A look at Emmy nominees
If this year’s Emmy Awards will be about anything, it will be saying goodbye to two of the biggest, most impactful series of the last decade: HBO’s Game of Thrones and Veep.
With both of Phoebe WallerBridge’s series (Killing Eve, Fleabag) in contention for Emmy wins, and with a few underdogs who might finally find some space in the spotlight (think Bob Odenkirk, Jared Harris), there will certainly be some surprises. However, the the nominees for this year’s limited series award will provide the closest competition. It was a big year in this category with Chernobyl, Escape at Dannemora, Fosse/Verdon, When They See Us and Sharp Objects, making it a very tough call for voters.
The Emmys, which will go hostless for only the fourth time in the show’s history, air live on Sept. 22 on CTV.
Here are some of this year’s nominees alongside our predictions of who will win and our thoughts on who should win:
OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
Barry
Fleabag — SHOULD WIN The Good Place
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Russian Doll
Schitt’s Creek
Veep — WILL WIN
Although The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has been toppling competition since it debuted in 2017 (having won eight Emmys last year), the critical love for the series has waned ever so slightly in its second season. It’s WallerBridge’s powerful Fleabag that won the most love from viewers and critics this year, to the point it helped sell out the now iconic jumpsuit sported by its lead in the premiere episode. But with Veep having aired its final season this year, and having won this award for three consecutive years before it took a season off, you can bet it’ll receive one final honour.
OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
Better Call Saul Bodyguard
Game of Thrones — WILL WIN
Killing Eve — SHOULD WIN Ozark
Pose
Succession
This Is Us
Even though Game of Thrones ‘s final season was a bumpy one, it remains one of the most beloved, biggestbudgeted and decorated series to ever grace the Emmy stage. That means it would be a massive shock for it not to receive the top award as a last goodbye, which is unfortunate for the shows that dared to do something different this year, like Killing Eve or Pose. As a kind of Game of Thrones minus literal blood, Succession could be the runner-up, satisfying both viewers craving something new and Emmy voters who live for splashy wins.
OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES
Chernobyl — SHOULD WIN Escape at Dannemora Fosse/Verdon
Sharp Objects
When They See Us — WILL WIN
Timing is everything, which is why a show like Sharp Objects — with its wonderful cast, crew, writing and direction — has lost steam since debuting a year ago. It’s also why the recent When They See Us, a look at the Central Park Five with stalwart Ava DuVernay at the helm, will be tough to beat. It also scored the most nods (19) for a limited series. If anything can top it, it’ll be the gripping Chernobyl, a technical achievement that, similarly to When They See Us, told a massive story in only a handful of episodes. The latter, however, likely cut deepest with Emmy voters thanks to the gutwrenching performances of its young cast.