Game of Thrones wins the Art Directors Guild Award! 

won another award for season 5. The show took home the Art Directors Guild Award for art direction in a One-Hour Period or Fantasy Single-Camera Series, beating 

was nominated for its art direction in three episodes in particular- “High Sparrow,” “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken,” and “Hardhome,” and the fine work by GoT’s team took home the prize last night.

Best One-Hour Period or Fantasy Single-Camera TV Series goes to DEBORAH RILEY for #GAMEOFTHRONES #ADGawards #GOT pic.twitter.com/UZpWyFlAf9

Production Designer Deborah Riley accepted the award on behalf of the art direction team which included the Supervising Art Directors Paul Ghirardani and Christina Moore, Art Directors Philip Elton, Hauke Richter, Iain White, Nick Wilkinson and Mark Lowry, Assistant Art Director Brendan Rankin, Graphic Desinger Jim Stanes, Concept Artists Nick Ainsworth, Peter McKinstry and Kieran Belshaw and Set Decorator Rob Cameron.

since season 4 when she took over from Gemma Jackson. This isn’t the first honor she’s received for her work. She won the Emmy last year for Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More) for the episode, “High Sparrow.”

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Great job! The production design on this show is absolutely impeccable.

I rewatched “High Sparrow” last week and it has the most incredible art direction and all-around production on it. It’s really beautifully done.

a masterpiece of an episode indeed, can’t wait to watch it again.

A huge congrats to the amazing art direction team behind our wonderful show.

Deborah Riley and the rest of the art direction crew did some fantastic work last season. The House of Black and White in particular was awesome, especially the Hall of Faces. The scene where Jaqen shows it to Arya for the first time was just breathtaking. It was macabre, yet darkly beautiful at the same time.

Yes, Deborah Ridley and the art direction team are amazing!! Congrats!!

Fantastic news for the art team, can’t wait to see what they do for season 6.

Unrelated, but saw this on Sky Sports News earlier. A GOT/Transfer Deadline Day mashup.

So we took home the producers and art directors Guild award, brilliant work for for the crew and cast, a win for Thrones is a win for everyone’s brilliance and hard work.

Remember the Directors and writers guild awards are next.

I know…i knoooow it just a FAN MADE trailer for season 6, but not a bad one. If you watch only once, then you’ll get 2 minute 17 second closer to the official trailer.

It’s so great to see such fantastic work be acknowledged! Congrats!!!

(by normal, I mean that it’s an episode that doesn’t feature a major battle, a major death – my apologies to Janos Slynt – or some scene that’s widely considered to be an iconic moment for the series). From the acting during certain critical character beats (Sansa’s arrival at Winterfell, Roose and Littlefinger’s conversation, Jon’s execution of Slynt, Cersei’s first interaction with the titular High Sparrow) to the lavish brilliance of the cinematography and the production design (particularly the interior of the House of Black and White and the Long Bridge of Volantis), I find everything about that episode to be exceptionally well-crafted. It’s an hour that I’m always happy to revisit, even if I’m not in the midst of a full series rewatch. I think it’s an amazing piece of work.

became, I’m glad to see that the episode has consistently received awards recognition for its technical aspects. I think that the wedding in the Winterfell godswood is one of the most beautifully staged and shot sequences in the entire show, and absolutely essential for setting the tone of the horror that follows. And of course,

doesn’t need anyone to defend its merits – they speak for themselves in abundance.

Congratulations to Deborah Riley and the entire Production Design team!

Not a beat missed since Deb Riley took over from Gemma Jackson after S3. Consistently great visuals!

became, I’m glad to see that the episode has consistently received awards recognition for its technical aspects. I think that the wedding in the Winterfell godswood is one of the most beautifully staged and shot sequences in the entire show, and absolutely essential for setting the tone of the horror that follows.

got such bad rap for the Dornish silliness that other parts of the episode went (undeservedly) unnoticed, or in the case of Sansa’s wedding, noticed for all the wrong reasons. On several occasions here on WotW, I likened that scene to a dark fairy tale: lighting, staging, vocal performances of the cast (subdued and hesitant), Sansa’s costume… gorgeous all around, definitely one of my favourite scenes of the whole show, sadly lost on many viewers amid all the furore surrounding the scene.

