The Outstanding Drama is not just a good or great series, though ideally it ought to be. It’s the one you can’t ignore even if you want to. mattzollerseitz writes on the Emmys
Photo: HBO I know, I know: the final season of Game of Thrones, which last night won Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmys for the fourth time in five years, was not everything it could have been. Like so many repeat Emmy wins over the years, Thrones’ victory could be read as a reflex action, a winner picked because it had won many times before, even though, hour by hour and scene by scene, fellow nominees Better Call Saul, Succession, and Pose were superior.
If you look back over the Outstanding Drama winners during the past six decades, there are plenty of repeats that one could quibble with in terms of overall quality, compared to other series that might’ve had better seasons during that eligibility year. But there aren’t too many instances where you could claim that the winner didn’t loom largest in the culture among all the nominated programs that year.
It’s not splitting hairs to say that these shows, whether they were the “best” of their year or something less, stood out more than other shows that were nominated during their years. Or for that matter, series that got consistently shut out of major categories but went on to establish themselves as pantheon dramas, such as My So-Called Life, the remake of Battlestar Galactica, Deadwood, The Wire, The Leftovers, Twin Peaks: The Return, and The Americans .
I have not stopped thinking about the latter episode since I saw it. It might be the closest thing to the D-Day sequence in Saving Private Ryan that the fantasy genre has produced. I’m also coming around to the idea that it’s better that Dany’s decision just sort of happened. She has a history of committing war crimes, she’d recently endured the death of two of her “children,” and besides, sometimes a feared leader just snaps and history is altered as a result.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Emmys 2019: Critical Last Looks on ‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘Fleabag,’ More ContendersWith only days to go before the 71st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, the final voting have long since been cast and counted. But hopes still abound for favorite series and performers. Here, Variety’s…
Read more »
Why 'Game of Thrones' Probably Won't Help the Emmys' Ratings ProblemIn 2019, awards show audiences are actually up — but Sunday's ceremony isn't likely to aid that narrative thanks to competition from the NFL and a downward trend in Emmy viewership
Read more »
Emmys 2019: Game of Thrones, Veep, Big Bang Theory to be celebrated
Read more »
'Game of Thrones,' 'Veep' eye big farewell wins at the Emmy AwardsIs there more glory in store for HBO's heavyweights? How will the ceremony unfold without a host?
Read more »
'Game of Thrones' Star Lena Headey Gets Giant Hand Tattoo Before EmmysThe British star is nominated for an Emmy at Sunday’s show.
Read more »
Game of Thrones cast's drastic transformations from characters at EmmysThe Game of Thrones cast have ditched the fur coat, armour and dragons for the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards
Read more »