“Game of Thrones” fans patiently waited for years to see who would win the Iron Throne, and they have to wait even longer to see the show’s sprawling cast win at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Despite being the biggest show on television this decade, the cast of “Game of Thrones” has yet to win the SAG Award for TV drama ensemble. It has racked up six nominations in this category over the years, and now the cast is hoping to finally win on their lucky seventh nomination for its farewell season.
Since it was first nominated at SAG in 2011, the cast of “Game of Thrones” has lost to a myriad of dramatic ensembles, including “Boardwalk Empire,” “Breaking Bad,” “Downton Abbey,” “Stranger Things” and “This Is Us.” There are a few possible reasons “Game of Thrones” has been overlooked time and time again for a win, including the nature of the series not necessarily being a major acting showcase.
While the cast has certainly earned acclaim for their performances, “Game of Thrones” is largely fantastical and action-oriented. Some of the technical elements could overshadow the performances at times, especially in comparison to most of the series to which it has lost. Peter Dinklage is the only “GoT” cast member to earn an individual citation and despite four Emmy wins, he has never taken home the SAG Award.
Should “Game of Thrones” contend for its ensemble again, it would tie “ER” and “The Sopranos” for the second-most in the category’s history. Both of those shows won the ensemble prize multiple times. “Law & Order” is the all-time nomination leader with nine, and like “Game of Thrones,” it never won. “Game of Thrones” is a virtual lock to get that seventh nomination at the 2020 SAG Awards and it could finally get its coronation even among tough competition.
Major ensembles that could face off against “Game of Thrones” include the powerhouse women of “Big Little Lies,” the new cast of “The Crown,” the buzzy “Succession” and two-time defending champ “This Is Us.” Even if a few of those miss a nomination, there is more tough competition from acclaimed shows like “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Killing Eve,” “Pose” and “Stranger Things.” Still, SAG is quite sentimental in this category, giving wins to final seasons of big, popular shows like “Breaking Bad,” “Downton Abbey” and “The Sopranos,” which should bode well for “Game of Thrones.” It just won 12 Emmys including Best Drama Series and was nominated for more acting awards than ever before. The question is whether they can sustain the buzz through January, when SAG voting takes place.
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