The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards are this Sunday, and they’ll be huge, as Game of Thrones is up for the final time after its eighth and final season, and the epic HBO series leads the way with 32 nominations this year. Focusing on the drama category, these should be the winners for each award. Should Game of Thrones get a clean sweep?

 

Outstanding Drama Series

-Better Call Saul (AMC)

-Bodyguard (Netflix)

-Game of Thrones (HBO)

-Killing Eve (BBC America)

-Ozark (Netflix)

-Pose (FX)

-Succession (HBO)

-This Is Us (NBC)

 

This is basically a lock, and it also should happen despite the loud unhappiness from many fans of Game of Thrones over Season 8. Game of Thrones is the most critically acclaimed drama of all-time and should go out into the sunset with another win for best drama.

 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

-Bob Odenkirk as Jimmy McGill (Better Call Saul)

-Jason Bateman as Martin Byrde (Ozark)

-Sterling K. Brown as Randall Pearson (This Is Us)

-Kit Harington as Jon Snow (Game of Thrones)

-Billy Porter as Pray Tell (Pose)

-Milo Ventimiglia as Jack Pearson (This Is Us)

 

Billy Porter is seen as the favorite, and Kit Harington is clearly an underdog entering Sunday. But Harington’s range and involvement in memorable action scenes make him the choice after playing Jon Snow. The final season boost should not be discounted for the Game of Thrones cast and crew.

 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

-Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones)

-Viola Davis as Annalise Keating (How To Get Away With Murder)

-Jodie Comer as Villanelle (Killing Eve)

-Mandy Moore as Rebecca Pearson (This Is Us)

-Robin Wright as Claire Underwood (House of Cards)

-Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri (Killing Eve)

-Laura Linney as Wendy Byrde (Ozark)

 

Sandra Oh is probably the favorite for Outstanding Lead Actress, but this is more of a toss-up with seven different candidates. Emilia Clarke was amazing as Daenerys Targaryen in the final season of Thrones—she delivered highly emotional scenes, portrayed absolute rage, and even gave a dictator-like speech in a made-up language. Clarke might not ultimately win, but she should, and she might be the easiest choice of the acting categories.

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

-Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring (Better Call Saul)

-Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jamie Lannister (Game of Thrones)

-Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy (Game of Thrones)

-Chris Sullivan as Toby Damon (This Is Us)

-Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut (Better Call Saul)

-Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister (Game of Thrones)

-Michael Kelly as Doug Stamper (House of Cards)

 

After getting recognition and being included as a somewhat surprise nominee, Alfie Allen should not be discounted for his role as a tattered and redemptive Theon Greyjoy, while Nikolaj Coster-Waldau shined in his scenes—including along with Peter Dinklage—but Dinklage should probably get another Emmy win. Michael Kelly is a wild card (for House of Cards) that also has a final season bump, but this will probably go to one of the three Game of Thrones actors.

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

-Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister (Game of Thrones)

-Maisie Williams as Arya Stark (Game of Thrones)

-Fiona Shaw as Carolyn Martens (Killing Eve)

-Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark (Game of Thrones)

-Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth (Game of Thrones)

-Julia Garner as Ruth Langmore (Ozark)

 

Julia Garner is becoming a star after key roles in some popular dramas, and the four nominees from Game of Thrones could harm each other. However, while her role was more limited in the final season of the show, Lena Headey might finally get her win for the legendary job she did as Cersei Lannister.

 

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

-David Benioff and D.B. Weiss for “The Iron Throne” (Game of Thrones)

-David Nutter for “The Last of the Starks” (Game of Thrones)

-Miguel Sapochnik for “The Long Night” (Game of Thrones

-Lisa Brühlmann for “Desperate Times” (Killing Eve)

-Jason Bateman for “Reparations” (Ozark)

-Adam McKay for “Celebration” (Succession)

-Daina Reid for “Holly” (The Handmaid’s Tale)

 

For all the criticism they’ve received for the final episode and final season, it’ll be surprising if David Benioff and D.B. Weiss still aren’t awarded a win for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series after bidding farewell to Game of Thrones. “The Long Night” was phenomenal too, but the controversy over some people being unable to see the characters in the darkness hurts. Daina Reid for “Holly” is a darkhorse here.

 

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

-Pete Gould and Thomas Schnauz for “Winner” (Better Call Saul)

-Jed Mercurio for “Episode 1” (Bodyguard)

-David Benioff and D.B. Weiss for “The Iron Throne” (Game of Thrones)

-Emerald Fennell for “Nice And Neat” (Killing Eve)

-Jesse Armstrong for “Nobody Is Ever Missing” (Succession)

-Bruce Miller and Kira Snyder for “Holly” (The Handmaid’s Tale)

 

Not quite a sweep for Game of Thrones in these big drama categories. D&D get Outstanding Drama and Outstanding Directing, but Jed Mercurio’s lengthy opening scene in the first episode of Bodyguard went above and beyond. The writing in the first episode of the BBC/Netflix drama immediately got viewers hooked. However, maybe it’s not a good sign that Richard Madden (David Budd) was not even nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor for his role in Bodyguard (which was stunning and absurd). Still, I’ll give Mercurio the slight advantage over Game of Thrones.

 

The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards air Sunday, September 22 at 8:00 PM ET on FOX.