BarcelonaThis Sunday, the Emmy Awards, the awards that honor the most outstanding series of the year, will be presented in Los Angeles. The 77th edition is marked by some historic nominations, such as Harrison Ford, who is nominated for an Emmy for the first time, and Owen Cooper (Adolescence), the youngest nominee this year (15 years old). At the opposite end of the spectrum is 77-year-old Kathy Bates, nominated for Best Actress for Matlock and the oldest nominee in the history of the awards in this category. Beyond these curiosities, the Emmy Awards serve to put the spotlight on series that aspire to become the most talked-about fiction of the year.
Strange, disturbing and even sickening, Severance It is one of those series that blows the minds of viewers who enter its universe.If the first season of this workplace dystopia was already fascinating, the second season hasn't been any less impressive: the complexity of its plots has multiplied, as has the drama. The story of workers who accept the division of their minds between work and personal life has a fascinating twist, with an aesthetic and artistic direction that have already made it iconic. Severance It is the series that has achieved the most nominations in this edition of the Emmys and in the technical awards ceremony, which are given out a week before the big prizes, it took home six statuettes, including best guest actress for Merrit Weber and production design. Between the first and second seasons there has been a waiting period of three years and now that it has returned it seems that the AppleTV+ production has no rival in the drama categories (last year the big winner was Shogun, which does not yet have a new season and is therefore not nominated).
At a time of total exhaustion regarding the comic book superhero formula, The Penguin has managed to excel by reinventing itself in mafia historyThe miniseries starring Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti presents Batman's greatest enemy as a third-rate mobster with lofty aspirations and a relentless opponent, Sofia Falcone. Although much has been said about Farrell's portrayal, the true MVP of the series is Milioti, who has found a character worthy of her talent, often buried by productions that haven't fully done her justice. Thanks to this role, the actress has earned the first nomination of her career.
One of the big surprises of this year is this cinephile comedy that pokes fun at the quirks of the Hollywood industry while simultaneously showing its fascination with it. Beyond the technical virtues—like the episode dedicated to the sequence shot—the great achievement of The Studio It is a comedy that provokes laughter, which isn't so common considering that in recent years the genre has shifted toward a more dramatic rather than purely comedic tone. Seth Rogen's series has all the makings of a sweeping series in its categories. So far, it's triumphed at the technical awards, taking home nine statuettes.
Mike White's series has become a must-see for TV fans, and this is reflected in the excitement generated by the location and cast of each new season. The third season, set in Thailand, may not be the best of the bunch, but it accomplishes its goal as a entertainmentand criticizes the rich who walk around the world as if it were their property. As an ensemble series, it always manages to dominate the acting categories, and this year was no exception: seven of its actors are vying for awards in the Best Supporting Actor categories.
It was supposed to be one of HBO Max's big phenomena, and while it's been a success, it seems to have fallen short in terms of audience engagement. However, the zombie drama starring Pedro Pascal, one of the actors of the moment, and Bella Ramsey, is also on the list of series vying for the most awards this year. Beyond the technical nominations, the Chilean-born actor is the one who could really pull off the surprise on Sunday night. The second season has a plot twist starring Pascal that left fans amazed. –not so much for fans of the video games on which the series is based–. Perhaps that dramatic moment is what could win him the award for best actor.
If it weren't for the appearance of The Studio, Hacks It would be the big favorite to take home all the comedy awards and repeat last year's success, when it won three major awards: best comedy, best actress for Jean Smart, and best screenplay. The series, now in its fourth season, explores the complex relationship between a veteran comedian and a younger one who becomes her main collaborator. In the most recent season, the comedy regained the spark that seemed to be fading in the third season and showcased the power plays that take place in the world of television. Scripts always border on perfection, and two leads, Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, who work together like clockwork.
As in the case ofThe Penguin, Andor escapes the galactic series mold to which the label has accustomed us Star WarsIf the first season had overtones of a prison drama, the second It serves as a commentary on our reality and reminds us of the importance of resilience in turbulent times. Visually spectacular, the second installment manages to unite action and emotion. Although most of its nominations are for technical aspects, this Sunday Andor It's also a contender for Best Drama and Best Drama Screenplay. Its year would have been even better if it had managed to secure a nomination for Diego Luna as Best Drama Actor.
Another of the newcomers to Emmy along with The Studio is This medical drama that recaptures the spirit ofEmergenciesThe series starring Noah Wyle makes no concessions to viewers: this is a medical story that explores the contradictions of healthcare workers and many of the problems facing Donald Trump's United States. The personal lives of the characters take a backseat, so no one can expect a new Grey's Anatomy. Still, it's one of the most human series we've seen in recent months and with some of the best-written characters. The Pitt snatch the award for best drama in Severance?
Every year we have a title that becomes that series everyone is talking about. This year the lucky one was the British Adolescence, who has taken over from My stuffed reindeer, also from the United Kingdom, as the most talked-about and distressing miniseries of the moment. Its story about the impact of the manosphere and social media on young people connects the series to current events, and this always pleases critics and the media. Given the response it has received, it's quite likely that the Netflix production will win in the miniseries categories and knock it out of the park. The PenguinIf teenager Owen Cooper wins the award for best supporting actor in a miniseries, which is more than likely, he will become the youngest winner in Emmy history.
The surprises of this edition
The 77th Emmy Awards could mark a turning point for Apple TV+, which has never had more chances to win in both the drama and comedy categories. Although it's a streaming service with limited deployment compared to more popular ones like Netflix, its commitment to series with high production standards and based on highly original ideas has earned Apple TV+ a reputation as the heir to the quality television practiced by HBO in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The nominations for Severance and The Studio weren't exactly a surprise, but this year there are some award contenders that have caught the specialized media off guard. This is the case with Uzo Aduba's nomination for Best Comedy Actress for The Residence , a series that Netflix canceled after the premiere of the first season, which received a lot of critical criticism. Another surprise this year is the four nominations for Paradise , a fiction that might have seemed too conventional for awards, but has become a small audience phenomenon. This dystopia has earned nominations in important categories: Best Drama, Best Leading Drama Actor (Sterling K. Brown), Best Supporting Drama Actress (Julianne Nicholson, who already won Best Guest Actress for Hacks ), and Best Supporting Drama Actor (James Marsden).
In the category of series completely ignored by the Academy, a place of honor goes to The Handmaid's Tale , a drama that initially fascinated critics but has gradually lost momentum as it has added seasons and stretched its plots like chewing gum. Not even the fact that the final finale aired this year has helped it garner any notable nominations: it only managed to score one, for Best Guest Actress for Cherry Jones.