At the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards, the episode won the awards for Outstanding Sound Editing and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Series (One Hour), and was Peter Dinklage's choice to support his nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. "Blackwater" received acclaim from critics and audiences, with many praising the visual effects in particular. The episode achieved a viewership of 3.38 million during its initial airing in the United States. Unlike all previous episodes, "Blackwater" does not follow the parallel storylines of the characters outside of King's Landing, making it the first episode of the series to take place entirely in one location. The episode centers around the climactic Battle of Blackwater Bay, in which the Lannister army, commanded by acting Hand of the King Tyrion Lannister, defends the city of King's Landing against a naval invasion by the Baratheon army, commanded by Stannis Baratheon, who seeks to take the Iron Throne for himself. Martin, the author of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels from which the series is adapted. The episode was directed by Neil Marshall, his directorial debut for the series, and written by George R. " Blackwater" is the ninth and penultimate episode of the second season of HBO's medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones, and the 19th episode of the series overall. The visual effects in the episode received critical acclaim. Wildfire explosion during the Battle of Blackwater Bay.