The eighth and final season of Game of Thrones is nominated for a whole mess of Emmys this year; 32, more than any show has been nominated for a single season. As always, the nominations for the actors create a lot of buzz. Now, thanks to awards site Gold Derby, we know which episodes they’ve submitted for consideration! Let’s take a closer look.
Let’s begin with Emilia Clarke, who’s up for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She’s submitted “The Last of the Starks,” where Daenerys starts to break down at the celebratory feast at Winterfell, losing her dragon Rhaegal, and watches as Cersei Lannister beheads her friend and counselor Missandei. It’s definitely an emotional episode for Daenerys where Clarke gets to stretch herself as an actor.
Next up is Kit Harington, who’s up for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series. He’s submitted “The Iron Throne,” the series finale, where Jon Snow kills Daenerys and starts a new life beyond the Wall (or an old one at Castle Black, it’s left ambiguous). I’d agree that Harington turned in one of his better performances of the season there.
Outside of the leading acting categories, there are FOUR actors up for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series — that’s over half the category! Let’s go through each of them:
- Sophie Turner has put forth her performance in the season 8 premiere, “Winterfell.” That’s maybe not the first episode that comes to mind when you think of memorable performances, but Sansa did feature prominently in it.
- Lena Heady has submitted “The Bells,” which is really her only choice. Cersei still didn’t have a ton to do in that episode, but watching Cersei realize her defeat was effecting, as was her death scene under the Red Keep.
- Maisie Williams has put forth her work in “The Long Night.” Arya had a pretty terrific final season and Williams had a couple of options to choose from, but offering the episode where she kills the Night King and saves humanity certainly makes sense.
- Gwendoline Christie submitted “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.” Two words: knighting scene.
I have no idea who I’m pulling for in that category. Statues for everyone!
Next, we’ve got the nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series:
- Peter Dinklage is another actor with a couple options, but he went with “The Iron Throne,” where Tyrion quits his job as Hand of the Queen, talks Jon into killing Daenerys, and argues for Bran Stark to be made the new ruler of Westeros. Checks out.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau put forward “The Bells.” This episode is where Jaime dies, and Emmy voters love a good death scene..probably. I don’t know them. I would probably have gone with “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” but I get this pick. - Gold Derby is rolling out these announcements one at a time, so we don’t know what episode Alfie Allen has put forward yet, but if it’s not “The Long Night,” where Theon dies, I’ll be shocked.
Carice Van Houten is also up for an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series. Since Meliandre was only in one episode this season — “The Long Night” — we’re gonna go ahead and assume that’s the one she put forward.
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After seven Emmy ceremonies, Peter Dinklage is still the only Game of Thrones cast member to win an Emmy for the show. Will that change this year? Tune in to the ceremony on Fox on Sunday, September 22 to find out!
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