Sydney Sweeney as Cassie in Euphoria
Not a single one of last year’s nominees in this category was eligible this time around. Only two nominees this year have been nominated before for these roles (despite a few other eligible previous nominees like Chrissy Metz, Millie Bobby Brown, and Fiona Shaw): Two-time winner Julia Garner, looking to make it three for three for the final season of Ozark, and Sarah Snook, back for the juggernaut nominations leader Succession. There’s plenty of new competition, though, that could make the outcome interesting.
Brief descriptions of the nominees below - click on the episode titles for spoiler-filled reviews…
Jung Ho-yeon as Player 67 and Lee Yoo-mi as Player 240 in Squid Game
NOMINEES:
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Patricia Arquette - Severance - Episode: “What’s for Dinner” (Season 1, Episode 8)
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Description: In the penultimate installment of the season, Harmony is forced to deal with an unexpected turn of events and a shifting power dynamic.
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Julia Garner - Ozark - Episode: “Sanctified” (Season 4, Episode 7)
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Description: In the midseason finale, Ruth goes on the warpath following a devastating loss.
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Jung Ho-yeon - Squid Game - Episode: “Gganbu” (Season 1, Episode 6)
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Description: Player 67 teams up with Player 240 in a game of marbles, only to learn that the rules are not what they both thought.
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Christina Ricci - Yellowjackets - Episode: “Sic Transit Gloria Mundi” (Season 1, Episode 10)
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Description: Misty makes a public appearance at the reunion and makes a decision about what to do with her houseguest.
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Rhea Seehorn - Better Call Saul - Episode: “Hit and Run” (Season 6, Episode 4)
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Description: Kim notices someone is tailing her and has an enlightening conversation with Mike.
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J. Smith-Cameron - Succession - Episode: “The Disruption” (Season 3, Episode 3)
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Description: Gerri navigates her new position and deals with troubling developments.
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Sarah Snook - Succession - Episode: “Chiantishire” (Season 3, Episode 8)
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Description: Shiv reels from an all-too-honest conversation with her mother.
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Sydney Sweeney - Euphoria - Episode: “Ruminations: Big and Little Bullys” (Season 2, Episode 3)
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Description: Cassie puts on a show as she finds herself tormented by Nate’s unwillingness to acknowledge her in public.
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Rhea Seerhorn as Kim and Jonathan Banks as Mike in Better Call Saul
ANALYSIS:
This is an exciting moment for Seehorn, who somehow was snubbed on the five (!) previous occasions but the generally lackluster performance by Better Call Saul and the fact that its current slate of episodes make it eligible one last time next year suggest that the nomination is the reward. Fans of J Smith-Cameron are surely delighted that she’s here alongside Snook. Sweeney is a double nominee this year, also contending for The White Lotus. It’s worth noting, too, that Arquette has a strong Emmy history, winning previously for Medium. She also won for The Act, and that same year she was nominated for Escape at Dannemora, another collaboration with Severance director Ben Stiller. In short: they love her.
J. Smith-Cameron as Gerri and Sarah Snook as Shiv in Succession
At the start of this calendar year, Snook took home both the Golden Globe and the Critics Choice Award, though the only person in this category she was up against was her costar Smith-Cameron, and only in the latter race. Since Smith-Cameron’s role is much smaller than Snook’s, who some would argue is a lead, I don’t think the two of them risk canceling each other out. While Arquette, Ricci, and Sweeney are popular on their shows, their lead costars are likelier to prevail. Ho-yeon, on the other hand, poses a serious threat since she did manage the improbable, defeating Snook and a handful of big stars (Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Elisabeth Moss) at the SAG Awards. Her submission, whether relevant or not, is also superb, since it shows a different side of her character.
Still, it's hard to imagine anyone beating Garner. Not only is she a double nominee, also contending for Inventing Anna this year, but she has an incredible episode submission reminding voters of her intense and phenomenal work. What's more her character plays a memorable role in the series finale making her a surefire frontrunner.
Julia Garner as Ruth, screaming at Jason Bateman's Marty in Ozark
Will Win: Julia Garner - Ozark
Should Win: Julia Garner - Ozark
Spoiler: Jung Ho-yeon - Squid Game
Complete list of Emmy nominations
Who do you think will win the drama supporting actress prize? Who are you rooting for?
MORE ANALYSIS