The Film Experience

by Juan Carlos Ojano

Two recurring nominees in this category, two guest stars in their show that might just be elevated to regulars in their subsequent seasons, and a nominee returning to a role that gave her a win in lead. These are the contenders that compose this year’s crop of nominees for this category. With the exception of last year, The Handmaid’s Tale has had a strangleghold on this category with three consecutive wins and six nominations for its first three seasons. Meanwhile, The Crown is the nomination leader (overall) and the frontrunner to win Drama Series.

Without further ado, here are the nominees…

Alexis Bledel as Emily Malek/Ofglen in The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Episode: “Testimony” (season 4 episode 8)
Description (from ballot): "Emily Malek is now a refugee in Canada. She struggles to adjust to life in a free world as she is forced to confront her past crimes in Gilead. In Canada, she is working alongside Moira at the refugee center."

A former winner in this category for the same role, Bledel comes back as Emily, a former handmaid in Gilead who was able to escape to Canada. As her former walking partner June (Elisabeth Moss) joins their group therapy for former handmaids, Emily is cornered by the former Aunt that caused her to go through genital mutilation. Bledel manages to channel her character's trauma with unaffected clarity in spite of her character's inability to express her feelings through words. Her confrontation with the Aunt is portrayed with intense discomfort and simmering rage. A well-intentioned drive-by becomes emotionally conflicting. Later, her reaction to that character's demise is unapologetically sinister and yet cathartic. Bledel manages to hit these moments with not only unpredictability but with honesty.

In theory, Bledel is not out of the question for the win. Nominated for every season of the show (once in supporting, three times in guest), she has proven that her performance/character is a favorite of the voters. The show has also proven that it can win this category despite having multiple nominees (Samira Wiley won here in 2018 despite two other co-stars nominated). What worries me is that the other nominee from the show is a formidable contender for the win too (more on that later). This would be a test on whether the show would still be able to win this category despite having two strong contenders.

Claire Foy as Young Elizabeth in The Crown (Netflix)
Episode: “48:1” (season 4 episode 8)
Description (from ballot): "On the occasion of her 21st birthday in 1947, a young Princess Elizabeth makes a radio broadcast speaking to the vast British Commonwealth and dedicating her life to their service. Amongst those listening is a young Margaret Roberts, better known as the future British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher."

Foy returns to the role that gave her the Emmy for Drama Actress in the eighth episode of this season. She appears in the opening scene (two if you count the echoing voice-over at the final scene) as she gives a broadcasted speech addressed to the entirety of the British Commonwealth. The opening scene sees Foy slipping back into the role of the Queen, highlighting her dedication and seriousness despite the hints of uncertainty and discomfort that the crown brings to her. Even more important to highlight is the performance largely relying on her voice-over work. While Foy fares well in her brief appearance, her performance functions better as a table-setter for Colman's work in conjunction with the episode's central conflict rather than an impressive stand-alone feat of acting.

One could just call this a coattail nomination. However, I am careful to easily dismiss her chances. The Emmys have shown they are not averse with the idea of rewarding brief appearances of actors they love in this category (think Margo Martindale's second win for The Americans or Cherry Jones's win for The Handmaid's Tale). While there are showier performances, The Crown's place as the frontrunner for Drama Series suggests that a Foy victory in the cards.

McKenna Grace as Esther Keyes in The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Episode: “Pigs” (season 4 episode 1)
Description (from ballot): "A sharply intelligent, teenaged wife of a much older Commander, Esther Keyes rules her farm and household with confidence. She has a rebellious, subversive streak, and is calm and pious on the outside with turmoil, even insanity, on the inside."

