DRAMA SERIES
The Boys (Prime)
Bridgerton (Netflix)
The Crown (Netflix)
The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Lovecraft Country (HBO)
The Mandalorian (Disney+)
Pose (FX)
This Is Us (NBC)
Will win: The Crown
Could win: The Handmaid’s Tale
Should win: The Boys
Should have been here: Perry Mason (HBO)
The skinny: This is The Crown‘s year, finally. And for their best season, too. I’m still shocked The Boys is even nominated, so I’ll take that as a consolation.
ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
Jonathan Majors, Lovecraft Country
Josh O’Connor, The Crown
Regé-Jean Page, Bridgerton
Billy Porter, Pose
Matthew Rhys, Perry Mason
Will and should win: Matthew Rhys
Could win: Billy Porter
Should have been here: Antony Starr, The Boys
The skinny: I honestly have no idea what’s going to happen here. I could see just about anyone besides Sterling K. Brown win. I’ve been feeling Rhys for a long time now, and not just because he’s my favorite of these performances. He won a long-overdue award for The Americans, and his mix of volcanic intensity and quiet brooding carry over to this reboot. But I would skip this category if you’re a betting person.
ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Uzo Aduba, In Treatment
Olivia Colman, The Crown
Emma Corrin, The Crown
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale
Mj Rodriguez, Pose
Jurnee Smollett, Lovecraft Country
Will and should win: Olivia Colman
Could win: Emma Corrin
Should have been here: Laura Donnelly, The Nevers
The skinny: It’s Colman’s year. Corrin won the Globe, but let’s not kid ourselves.
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Giancarlo Esposito, The Mandalorian
O-T Fagbenle, The Handmaid’s Tale
John Lithgow, Perry Mason
Max Minghella, The Handmaid’s Tale
Tobias Menzies, The Crown
Chris Sullivan, This Is Us
Bradley Whitford, The Handmaid’s Tale
Michael K. Williams, Lovecraft Country
Will and should win: Michael K. Williams
Could win: Bradley Whitford
Should have been here: Chris Chalk, Perry Mason
The skinny: I had already been thinking Williams was the one to beat, especially since he should already have a shelf full of awards for The Wire alone. But now that he tragically passed away so young, this is a guarantee, and not just for sentimental reasons.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Gillian Anderson, The Crown
Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown
Madeline Brewer, The Handmaid’s Tale
Ann Dowd, The Handmaid’s Tale
Aunjanue Ellis, Lovecraft Country
Emerald Fennell, The Crown
Yvonne Strahovski, The Handmaid’s Tale
Samira Wiley, The Handmaid’s Tale
Will and should win: Gillian Anderson
Could win: Helena Bonham Carter
Should have been here: Veronica Falcón, Perry Mason
The skinny: Gillian Anderson might be the greatest TV actress of all time. Her Emmy-winning turn on The X-Files is one of the best in TV history. And there are many shows she’s popped up in for a season here, a couple episodes there, and killed it. She did it again in The Crown, playing the monstrous Margaret Thatcher. She was my personal pick in this category last year, which rarely happens.
WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
The Boys (“What I Know”)
The Crown (“War”)
The Handmaid’s Tale (“Home”)
Lovecraft Country (“Sundown”)
The Mandalorian (“The Jedi”)
The Mandalorian (“The Rescue”)
Pose (“Series Finale”)
Will and should win: The Crown
Could win: The Handmaid’s Tale
Should have been here: Perry Mason (“Chapter Three”)
The skinny: No mystery here. The Crown‘s magnificent Season 4 finale is winning this one.
DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Bridgerton (“Diamond of the First Water”)
The Crown (“Fairytale”)
The Crown (“War”)
The Handmaid’s Tale (“The Wilderness”)
The Mandalorian (“The Marshal”)
Pose (“Series Finale”)
Will win: The Crown (“War”)
Could win: The Handmaid’s Tale
Should win: The Mandalorian
Should have been here: The Boys (“What I Know”)
The skinny: Even with two nominees, The Crown‘s finale has the edge.