Game of Thrones 2018 Emmy Nomination Hopes, Dreams, and Predictions!

Can you smell that? It’s my favorite time of year! The Emmy nominations are almost upon us and I already smell the sweet scent of all those hopeful candidates for nominee having their hopes and dreams crushed as their names are not called on nomination day. Such is the case when we have approximately four billion, seven hundred, and two shows debuting every day in the Golden Age of TV. But hope is not lost for all shows! It just so happens that Game of Thrones is the biggest show on the planet, and love it or hate it (if you hate it, why are you reading this?), but it has a pretttttty good track record when it comes to nominees. For seasons 1-6, it has amassed a whopping 106 Emmy nominations and 38 wins, but due to the season 7 delay, it has now been two years since anyone GOT-related has heard their name read as an Emmy nominee! For a show with a 35.849% win record (yes, I did the math), that is a loooong time to wait to see if you can do it again.

How will the Emmy nominations shake out this year, come nomination day on July 12th? As one of the resident TV-watchers here at Watchers on the Wall, I thought it would be fun to take a look!

I watch a lot of TV. I mean, a LOT of TV. While I obviously can’t watch everything, I certainly do my best. Therefore, while you will notice my picks will be sure to include lots of Game of Thrones (obviously), all my suggested nominees will only be from shows I actually watch, as there is nothing more I dislike about the Emmys than nominations being handed out due to simple name recognition as opposed to well-earned nominees who might not be a household name. Anyway, I’m running out of time because I have more TV to watch, so let’s get to it! Below are my predictions for some of the categories in which Game of Thrones can possibly be nominated, along with my personally favored nominees.

Outstanding Drama Series

My best guess on the actual nominees:

Killing Eve (BBC America)
The Americans (FX)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
Westworld (HBO)
The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Ozark (Netflix)
Stranger Things (Netflix)

If I were the sole decider on nominees:

Game of Thrones (HBO)
Westworld (HBO)
The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Altered Carbon (Netflix)
The Crown (Netflix)
Marvel’s The Punisher (Netflix)
Counterpart (Starz)
– Honorary Nominee: Outlander (Starz)

We are so lucky to be living in the Golden Age of TV. It’s a tough one, here. I’ve heard Killing Eve is spectacular and everyone on the Internet is talking about it, so I’m hedging my bets that it will get some recognition and catch everyone by surprise, as will Ozark come nomination morning. I have yet to see either, though, so for my picks, I’ve got to stick with what I know. Creating a seven episode season of Game of Thrones full of not one, not two, but three massive battle sequences wasn’t always perfect, but it was more ambitious than just about any other show on TV. To not be recognized for that would be a sin. I was also surprised by how incredible I found Marvel’s The Punisher to be, and heartily recommend it to all. Westworld and The Crown turned out predictably incredible sophomore seasons, while Altered Carbon stole my heart (where is that season 2 announcement?!) even though it may not have stolen yours, if you believe its critics. And Counterpart came out of absolutely nowhere and continued Starz’ silent streak of excellence (see: Outlander and [formerly] Spartacus).

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

My best guess on the actual nominees:

Matthew Rhys (The Americans)
Kit Harington (Game of Thrones)
Milo Ventimiglia (This is Us)
Sterling K. Brown (This is Us)
Donald Sutherland (Trust)
Jeffrey Wright (Westworld)

If I were the sole decider on nominees:

Matthew Rhys (The Americans)
JK Simmons (Counterpart)
Kit Harington (Game of Thrones)
Ed Harris (Westworld)
Jeffrey Wright (Westworld)
Donald Sutherland (Trust)
             – Honorary Nominee: Chip Esten* (Nashville)

*He wasn’t even submitted for consideration, but he’s so good.

