The Emmys announced their nomination list for Outstanding Drama Series today, which includes Succession, Euphoria, Stranger Things, Ozark, Better Call Saul, Yellowjackets, Squid Game, Better Call Saul. Though, in my opinion, it will be either Succession, Euphoria, or Stranger Things taking the Emmy home this year.
This year should feature one of the closest Outstanding Drama Series races in years. Out of the eight nominees, I could realistically make an argument as to why six of them have a chance of winning. But I could say that for every nominee in every category.
That is why Euphoria, Stranger Things, and Succession are (and should be for the voters) the clear frontrunners for the Emmy award this year.
Each show is fantastic, interesting, and dramatic in its own right, but they all share a common factor that puts them above the others (in my opinion): they have dominated popular culture.
With the release of each show, social media and the internet exploded with reviews, reactions, “hot takes”, memes, etc. of each show’s, respective, “big moments”. Who can forget that Syndey Sweeney meme, or when Logan Roy’s children (Connor especially) confronted him, or Max Mayfield’s Running Up That Hill-inspired character arc? These moments defined those shows and defined popular culture for months after their initial release.
Plus, these shows were “money-makers” for their respective producers. Both Netflix (Stranger Things) and HBO (Euphoria and Succession) earned astronomical viewership ratings with their, respective, shows.
Stranger Things Season 4 became Netflix’s all-time most watched US created (I’ll get to the most watched show later on) entity on the platform since the company’s inception, while Euphoria Season 2 became the 2nd-highest watched show on HBO.
Yes, Euphoria Season 2 has outranked shows like Rome, Vikings, and The Sopranos. Only Game of Thrones’ (the cultural phenomena that can’t be replicated) final season had higher viewership ratings than Euphoria.
(HBO-Euphoria-Season 2 Trailer)
Not to be forgotten, Succession’s Season 3 premier has raked in almost 7 million viewers to date. Moreover, these shows were not only extraordinarily popular amongst the general public, but also with the critics. Stranger Things Season 4 currently sits at an 88% rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes, while Euphoria has an 82% and Succession has an outstanding 97%.
Also, both Succession and Euphoria have nominees in the Outstanding Lead Actor/Actress categories, with Zendaya representing Euphoria in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama category and Brian Cox with Succession in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama category. Plus, Succession does have the most nominations across all the categories with 25. So, that could be helpful.
Unfortunately, Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) as Max Mayfield was ROBBED by not even getting nominated for her performance. She should have been one of the Outstanding Supporting Actress nominees!
Anyway, some of you may be wondering, “WHY HAVE YOU NOT MENTIONED SQUID GAME?!?! Unlike Stranger Things Season 4, it is Netflix’s most watched show of all-time. In fact, it was the biggest show in the world last year. It has to win!”
And you would be right. It was the biggest show in the world LAST YEAR. If it released in January, when Euphoria came out, or sometime later, it would have made my frontrunner list. However, I’m not so certain the voters will remember Squid Game’s excellence and popularity come award night.
I know we all will, but will the voters? Hopefully, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up for one reason:Â It is a Korean show.
Never in Emmys’ history has a non-US developed show won Outstanding Drama Series. I fear the Emmy voters will pass up on Squid Game for Outstanding Drama Series for this fact. That is why I’m placing Squid Game as my “Darkhorse” to win. (Still, it is a lock to win the some of its over nominations, such as the camera, visuals, cinematography categories, etc. That is a positive, for whatever its worth)
This Emmy Outstanding Drama Series category is quickly looking like one of the most compelling and nail-biting races in recent memory. That is why all of my predictions will probably be wrong and the most unlikely choice (whichever one you think that is) will win. That just always happens with these award shows.
Images Source: Featured Image (Television Academy YouTube) (2022 EMMY® AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCEMENT – YouTube)
In Text Image 1: (HBO.com) (Euphoria | Official Website for the HBO Series | HBO.com)
