Game of Thrones Wins Best Drama Series the Final Time

Winter might have come for Game of Thrones, but not before the HBO epic could take home the biggest prize in television one last time. At Sunday's 71st annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Game of Thrones was crowned King in the North once again as it claimed the win for Outstanding Drama Series for the fourth time in a row.

While accepting the award, co-creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss thanked the many crew members and cast of the series, but not until they gave a hat tip to author George R.R. Martin. "Thank you for taking a chance on two producers who'd never done it before," Benioff said.

"We want to thank all of our lovely cast. You guys make everything we write better. We love you, and we loved every minute we spent with all of you," Benioff continued. "The last 10 years have been the best of our lives. I can't believe we finished it." Then, after thanking their families for all the time spent away from them while making Game of Thrones, Weiss added, "we hope some day you all decide it was worth it."

Emmys 2019: Complete Coverage of the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards

Despite the divisiveness of Game of Thrones' eighth and final season, the adaptation of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire books toppled Better Call Saul, Bodyguard,Killing Eve, Ozark, Pose, Succession, and This Is Us in the category. Game of Thrones previously won for Outstanding Drama Series in 2015, 2016, and 2018 and was also nominated for the award in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. (Note: it wasn't eligible for a nomination in 2017.)

Game of Thrones came into the 2019 Emmys as a heavy favorite for this win, even with so much ink spilled about Season 8's flaws, boasting a record-setting 32 nominations. The series' newest slate of nods spanned the categories, with multiple acting contenders joining nominations for directing, writing, casting, cinematography, production design, visual effects, stunt coordination, music composition, title design, editing, sound editing and mixing, costumes, hairstyling and makeup, and even interactive media.

Clearly, Television Academy voters just weren't as bent out of shape about some of the final season's most panned elements as fans were. No amount of visibility issues of the Battle of Winterfell or dizzying Mad Queen heel turns or even coffee-gate could stop them from giving Game of Thrones one more major victory.

Game of Thrones Seasons 1-8 are available to stream on HBO.

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