High Sparrow” is one of my absolute favorite ‘normal’ episodes of

(by normal, I mean that it’s an episode that doesn’t feature a major battle, a major death – my apologies to Janos Slynt – or some scene that’s widely considered to be an iconic moment for the series)

That’s as good an occasion as any to mention my favourite “normal” or “silent” episode of GoT. The honour most certainly goes to the masterpiece that is

in Season 3. Everything in that episode is phenomenal, be it the duel between the Hound and Beric, the execution of lord Karstark accompanied by some of Djawadi’s best music (though I gotta wonder what the Greyjoy theme was doing there), Jaime-Brienne in the tub/pool, and the beautiful conversation between Arya, Thoros, and Beric.

Could you bring back a man without the head? Not six times, just once.

Now that I wrote all this, it occurrs to me that this episode doesn’t exactly conform to your definition of “normal” episode as it does have some iconic book moments. If we disregard it, I guess my favourite normal ep would be… let’s see… not sure, maybe 2×03

Congrats to the art department!! Always an amazing job well done.

Had Theon’s treachery made it back to Robb by the time Karstark was executed? If not then I believe Djawadi’s music was meant to foreshadow Theon’s coming betrayal. It doesn’t make sense to me otherwise.

Oh god the godswood scene, i remember talking about it here months ago definitely one of the greatest moments GOT created so far, do you remember Ramin’s theme for that scene, it’s called “before the old gods” in the soundtrack album and i’m simply speechless in describing how brilliant and heart shattering it is. can’t wait to watch that masterpiece of a scene again.

Visual Effects Society February 2nd, Awards are tomorrow, let’s show some support 😀 Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode

Outstanding Animated Performance in an Episode, Commercial or Real-Time Project

“Game of Thrones” — “The Dance of Dragons” — Drogon Arena Rescue

“Game of Thrones” — “Mother’s Mercy” — Wounded Drogon

Outstanding Created Environment in an Episode, Commercial or Real-Time Project

Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Episode, Commercial or Real-Time Project

got such bad rap for the Dornish silliness that other parts of the episode went (undeservedly) unnoticed, or in the case of Sansa’a wedding, noticed for all the wrong reasons. On several occasions here on WotW, I likened that scene to a dark fairy tale: lighting, staging, vocal performances of the cast (subdued and hesitant), Sansa’s costume, gorgeous all around, definitely one of my favourite scenes of the whole show, sadly lost on many viewers amid all the furore surrounding the scene.

I love the ‘dark fairy tale’ comparison for that scene. I think it’s perfect.

That’s as good an occasion as any to mention my favourite “normal” or “silent” episode of GoT. The honour most certainly goes to the masterpiece that is

in Season 3. Everything in that episode is phenomenal, be it the duel between the Hound and Beric, the execution of lord Karstark accompanied by some of Djawadi’s best music (though I gotta wonder what the Greyjoy theme was doing there), Jaime-Brienne in the tub/pool, and the beautiful conversation between Arya, Thoros, and Beric.

Now that I wrote all this, it occurred to me that this episode doesn’t exactly conform to your definition of “normal” episode as it does have some iconic book moments. If we disregard it, I guess my favourite normal ep would be… let’s see… not sure, maybe 2×03

I also adore “Kissed by Fire”. However, I kind of feel like that episode – at least among the hardcore fandom – has transcended the ‘normal’* episode label as I’ve defined it. That’s due in part to it featuring all the great moments that you mentioned (Jaime’s bathtub confession to Brienne chief among them), but also because I’ve seen so many people – both on this website and on other GoT-centric forums – consistently cite that episode as one of the best of the entire show. I have no doubt that the fact that it features such a beloved scene from the book contributes to that high ranking for many, but that wouldn’t matter if the execution wasn’t top-notch. On that level, I think that episode is a masterpiece.

