House of the Dragon has officially broken a major Game of Thrones streak at the 2025 Emmys, and unfortunately, the news isn’t great for the HBO franchise. After years of Game of Thrones dominance at the awards, House of the Dragon season 2 marks the first time in the entire franchise’s history that it has failed to secure a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmys.
The latest round of nominations revealed that the series also missed out on major acting, directing, and writing categories. However, the show did manage to earn some recognition in technical categories, including several nods in the Creative Arts awards.
The End of a Streak
Game of Thrones holds the record for the most Emmy wins for a drama series, with a total of 59 awards from 164 nominations. The franchise, spanning multiple shows, had become a fixture at the Emmys over the years, with Game of Thrones winning Outstanding Drama Series multiple times. But with House of the Dragon season 2, the reign appears to have come to an end.
While Game of Thrones season 8, despite a deeply divided reception, received a nomination and won the award for Outstanding Drama Series, House of the Dragon season 2 faced much stronger competition and suffered a backlash that seems to have impacted its chances.
Despite its potential and its overall popularity, House of the Dragon was left without any major nominations, which marks a shift in the franchise’s trajectory at the awards.
Emmys 2025 – Outstanding Drama Series Nominees
The nominees for Outstanding Drama Series at the 2025 Emmys include:
Andor
The Diplomat
The Last of Us
Paradise
The Pitt
Severance
Slow Horses
The White Lotus
While House of the Dragon season 2’s absence from the category isn’t a complete surprise given the intense competition, it still feels like a significant setback for the show and its future in awards season.
The show’s cliffhanger ending and pacing issues didn’t help its case either, as many viewers felt the storytelling wasn’t as strong or engaging as in its first season.
What This Means for House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon’s lack of major nominations at the 2025 Emmys is a huge blow, especially since it’s still considered one of HBO’s flagship franchises.
While season 1 was mostly well-received and landed an Outstanding Drama Series nomination, season 2’s storytelling and pacing issues ultimately led to a mixed reception. The show also ended on a cliffhanger, which left many fans feeling dissatisfied.
However, the backlash to season 2 is nothing compared to the overwhelming criticism faced by Game of Thrones season 8, which still managed to secure an Outstanding Drama Series nomination and win the award. This shows that while the Emmys may not be in House of the Dragon’s favor this year, the franchise isn’t out of the race entirely—especially with a highly anticipated season 3 on the horizon.
Season 3: The Road Ahead
Showrunner Ryan Condal has promised that House of the Dragon season 3 will feature major events from the A Song of Ice and Fire books, and there’s hope that the show will go bigger and better than before. Fans are eager to see if season 3 can correct the issues of the second season and restore the series’ place among the top contenders for Emmys in the future.
If season 3 can successfully deliver on these promises and improve in areas like pacing and storytelling, the show could bounce back in the eyes of critics and awards voters. The pressure is on, but House of the Dragon has the potential to regain its footing and reclaim the success that Game of Thrones once enjoyed.
House of the Dragon Season 2’s Emmys Snubs
While the lack of major nominations for House of the Dragon season 2 may feel like a disappointment, it’s worth acknowledging the moments of brilliance that still stood out in the show. Despite the overall criticism of the season, there were some exceptional performances and episodes that deserved recognition.
Emma D’Arcy’s portrayal of Rhaenyra Targaryen was one of the standout performances of season 2. Their layered and emotional portrayal of the character was a key part of the show’s success, and it seemed like an obvious candidate for an Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nomination. Unfortunately, the performance didn’t receive the recognition it deserved, leaving many fans disappointed.
Similarly, Tom Glynn-Carney’s portrayal of Aegon II Targaryen stood out, as he gave the character depth and complexity, far beyond a simple villainous role. His performance was subtle yet impactful, and many felt he also deserved a nomination for Supporting Actor.
Two of the best episodes of the season—The Red Dragon and the Gold and The Red Sowing—also showcased exceptional work, with some of the most impressive dragon scenes in the franchise’s history.
Directors Alan Taylor and Loni Peristere should have received at least a nomination for their work in bringing these episodes to life, yet neither received recognition.
