Twelve times Game of Thrones stars should’ve won Emmys but didn’t

Helen Sloan – HBO (12) Brienne

Gwendoline Christie: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series — “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”

Christie was one of four Game of Thrones stars nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category for season 8, and while I think others may have been more deserving of the award based on their overall body of work, if we’re just talking season 8, I think Christie should have taken it.

And it’s not like Christie’s body of work was lacking. As Brienne, she created a truly iconic character, a female knight who bucks society’s expectations of her to do what she loves, even if it means becoming a social pariah. In season 8, Brienne finally got her due, as peers like Jaime Lannister and Tormund Giantsbane recognized her for her very real talents. Brienne is a character who’s learned to bury her emotions lest they be used to mock her, but she lets them out here in a smile so wide everyone at home was smiling with her.

This is the best scene of the final season, and Christie is excellent in it.  She also regularly came alive in fight scenes of the kind we saw in “The Long Night.” Never less than fully committed, she throws herself into battles with screams and grunts of rage, making sure we feel every blow. Christie created something singular with Brienne, and although I don’t the talented Julia Garner for win for Ozark, part of me really wanted to see Christie smile that Brienne smile as she accepted her award onstage.