Entertainment Weekly spotlights the women of Westeros, who “power this season”

Entertainment Weekly has been on a tear this season leading up to Game of Thrones Season 6. And now we know why: this coming Friday, it’ll be releasing a double-issue with no less than six different Game of Thrones-themed covers. There will also be a huge behind-the-scenes feature on the show, and profiles of all six of their cover subjects: the Women of Westeros.

Okay, and Essos.

In this article, HBO programming president Michael Lombardo explained why the characters posing on the covers are all women. “The women are rocking this season — and I’m not just saying that because they’re on your cover. Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) always does, but also Brienne (Gwendoline Christie), Arya (Maisie Williams), Sansa (Sophie Turner), Cersei (Lena Headey), Margaery (Natalie Dormer), and other characters too, like Yara (Gemma Whelan). They power this season. It’s organic to the storytelling, yet a radical shift. It’s the women that are the hope that we’re watching as the chess pieces move this season, and it’s very exciting.”

EW says this is not a change in strategy by the show. One of the overarching themes of the series has been the fall of the strong male figures (they name check Khal Drogo and Tywin Lannister.) As they die off, it has cleared the decks for the rise of “a fleet of heroines” to sail into their own.

(Funny how the votes for “Best Queen” were all over the map, but everyone was pretty sure who would make the worst.)

For those paying attention in the off-season, these outfits are in fact the ones we saw Headey, Dormer and Clarke wearing when they were spotted together during filming last October. So those of you who guessed they were not there to film a scene together, but in fact were doing a promotional shoot for EW, give yourself ten points. (And careful with that link. All the spoilers are there.)

Which cover are you planning to get? My personal favorite is the one with Maisie Williams, but I can see an argument for any of them…or all.

The double issue will hit stands tomorrow. We’ll be covering everything in it.

If you’re so inclined, you can buy all six covers here.