A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Emmy Nominations: Westeros Makes TV History
Westeros didn’t walk away with the biggest trophy of the night, but it didn’t need to. The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, held Monday, September 14, gave the A Song of Ice and Fire franchise a night full of recognition, nostalgia, and enough Valyrian steel references to satisfy even the most devoted fans. At the center of it all sat A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the newest entry in the franchise, which walked into the ceremony with nine total nominations and one very significant nod: Outstanding Drama Series.
That’s no small feat for a freshman show. Landing a spot in television’s most competitive category during a debut season is the kind of achievement that can define a series’ trajectory for years. And while the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Emmy nominations didn’t translate into a win this time around, the show’s presence both in the nominations and throughout the broadcast itself signaled that Westeros still holds serious weight in the industry’s eyes.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards and Nominations
The A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Outstanding Drama Series Emmy nomination was the headline story for ASOIAF fans heading into the ceremony, but the show’s awards season success actually started earlier. At last week’s Creative Arts Emmys, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms picked up eight nominations, walking away with a win for Outstanding Stunt Performance.
That stunt trophy matters more than it might initially seem. The A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Creative Arts Emmys stunt performance win reflects the physical demands of building out a new corner of Westeros, one filled with tournament combat and the kind of choreographed action that fans of the franchise have come to expect. Combined with the drama series nomination, the show’s total haul across both ceremonies put it in rare company for a first-year series.
Still, nominations aren’t wins, and the show ultimately missed out on several other key categories. Directing, writing, and both lead and supporting acting nods for stars Peter Claffey (playing Ser Duncan the Tall, or “Dunk”) and Dexter Sol Ansell (playing Prince Aegon Targaryen, or “Egg”) were notably absent. Given the strength of the performances and writing across the season, all four probably deserved a nomination at minimum, even accounting for how stacked the Drama categories were this year.
Game of Thrones Legacy and Emmy Shoutouts at the Ceremony
Long before A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ category came up, host Mariska Hargitay was already paying tribute to the franchise that started it all. Draped in a cloak clearly inspired by Jon Snow and holding a sword bearing a striking resemblance to Longclaw, Hargitay joked that the costume was “hot as balls” before acknowledging just how dominant Game of Thrones once was on this very stage.
And dominant is an understatement. Game of Thrones collected 59 Emmys across its eight-season run, a record for a drama series that still stands. Four of those wins came in the Outstanding Drama Series category, and Peter Dinklage alone picked up four Supporting Actor trophies for his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister. Hargitay’s bit wasn’t just comic relief. It was a reminder of exactly how much history the franchise carries into every new project bearing its name.
From there, the ceremony leaned further into franchise nostalgia. Hargitay introduced two presenters with deep ties to the world of Westeros: Emilia Clarke, a four-time Emmy nominee for her role as Daenerys Targaryen, and Emma D’Arcy, widely expected to enter the awards conversation next year for their performance as Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon. The two leaned into the bit by reading their category introduction in High Valyrian, with Clarke delivering an extended riff in the constructed language and D’Arcy offering a much simpler translation: “Good evening.”
Moments like these do more than entertain. The Emmys have a pattern of honoring influential shows through anniversary tributes, cast reunions, and playful references, and folding Game of Thrones into this year’s broadcast placed it firmly among the medium’s most iconic titles. For a franchise now expanding through spinoffs like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon, that kind of continued cultural relevance matters.
Looking Ahead: Can Season 2 Follow in Game of Thrones’ Footsteps?
The Outstanding Drama Series trophy ultimately went to The Pitt, which won for the second consecutive year and also claimed a lead actor win for Noah Wyle. Reports heading into the ceremony had already pegged The Pitt as the heavy favourite, so the loss wasn’t exactly a shock. Even in a scenario where A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms had picked up nominations in directing, writing, or acting, The Pitt’s momentum likely would have been difficult to overcome regardless.
That context matters when evaluating what comes next. History suggests that a Drama Series nomination in season one is often the hardest hurdle for a new show to clear, not the win itself. Game of Thrones is proof of that pattern: it didn’t take home an Outstanding Drama Series trophy until its fifth season, despite building its fan base and critical reputation well before then.
Succession followed a similar arc, arguably an even more dramatic one. The show didn’t land a single acting nomination for its first season, yet by its fourth and final season, it nearly swept the board, winning for Series, Directing, Writing, and three acting categories combined. If A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 can build on the strength of its debut, there’s a real case for Emmy voters to expand their recognition of the show in future ceremonies, following a trajectory the A Song of Ice and Fire franchise Emmy awards history has already proven works.
For now, the show’s first outing at the Emmys should be viewed as a strong foundation rather than a disappointment. Nine nominations, a Creative Arts win, and a featured spot throughout the ceremony’s biggest moments is a promising start for any freshman drama. And on a lighter note, at least one wish came true at this year’s show: photos from the event confirm that Dexter Sol Ansell finally got to meet Zendaya.
Season 1 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is now streaming on HBO Max for anyone looking to catch up before season 2 enters the Emmy conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Emmy nominations did A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms get?
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms received nine Emmy nominations for its debut season at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards.
Did A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms win any awards?
Yes, the HBO series won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Stunt Performance at the 78th Emmy Awards.