Benioff and Weiss up for a USC Scripter Awards for writing “Hardhome”

We’re barely into the second week of 2016, and Game of Thrones Season 5 continues to be nominated for more awards. Sadly, the show was shut out of the People’s Choice Awards, but no matter—Thrones remains undaunted. According to Deadline, it’s up for a USC Scripter Award, which honors the best in writing, for “Hardhome.”

"The USC Libraries have expanded into TV for the 28th annual Scripter Awards honoring the authors of printed works alongside the screenwriters who adapt their stories."

“Hardhome,” the eighth episode of Game of Thrones Season 5, is up against some fairly tough competition:

• The Leftovers: Damon Lindelof and Jacqueline Hoyt for the episode “Axis Mundi”, based on the novel by Tom Perrotta. HBO and St. Martin’s Press.
• The Man In The High Castle: Frank Spotnitz for the episode “The New World,” based on the novel by Philip K. Dick. Amazon and Putnam.
• Masters Of Sex: Michelle Ashford, for the episode “Full Ten Count,” based on the biography by Thomas Maier, “Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, the Couple Who Taught America How to Love.” Showtime and Basic Books.
• Show Me A Hero: Screenwriters William F. Zorzi and David Simon, based on the nonfiction book by Lisa Belkin. HBO and Little, Brown and Company.
• Game Of Thrones: Screenwriters David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, for the episode “Hardhome,” adapted from the fantasy series “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R. R. Martin. HBO and Bantam.

Naturally, HBO claims three of the five nominations, with Game of Thrones, The Leftovers, and Show Me a Hero.

“Hardhome” was easily the best episode of Season 5. With the massive ensemble, huge number of extras, Kit Harington’s acting and combat skills, and of course the threat of White Walkers and the Night’s King finally being made real, “Hardhome” had it all. And there were two new characters who basically stole the spotlight from Kit: Karsi (Birgitte Hjort Sørensen) and Loboda (Zahary Baharov). They were introduced and killed in the span of thirty minutes, but still left a mark.

The Leftovers recently concluded an excellent second season, and Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron in Star Wars: The Force Awakens) was fantastic in Show Me a Hero. I believe Thrones has the advantage over Masters of Sex, as the show has steadily declined since Season 1, but The Man In The High Castle is excellent, and should give all three HBO shows a run for their money. Here’s hoping Game of Thrones has better luck here than at the People’s Choice Awards. The winners will be announced on February 20 at the Edward L. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library at USC.