As the youngest nominee in this category ever and as the biggest addition to the show, Grace plays Mrs. Keyes, a teenage Wife to an incapacitated Commander who hides June and others. They find themselves constantly walking on eggshells as Mrs. Keyes ricochets between childish obsession with June and threatening dominion over the handmaids. Simply put, Grace is the off-kilter time bomb that gives the fourth season's premiere episode its on-edge energy. She can praise June one second and talk down on her right after, the same way she can impute trauma and then unpack her own in a single scene. Grace's understanding of Mrs. Keyes's trauma is frighteningly impeccable. Unafraid to tap into the darker psyche of her character, Grace gives a performance of staggering unpredictability.

As with Bledel, it is easy to see Grace snagging the win. With the show's fourth season overperforming (21 nominations), the show is definitely one to look out for as a spoiler in major categories. Since her submission is the season premiere, voters have surely seen her work. Her only hurdle is internal competition. I am not 100% confident that Grace takes this easily.

Sophie Okonedo as Charlotte Wells in Ratched (Netflix)
Episode: “The Dance” (season 1 episode 5)
Description (from ballot): "Hanover’s latest patient is Charlotte, who suffers from multiple personality disorder. Dr. Hanover hypnotizes Charlotte to find the source of her trauma. We learn she was abducted and tortured by several men"

This Oscar-nominated actress bags her first-ever Emmy nod as Charlotte Wells, a woman diagnosed with multiple personality disorder. Her character entrance is unlike any of the other nominees: with a growl of anger directed to strangers, immediately calling to attention the unraveling of this woman we barely even know. Okonedo devours this scene with gusto and commitment. However, between the howls and the magnified body movements is a woman experiencing torment. This is what she unpacks in her subsequent scenes. It's fascinating that she finds dynamic notes within a role that plays like a perfect setup for one-note showboating. She grounds this big character in humanity.

While Okonedo's performance seems tailor-made for this category, her chances of winning feel low. Since 2016, all of the winners in this category have come from shows that are also nominated for Drama Series. That suggests Emmy voters would have to love Ratched overall for her to win.

Phylicia Rashad as Carol Clarke in This is Us (NBC)
Episode: “I’ve Got This” (season 5 episode 10)
Description (from ballot): "Beth’s formidable mother who wields tough love like a hammer. The strain on her relationship with Beth has compounded since the loss of her husband, and Carol’s critical eye is often focused on Beth. But at her core, she is a fierce matriarch who pushes her family to excel."

For the third consecutive time, Rashad is nominated as the mother of Beth Pearson (Susan Kelechi Watson), currently staying with her daughter, Randall (Sterling K. Brown), and their children. In this episode, her supposed-to-be temporary dwelling with the Pearsons intimidates Beth as Carol starts to micromanage. Whether telling Beth how to cook curry or that using "their" in a singular way is not that difficult, Rashad delivers lines with a carefree show of experience that sets Beth off. However, these emotional beats have already been explored previously in the show. Perhaps her only true highlight is when Carol admits to Beth the reason why she stays. Though it's a moment of honesty her guards are still up, in true Carol fashion. Rashad delivers this monologue with admirable restraint.

While This is Us was able to make a comeback in the Drama Series race, the show's low nomination count probably hints that voters attention lies elsewhere. Still, that did not stop Ron Cephas Jones from winning last year for this show. Rashad is still Emmy-less (!) but it remains to be seen whether a recent tweet in support of Bill Cosby will squander her chances of winning.

Predictions:

1. McKenna Grace - The Handmaid’s Tale - “Pigs”

2. Claire Foy - The Crown - “48:1”

3. Alexis Bledel - The Handmaid’s Tale - “Testimony”

4. Phylicia Rashad - This is Us - “I’ve Got This”

5. Sophie Okonedo - Ratched - “The Dance”

Personal Ranking:

1. McKenna Grace - The Handmaid’s Tale - “Pigs”

2. Alexis Bledel - The Handmaid’s Tale - “Testimony”

3. Sophie Okonedo - Ratched - “The Dance”

4. Claire Foy - The Crown - “48:1”

5. Phylicia Rashad - This is Us - “I’ve Got This”

Who do you think will win and who would you vote for?

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