DRAMA SERIES
Better Call Saul (AMC)
Euphoria (HBO)
Ozark (Netflix)
Severance (AppleTV+)
Squid Game (Netflix)
Stranger Things (Netflix)
Succession (HBO)
Yellowjackets (Showtime)
Will win: Succession
Could win: Squid Game
Should win: Better Call Saul
Should have been nominated: Evil (Paramount+)
The skinny: The winner will come down to how long voters’ memories are. Neither Squid Game nor Succession aired an episode in 2022, but one of them will emerge victorious. This is a classic case of not knowing if voters will go for something new and exciting or reliably great. So far my money is on honoring the past winner that got even better. It’s just too bad their win will come at the expense of Better Call Saul, which is likely to go down as the biggest loser in Emmy history.
ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jason Bateman, Ozark
Brian Cox, Succession
Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Adam Scott, Severance
Jeremy Strong, Succession
Will win: Brian Cox
Could win: Jeremy Strong
Should win: Bob Odenkirk
Should have been nominated: Mike Colter, Evil
The skinny: I honestly have no idea who’s going to win this. Cox has seemed like he would win ever since Succession started, and his Logan Roy is more ruthless than ever. But Strong was arguably even better this season than he was in Season 2, which he won for. And of course Odenkirk has made Jimmy deeper every single episode, and there could be some residual goodwill since his heart attack. And of course none of that might matter, because Squid Game could surprise us all and win across the board. I would not bet on this category.
ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
Laura Linney, Ozark
Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show
Zendaya, Euphoria
Will win: Zendaya
Could win: Laura Linney
Should win: Melanie Lynskey
Should have been nominated: Katja Herbers, Evil
The skinny: The Emmys love Laura Linney, and I’m a little surprised she hasn’t won for Ozark yet. But this is Zendaya’s to lose. But man, the only person happier than me to see Lynsey win is her husband Jason Ritter.
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Nicholas Braun, Succession
Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Park Hae-soo, Squid Game
Matthew Macfadyen, Succession
John Turturro, Severance
Christopher Walken, Severance
Oh Young-soo, Squid Game
Will and should win: Matthew Macfadyen
Could win: Oh Young-soo
Should have been nominated: Michael Mando, Better Call Saul
The skinny: Macfadyen had an absolutely perfect arc that built up all season long, and paid off beautifully in the finale. I really can’t see anyone else winning.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Patricia Arquette, Severance
Julia Garner, Ozark
Jung Ho-yeon, Squid Game
Christina Ricci, Yellowjackets
Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul
J. Smith-Cameron, Succession
Sarah Snook, Succession
Sydney Sweeney, Euphoria
Will win: Sarah Snook
Could win: Julia Garner
Should win: Rhea Seehorn
Should have been nominated: Mary Hollis Inboden, Kevin Can F**k Himself
The skinny: It finally feels like Snook’s year, but I would not be shocked if Garner wins yet again. At least I can breathe a sigh of relief that Rhea Seehorn finally (FINALLY!) got a nomination.
WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Better Call Saul (“Plan and Execution”)
Ozark (“A Hard Way to Go”)
Severance (“The We We Are”)
Squid Game (“One Lucky Day”)
Succession (“All the Bells Say”)
Yellowjackets (“F Sharp”)
Yellowjackets (Pilot episode)
Will win: Succession
Could win: Yellowjackets (Pilot episode)
Should win: Better Call Saul
Should have been nominated: Evil
The skinny: Succession has won this award every season it’s been eligible and it’s not about to lose now.
DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Ozark (“A Hard Way to Go”)
Severance (“The We We Are”)
Squid Game (“Red Light, Green Light”)
Succession (“All the Bells Say”)
Succession (“The Disruption”)
Succession (“Too Much Birthday”)
Yellowjackets (Pilot episode)
Will win: Squid Game
Could win: Ozark
Should win: Yellowjackets
Should have been nominated: Evil
The skinny: Squid Game was a legitimate phenomenon in the fall of 2021. Will that carry over to the Emmys almost a year later? I honestly can’t say. But this feels like the one category where it’s guaranteed a win.