Brienne.

So, by now we’re all very used to his beautiful, red, Zeus-like beard and honestly, we can’t really imagine him any other way. OR SO WE THOUGHT!

Feast your eyes on beardless Tormund (okay, actually actor Kristofer Hivju) because it is really quite something.

This pic was taken waaaay back in 2001 when Hivju played a character named “Jim Olsen” on a Norwegian TV show called Fox Grønland.  (According to our super accurate Google translate sleuthing, it looks like this was a cop show set in Oslo, Norway.)

Anyway, although Hivju’s luscious long locks have gotten shorter on GoT, he clearly made up for all that with his current, enviable, beard that we (and HOPEFULLY BRIENNE?!?!) have grown to love.

Let’s just take a moment to watch and appreciate the transition, shall we?

MAGIC. Don’t ever change, Tormund.