Game of Thrones wrestled back control of the Emmys in Los Angeles on Monday night, winning the ceremony’s biggest award, Outstanding Drama Series.
The HBO behemoth picked up the prize in 2015 and 2016, but was absent from proceedings last year when its broadcast date failed to meet eligibility criteria. This fallow year allowed The Handmaid’s Tale to shine, but the dystopian Hulu drama couldn’t hold onto its crown in 2018.
Game of Thrones failed to dominate in other categories however, its only other award on the night being a Supporting Actor honour for Peter Dinklage – his third Emmy win for the show.
The drama and limited series categories were split at an unpredictable ceremony, but Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs Maisel trounced its comedy rivals. The dramedy, about a 1950s housewife who discovers she has a talent for stand-up, consistently beat its hotly-tipped rival, FX’s Atlanta, scooping five awards.
Other winners at the Microsoft Theater in Downtown Los Angeles included Claire Foy for The Crown and Matthew Rhys for The Americans. The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story was declared Outstanding Limited Series, while newcomer Barry picked up surprise acting awards for Bill Hader and Henry Winkler.
Awards aside, the main talking points at the 70th Primetime Emmys were the director of last year’s Oscars’ surprise proposal to his girlfriend during his acceptance speech, Betty White’s razor-sharp life achievement acceptance speech, delivered at the age of 96, and Donald Glover attending the ceremony dressed as his Atlanta character Teddy Perkins. His defeat in the comedy lead actor category meant that an acceptance speech delivered as the macabre Perkins was presumably shelved.
Comedians Colin Jost and Michael Che hosted the ceremony – aided by several members of the Saturday Night Live cast – but almost entirely steered clear of the usual topic of discussion at these events, Donald Trump. Instead, their monologues, skits and jokes centered on diversity, the Me Too movement and declining viewing figures for the Emmys.
