Whether or not you liked the final season of HBO’s juggernaut ‘Game of Thrones’, it appears the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences felt it was pretty amazing, showering it with 32 nominations– the most ever for a single show for one season. ‘GoT’ nabbed seven of the 12 Supporting Actor nominations, and three of the seven Directing nods. Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington earned their first-ever nods in the Lead categories, after numerous nominations under Supporting. (Until last year, they submitted in the Supporting categories, as the show is generally considered an ensemble.) Sophie Turner and Gwendoline Christie also nabbed their first nods in the Supporting category. ‘Game of Thrones’ had taken home 47 Emmy wins in the past, and is the most awarded scripted show in history.
First of all, the show itself is nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, and is facing off with ‘Better Call Saul’ (AMC), ‘Bodyguard’ (Netflix), ‘Killing Eve’ (BBC America), ‘Ozark’ (Netflix), ‘Pose’ (FX Networks), ‘Succession’ (HBO), and ‘This Is Us’ (NBC). ‘GoT’ has won this award three times in the past.
None of the actors have ever been nominated in the Lead Actor or Actress categories. This year, Harington will be competing against Bob Odenkirk (‘Better Call Saul’), Jason Bateman (‘Ozark’), Billy Porter (‘Pose’), Sterling K. Brown (‘This is Us’), and Milo Ventimiglia (‘This is Us’).
Clarke is up against Robin Wright (‘House of Cards’), Viola Davis (‘How to Get Away With Murder’), Jodie Comer (‘Killing Eve’), Laura Linney (‘Ozark’), and Mandy Moore (‘This is Us’).
Peter Dinklage was the first-ever Emmy winner for ‘GoT’, and he has won three total. (And has been nominated every year the show was eligible– eight total.) He is nominated again for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, as are his co-stars Alfie Allen, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. They are facing off against Jonathan Banks (‘Better Call Saul’), Giancarlo Esposito (‘Better Call Saul’), Michael Kelly (‘House of Cards’), and Chris Sullivan (‘This is Us’).
A whopping four actresses are up for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, including newcomers Sophie Turner and Gwendoline Christie, alongside repeat nominees Lena Heady and Maisie Williams. Neither Heady nor Williams have ever won. They are up against Fiona Shaw (‘Killing Eve’) and Julia Garner (‘Ozark’). This is the first time that four actresses from the same show have been nominated in this award.
Carice van Houten is also nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series. The episodes nominated for Outstanding Directing are “The Iron Throne” (also nominated for Outstanding Writing), “The Last of the Starks,” and (perhaps most shockingly) “The Long Night.” The show is also nominated in many other more technical categories.
The 71st Primetime Emmys will air Sunday, Sept. 22 on FOX. Tune in to see if ‘Game of Thrones’ goes out in a blaze of glory!
There will also be a ‘Game of Thrones’ panel at San Diego Comic-Con this weekend, so check back for any news from that event!
