We’re turning today to a new category of Emmy races: limited series and TV movies. Limited series is an entirely different ballgame, though changing rules and eligibility make this category just as fascinating as any. For instance, Big Little Lies, which won this prize three years ago, is now a potential contender for Best Drama Series. A number of shows featuring different storylines and characters each season, including American Crime Story, Fargo, and Genius, continue to be nominated, though all three of their latest iterations won’t premiere until after this season ends as a result of delays in filming and postproduction. American Horror Story earned four bids here before its eighth season got reclassified as a regular series with overarching threads. With no high-profile returning shows eligible this year, we have a whole slew of new contenders…
The past four years:
Two of the likeliest frontrunners come from Hulu, which interestingly has yet to have a show nominated in this category. Mrs. America, starring Cate Blanchett and a staggering number of possible supporting actress nominees, is a lock. Little Fires Everywhere, produced by and starring powerhouse actresses Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington, should be safe even if audiences don’t love it all that much. Though it premiered very early in the season Netflix’s Unbelievable is a guaranteed player in this race. HBO’s I Know This Much Is True, starring Mark Ruffalo and premiering this Friday, has earned fine reviews and should get in without a problem.
Vying for the fifth slot are a number of series with questionable support...
The Golden Globes honored Showtime’s The Loudest Voice with a series nomination and an acting prize for Russell Crowe’s portrayal of Roger Ailes, and I would personally be thrilled to see it included in this race (though it could suffer the same fate as Bombshell did at the Oscars and end up relegated to acting and makeup prizes). I also enjoyed HBO’s Mrs. Fletcher, with Kathryn Hahn, and it’s not smart to discount Emmy affection for regal presentations like HBO’s Catherine the Great with Helen Mirren. Another HBO production, The Plot Against America, just recently aired and checks a lot of boxes for what Emmy voters tend to like. Quiz, which doesn’t premiere on AMC until May 31st, also features an Emmy-friendly storyline and may get a boost from its last-minute debut. The Eddy, from Netflix, drops this week and could earn a place here. Other moderate possibilities include Hulu’s Devs and Normal People, Epix’s Belgravia, Apple TV Plus’ Defending Jacob, and HBO’s Years and Years.
Ryan Murphy’s latest effort, Hollywood, from Netflix, hasn’t received the best reviews, but it does have its fans. It’s also worth noting that last year was the first time since 2012 that Murphy didn’t produce a nominee in this category. Period pieces have a certain appeal, and even if the narrative isn’t so enticing to some, it will definitely garner a good deal of votes. For another eclectic choice, AMC’s Dispatches from Elsewhere could be a fun inclusion, though it’s really not all that likely.
There’s been a swell of buzz recently for Netflix’s Yiddish-language series Unorthodox and its superb star Shira Haas. I would be thrilled if it showed up, but I’m just not sure all voters will find it substantially accessible. I’d be equally amazed if HBO’s Hebrew and Arabic production Our Boys, which was excellent, managed to earn a nomination alongside a slate of English-language shows.
And then there’s Watchmen, which so many agree was one of the best things on TV this season. While Lost proved Emmy-friendly, his astonishing follow-up, The Leftovers, barely earned any love from voters. Star Regina King is a shoo-in for a nomination because of her Emmy history, but I worry that the series might be ignored because it’s just too genre-heavy. Let’s hope not.
So, where does that leave us? Most of this category should be solid, but there are a few interesting choices that might bump one of the seeming sure things. It would be great to see some creativity here.
Predictions
- I Know This Much is True
- Little Fires Everywhere
- Mrs America
- Unbelievable
- Watchmen
Which series do you think will make the cut?
There are a lot of possible combinations of nominees this season. (Stay tuned for more Emmy coverage)
ALL DISCUSSIONS THUS FAR