House Of The Dragon Smashes 2 Long-standing Game Of Thrones Records in Record Time!

House of the Dragon proved to be a hit for HBO, although it did not achieve the same level of success as Game of Thrones. Despite the negative reception of Game of Thrones' conclusion, House of the Dragon managed to win over viewers and received high ratings, averaging around 29 million viewers per week in its first season. It also garnered critical acclaim, boasting a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The success of House of the Dragon was evident as it was swiftly renewed for a second season shortly after its premiere. Acting as HBO's new flagship show, it sought to fill the void left by Game of Thrones in various aspects, except for one: the Emmys. In the 2023 Emmys nominations, House of the Dragon received a respectable eight nominations, although it fell short compared to the previous dominance of Game of Thrones.

House Of The Dragon Season 1 Has Fewer Emmy Nominations Than Any Game Of Thrones Season

House of the Dragon has received a total of eight Emmy nominations, including one for the Primetime Emmys, which recognizes overall shows, acting, writing, and directing, and seven for the Primetime Creative Arts Emmys, which focus on below-the-line categories. Additionally, House of the Dragon: Inside The Episode has received a separate nomination. The Emmy nominations for the first season of House of the Dragon are as follows:

1. Outstanding Drama Series

Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More)

Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (One Hour)

Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes

Outstanding Period and/or Character Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)

Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup

Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour)

Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie

Despite having a respectable number of nominations, it falls short in comparison to even the earlier seasons of Game of Thrones. Season 1 of Game of Thrones received a total of 13 nominations, out of which two were won (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Peter Dinklage, and Outstanding Main Title Design). Season 2, on the other hand, had the fewest nominations so far, with a total of 12. Subsequent seasons became dominant forces at the Emmys, accumulating numerous wins and often reigning over the Outstanding Drama Series category, as well as securing several technical awards. The table below presents details of each Game of Thrones season, including the number of Emmy nominations received and the number of wins.

House Of The Dragon S1 Is The Only Game Of Thrones Franchise Season Without A Cast Nomination

In addition to having the fewest Emmy nominations, House of the Dragon season 1 diverges greatly from Game of Thrones as it failed to secure any cast nominations. This is surprising considering the strong performance by House of the Dragon's cast. Unlike House of the Dragon, every season of Game of Thrones saw at least one actor receive a nomination. Peter Dinklage, in particular, consistently stood out, being nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor and winning the award on 4 occasions. It is astonishing that despite numerous nominations for 11 other Game of Thrones cast members, Dinklage remains the sole Emmy winner from the show.

Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister) - 5 nominations

Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) - 4 nominations

Diana Rigg (Olenna Tyrell) - 4 nominations

Kit Harington (Jon Snow) - 2 nominations

Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) - 2 nominations

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister) - 2 nominations

Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy) - 1 nomination

Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth) - 1 nomination

Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark) - 1 nomination

Carice van Houten (Melisandre) - 1 nomination

Max von Sydow (Three-Eyed Raven) - 1 nomination

Why Was House Of The Dragon Snubbed & Who Should Have Been Nominated?

While the Emmys aims to recognize the finest TV programs, it can sometimes prioritize shows that are generating a lot of hype. This may have contributed to House of the Dragon being overlooked, as the drama categories predominantly feature a select few shows, namely Succession and The White Lotus. These shows have garnered considerable buzz more recently than House of the Dragon, which concluded its airing in October 2022. Additionally, being returning shows often takes precedence in these categories. However, both Succession and The White Lotus undoubtedly deserve attention, underscoring the high caliber of television this year and further emphasizing how House of the Dragon was eclipsed.

There are numerous individuals affiliated with House of the Dragon who would have deserved Emmy nominations. For instance, Emma D'Arcy delivered an incredible performance as Rhaenyra Targaryen. Ramin Djawadi, who previously won awards for his musical contributions to Game of Thrones, also could have been considered. Additionally, either Miguel Sapochnik or Geeta Patel would have had a realistic chance at a directing nomination. However, the most disappointing oversight is Paddy Considine, who was submitted for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Considine's portrayal of Viserys was remarkably impactful, tragic, and human, deserving recognition. Unlike most of the other cast members, he will not have another opportunity to receive such acclaim.

House of the Dragon is likely to gain even more momentum when it comes to the Emmys, as it seeks to establish itself after the success of Game of Thrones. Whether it can achieve the same groundbreaking achievements remains uncertain. Although it has faced numerous snubs, and probably won't secure the Outstanding Drama Series award over Succession's final season, the show has made a solid start and has a promising future.