I suppose ‘normal episode’ is a tricky term with a show like Game of Thrones. Perhaps another way to define what I mean would be by exclusion – disqualifying all of the Episode 9’s, all of the season finales, and any episode that features an Episode 9-level ending (“And Now His Watch Is Ended”, “The Mountain and the Viper”, and “Hardhome” spring to mind here).

definitely qualifies as an exceptionally crafted ‘normal’ episode of the show, above and beyond the high standard that the show has set for itself. Tyrion’s

montage. Theon burning the letter to Robb. Yoren’s speech to Arya that inspires her list. And of course,

That Bryan Cogman fellow. He can write a bit, can’t he? 😉

Saturday, February 6, 2016 is the Directors Guild awards David Nutter has been Nominated for Mothers Mercy.

Thrones Writers are Nominated for Drama Series, And D&D are Nominated for Episodic Drama Mothers Mercy.

A quick scan of my iTunes library confirms that I’ve listened to GoT’s Season 5 soundtrack more times than is probably healthy for one individual, and

is definitely one of my frequently-played tracks from that album. I think it’s a hauntingly beautiful piece, even when it’s divorced from its accompanying visual context.

Congratulations Deborah Riley and the Art Direction team. Outstanding!

I remember being very worried when they said Gemma Jackson was leaving the show, because it was such a huge undertaking. But certainly Deborah Riley has filled the shoes amazingly well, proof of the amazing team that is behind the two.

Had Theon’s treachery made it back to Robb by the time Karstark was executed?If not then I believe Djawadi’s music was meant to foreshadow Theon’s coming betrayal. It doesn’t make sense to me otherwise.

The choice of music makes thematic sense: it was used when Theon executed Rodrik and now also with Karstark’s execution. The thing is it was originally a variation of the Greyjoy theme.

Saturday, February 6, 2016 is the Directors Guild awards

David Nutter has been Nominated for Mothers Mercy.

I really wish the ruins of Valyria would get some love. That whole scene was amazing.

Jack Bauer 24: Don’t forget the VES awards tomrorow night

trust me, we are a shoo in at the VES. we are taking home something tomorrow

The Directors Guild awards, I think David Nutter has a good shot, Writers Guild Awards might be The Toughest of the two.

I’ll be watching kill the bow tonight, looking at the ruins for the first time, It was so beautiful.

Absolutely deserved. Deborah Riley is responsible for the very obvious jump in quality of set design in the last couple of seasons (from Meereen to the House of Black and White). I guess the massive budget also helped

definitely qualifies as an exceptionally crafted ‘normal’ episode of the show, above and beyond the high standard that the show has set for itself. Tyrion’s

montage. Theon burning the letter to Robb. Yoren’s speech to Arya that inspires her list. And of course,

That Bryan Cogman fellow. He can write a bit, can’t he?

He certainly can. His episodes always deliver, though I guess some would disagree with his Season 5 work. Nevertheless, just think of

, both of those were directed by Alik Sakharov, who imbued his episodes with an almost painterly quality (also evident in

Ah, sometimes I’m sad that the great work some of these directors did on GoT increased their visibility and made them move on to other things. I’ll miss Sakharov, who I find one of GoTs best directors. And I’m still not over Alan Taylor leaving the show after Season 2. He was magnificient!

Since I’m apparently going off on one tangent after another, please indulge me a little further. Taylor’s work, and that of his DP, on Season 2 premiere,

, is wonderful. The colour palette, interplay between light and shadow (something Sakharov is also great at), using the comet to smoothly transition between locations… that episode is gorgeous!

And guess who wrote that one! Yup, Bryan Cogman!

Jared: Could you bring back a man without the head? Not six times, just once.

That is, hands down, one of my favorite lines from any of the seasons. Even just reading it I get a bit choked up.

Pigeon: I really wish the ruins of Valyria would get some love. That whole scene was amazing.

And that is one of my favorite moments from any of the seasons. I knew it was coming, I’d seen it in the trailer, but it took my breath away. I still get chills watching the gif.

that happend. – Come back, Ned, your girls are running wild!

Glad to hear that you listen to show’s soundtrack frequently, the excellence of Ramin’s work can’t be described properly, for me it’s a crucial part of staying prepared in off season and i never get tired of it.

Started a re-watch this weekend. I fall asleep early, so only made it to S2E5. But I continue tonight. I remember how I hated Tyrion’s hair all of season 1…but I THOUGHT it got better in S2, when in fact, it changed close to the end of S1. *swoon-thud*

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