5 nominations that could rock the Emmy Awards
A nod for Issa Rae of “Insecure” and others could help end the predictability of the competition.
The 2018 Emmy Awards nominations will be announced Thursday, and the contenders are likely to be a mostly familiar group of actors and TV shows. ❚ You’re bound to see a host of nominations for the likes of “Westworld” (pun intended), “Game of Thrones,” “Black-ish,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and other stalwarts that turn in good work, year in and year out. And while it’s great to recognize consistent quality, it can also make the Emmys a little too predictable and boring.
Fortunately for the Television Academy, the 2017-18 TV season had plenty of new and underrated talent that’s just as Emmy-worthy as many of the usual favorites. We rounded up five potential nominations on the edge of a nod, and if they manage to eke out spots on the ballot, they could help make the Emmys a more exciting and competitive awards show. Here’s hoping.
‘Killing Eve,’ for outstanding drama series
Last year’s champ “The Handmaid’s Tale” is likely to return in this category and face off against 2016 winner “Game of Thrones” (which was ineligible in 2017). Other worthy contenders include the exquisite final season of “The Americans” and previous nominees “This Is Us,” “Stranger Things,” “The Crown” and “Westworld.”
It’s a pretty packed category, but how delightful would it be if BBC America’s breakout hit “Killing Eve”
could worm its way onto the list? The weird and wonderful drama, about an MI6 agent (Sandra Oh) who gets a little too involved with the serial assassin (Jodie Comer) she’s tracking, is one of this year’s most pleasant TV surprises. Smart, darkly funny and just a little bit sexy, it would be a welcome addition to a category routinely dominated by the most depressing series around.
Vanessa Kirby of ‘The Crown,’ for best supporting actress in a drama
The queen gets all the glory, but don’t ignore the princess. In the second season of Netflix’s “The Crown,” based on the life of Elizabeth II, Claire Foy continued to do great work as the monarch (and was nominated for Season 1). However, the new season was also a showcase for Elizabeth’s sister, Princess Margaret, played with vivacity by Kirby. She relishes every drag of Margaret’s everpresent cigarettes, deftly channeling the princess’ complex emotions as she hastily marries out of fear that her royal status will keep her from finding true love. Margaret doesn’t wear the crown, but she was the absolute gem of Season 2.
‘One Day at a Time,’ for best comedy series
No other series, comedy or drama, can elicit the same level of joy as “One Day at a Time.” Netflix’s revival of the Norman Lear classic stars Justina Machado and Rita Moreno, and it’s a warm bath of sunlight, a refreshingly earnest sitcom that wades into hot-button social issues with ease, and without becoming preachy. Its first season premiered in 2017 to critical acclaim but no major Emmy love. This year Moreno might nab a best-supporting actress nomination, thanks to the season’s devastating finale, in which her character, Lydia, nearly dies. But the whole series deserves recognition for its stellar performances and the way it makes the studio-audience sitcom formula feel fresh.
Issa Rae of ‘Insecure,’ for best comedy actress
The second season of HBO’s comedy managed to be even deeper and stronger than its first, and the same goes for Rae’s performance as Issa Dee. Finally free of a long-term relationship that was going nowhere, Issa starts to figure out her life, while making messy mistakes along the way. “Insecure” might also compete for best comedy or for supporting actress Yvonne Orji, but Rae is its best shot at a nomination. The comedy has become a sensation among dedicated fans, and the Emmys would do well to acknowledge its buzz.
‘Alias Grace,’ for best limited series
The limited-series category has quickly become one of the most competitive, and “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” “The Looming Tower” and “Godless” are expected to nab nominations. All were great, but the Emmys might sleep on the best miniseries of the year if “Alias Grace,” Netflix’s adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s 1996 novel, is left out.
The breathtaking adaptation outshines that of “Handmaid’s,” also from an Atwood novel. A murder story wrapped in mysticism, gender roles and history, “Grace” is one of the most uniquely rewarding TV experiences in years, with an exceptional performance by lead Sarah Gadon, gorgeous direction by Mary Harron and unnervingly good scripts by Atwood and Sarah Polley. It has flown under the radar compared with its heavily promoted competition, but it deserves to break into the race.