Kit Harington is finally submitted as a lead actor, and given how far his acting has come since the pilot, I truly think he is worthy of recognition. Will Emmy voters follow him from their recent nominee of his for supporting actor? Time will tell. Matthew Rhys has turned his portrayal of Philip Jennings on The Americans into such a tour-de-force of acting that he NEEDS to get this last nomination, and perhaps even the win. I’ve heard a lot more chatter about Jeffrey Wright this year over Ed Harris, and much of that is likely historical (he was nominated last year and the voters love their repeat favorites). But with both submitted as lead actor this year, I think they are both fantastic and would nominate each of them. I don’t watch This is Us so I can’t comment, but I’m very confident that both Milo Ventimiglia and Sterling K. Brown will be nominated. JK Simmons’ stellar work on Counterpart and Donald Sutherland’s magnificent work on Trust was no surprise to fans of theirs, but deserving of recognition no less. As unlikely as it is to happen, it would be hilarious if Kiefer Sutherland were nominated for Designated Survivor and that he and his father could compete against each other. For funsies, I also threw in Chip Esten in because while Nashville isn’t exactly Shakespeare, he has churned out a harrowing performance, especially as he made the transition to leading man these last few years.

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

My best guess on the actual nominees:

Keri Russell (The Americans)
Claire Foy (The Crown)
Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones)
Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale)
Jodie Comer (Killing Eve)
Mandy Moore (This is Us)

If I were the sole decider on nominees:

Martha Higareda (Altered Carbon)
Keri Russell (The Americans)
Claire Foy (The Crown)
Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones)
Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale)
Caitriona Balfe (Outlander)

Similarly to Kit, Emilia Clarke has come so far since the pilot. Each of them went from virtual unknowns to worldwide phenomenons, and this is due in no small part to their acting. Emilia’s ability to go from sweet and innocent to punishing and steadfast leader in the blink of an eye shouldn’t go unnoticed from Emmy voters. Claire Foy, Keri Russell, and Elisabeth Moss were all nominated last year, and I fully expect them to be so nominated this year again, most deservedly. A very small part of me wants Claire Foy to win, since, because of The Crown recasting Queen Elizabeth to Olivia Coleman (!!!), this is Foy’s last chance to win for her nearly impeccable portrayal of the UK’s reigning monarch. Caitriona always elevates Outlander, but in the soul-crushing third season, her work stood out even more. And Martha Higareda will never be nominated, but she was fantastic in Altered Carbon, and hey, a man can dream, right?

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

My best guess on the actual nominees:

Noah Emmerich (The Americans)
Matt Smith (The Crown)
Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones)
Mandy Patinkin (Homeland)
David Harbour (Stranger Things)

If I were the sole decider on nominees:

Noah Emmerich (The Americans)
Matt Smith (The Crown)
Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones)
Brendan Fraser (Trust)
Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead)

I was very surprised to find Nikolaj Coster-Waldau‘s name all over the many Emmy prediction articles I read – but hey, I’m not complaining! While most agree that season three was the season he truly earned a nomination, that never came, nor did it for the following three years. It’s high time that he lived up to the Lannister name and nabbed a nomination just like his sister and brother before him! Noah Emmerich and Matt Smith are so excellent in The Americans and The Crown, and this will be their last eligible year; I’m banking on the voters agreeing. Jeffrey Dean Morgan certainly won’t be nominated, but I love a good bad guy portrayal when I see one (see: my many years lamenting Iwan Rheon’s lack of award recognition). And lastly, the one that is nearest and dearest to my heart: Defender of the innocent, protector of the weak, and all around good guy George of the Jungle Brendan Fraser. I am not lying to you when I say that Brendan has been my favorite actor since I was 7. He’s on a #careercomeback and I hope, even pray that he will be nominated for the indelible mark he made on Trust, a show he elevated from OK to very good.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

My best guess on the actual nominees:

Vanessa Kirby (The Crown)
Lena Headey (Game of Thrones)
Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale)
Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale)
Alexis Bledel (The Handmaid’s Tale)
Thandie Newton (Westworld)

If I were the sole decider on nominees:

Vanessa Kirby (The Crown)
Lena Headey (Game of Thrones)
Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones)
Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale)
Alexis Bledel (The Handmaid’s Tale)
Thandie Newton (Westworld)
– Honorary Nominee(s): Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones)

This category is so stacked it isn’t fair. So many apologies to Maisie Williams, who was nominated last year. Lena Headey has been so good for so many years that it’s embarrassing that she hasn’t won yet. And truth be told, I only subbed Maisie for Sophie Turner out of fairness, so that they could each have a shot. In reality, they are both fantastic and I want them both to be nominated and to win. Just like in season 7, it’s better when they work together – no need to compete! Sigh. The Handmaid’s Tale has not made this category easy for many other actresses with its wealth of spoils. Yvonne Strahovski absolutely killed it in her second outing for The Handmaid’s Tale, as did Alexis Bledel, who took on a larger role this season with aplomb. Thandie Newton’s Maeve is rightfully a fan favorite for Westworld and she had some very meaty storylines in season 2, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she is nominated and runs away with the category. Vanessa Kirby also took on a larger category for season 2 of The Crown, and invited everyone to see a little more of Princess Margaret this time around.

Other categories for which HBO submitted Game of Thrones:

• Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

I assume Diana Rigg will be nominated, and I hope her final scenes, both with Emilia and Nikolaj will finally give her the win she has so long deserved.

• Outstanding Director for a Drama Series:

703 – The Queen’s Justice – Mark Mylod
704 – The Spoils of War – Matt Shakman
706 – Beyond the Wall – Alan Taylor
707 – The Dragon and the Wolf – Jeremy Podeswa

Tough call here, but if I were forced to pick only one of them to be nominated, I would lean towards Matt Shakman for the improbable job he did sending dragons into battle.

• Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series – Nina Gold
• Outstanding Production design
  – 701 – Dragonstone – (Deborah Riley) submitted
• Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes
  – 706 – Beyond the Wall – (Michele Clapton) submitted
• Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series

The description of why Game of Thrones was submitted for hairstyling is interesting:

Technical Description Sculpting materials used freehand with art work and blood products to create open wounds and bruises. Contact lenses, old age stipple, tooth decay, broken veins and dirty down techniques used to create dead, decayed weathered and wounded effects. Collodion and scar making material for aged scars. Laidon hair, partial and full hair-lace beards and moustaches. Petroleum wax and snow effects used to recreate freezing conditions.

Among those nominated would be:

Jane Walker, Department Head Makeup Artist
Kay Bilk, Makeup Artist
Marianna Kyriacou, Makeup Artist
Pamela Smyth, Makeup Artist
Kate Thompson, Makeup Artist
Nicola Matthews, Makeup Artist

• Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series
  

Among those submitted are:

703 – The Queen’s Justice – Jesse Parker, Editor
704 – The Spoils of War – Katie Weiland, ACE, Editor
706 – Beyond the Wall – Tim Porter, ACE, Editor
707 – The Dragon and the Wolf – Crispin Green, Editor

• Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour)
  – 704 – The Spoils of War
• Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour)
  – 706 – Beyond the Wall
• Outstanding Special Effects
  – 706 – Beyond the Wall
• Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Drama Series, Limited Series or Movie
  – Season 7
• Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
  – 707 – The Dragon and the Wolf – David Benioff & D. B. Weiss

I think because of Game of Thrones‘ enduring popularity, it will have little trouble securing the writing nomination. However, I think David and Dan face an uphill climb when faced with the prospective competition. The Americans‘ series finale is likely to claim a spot, and unless my betting odds are terrible, I foresee it destroying the other competition for the parking lot scene alone (no spoilers, in case some of you haven’t seen yet). It’s very hard to predict which episodes of which shows will be nominated because there are SO MANY OPTIONS but time will tell, I guess! It’d be nice if GOT won for Outstanding Writing for the third season in a row!

What are your ideal Emmy nominations? How wrong were my guesses? How terrible are my favorite selections? Sound off in the comments below!

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