Alright, so we arrive at our final destination, the drama categories. Usually my favorite, because I am much more informed on most of these nominations, and feel better about predicting winners here. This year I’m expecting it to be a little more predictable, with Game of Thrones likely to run the table once more, after last year’s ineligibility produced wins for The Handmaid’s Tale. This year I think it’s back to business as usual.
DRAMA SERIES
‘Game of Thrones’ will likely come back on top for Season 7
The Handmaid’s Tale
Game of Thrones
This is Us
The Crown
The Americans
Stranger Things
Westworld
So like I said, Game of Thrones was off the air last season, which led to Emmy dominance for the freshman show The Handmaid’s Tale instead, but now that it’s back in play, I think it’s likely to come back and sweep. I don’t see much of a chance for any other show to break through, much love as there is for Stranger Things and The Crown, and despite this being the last chance to award The Americans with a series win, I doubt it happens for them.
Winner: Game of Thrones
Alternate: The Handmaid’s Tale
Dark Horse: The Americans (I suppose there’s a tiny chance that admiration for the show in its last season could help it win this)
DRAMA ACTOR
Come on Matthew Rhys- six years doing incredible work on ‘The Americans’ deserves a capstone Emmy
Jason Bateman, Ozark
Sterling K. Brown, This is Us
Ed Harris, Westworld
Matthew Rhys, The Americans
Milo Ventimiglia, This is Us
Jeffrey Wright, Westworld
Sterling K. Brown won last year and could repeat again, but…I think the lead acting races are where The Americans actors actually have a chance to win gold for the final season, even if the show doesn’t. I remember that Kyle Chandler finally won in lead for the much beloved and under appreciated Friday Night Lights in its final season, same with Jon Hamm, who didn’t get his Mad Men Emmy until the very last year. I think I’m going to predict my beloved Matthew Rhys for this, even though it’s a wild card.
Winner: Matthew Rhys
Alternate: Sterling K. Brown
DRAMA ACTRESS
Could easily be Elisabeth Moss again, but I’m holding out hope for Foy
Claire Foy, The Crown
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
Keri Russell, The Americans
Evan Rachel Wood, Westworld
Now this one is really interesting. I could honestly see any one of these women winning this except for Evan Rachel Wood. Keri Russell could get it for the same reason Matthew Rhys might win, love for The Americans’ final season. Elisabeth Moss could be your traditional repeat winner from last year. Sandra Oh has gotten a lot of publicity as the first Asian woman ever nominated in this category. Maslany simply on the strength of her always dazzling performance as multiple people, even though Orphan Black’s last season was well over a year ago. And then there’s Claire Foy, whose performance as Elizabeth II has won two SAG awards and a Golden Globe, but not the Emmy yet, and this is her last chance to win, since the leads have all been recast on The Crown as it jumps through time. I’m leaning towards Foy for some reason- I just have a feeling it could happen for her.
Winner: Claire Foy
Alternate: Elisabeth Moss
Dark Horse: Keri Russell
DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTOR
I think David Harbour will win a trophy for Hopper on ‘Stranger Things’
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Joseph Fiennes, The Handmaid’s Tale
David Harbour, Stranger Things
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
Matt Smith, The Crown
This one is kinda tough too. I’m thinking that Stranger Things’ David Harbour might win here. Dinklage is always a possibility, but more likely to win one more time for the final season of GOT next year, and Matt Smith is a nice nomination for The Crown as Prince Phillip, but I don’t see the buzz or urgency behind anyone else in this category, really. Harbour is a likable presence on Stranger Things, I think he’ll get it.
Winner: David Harbour
Alternate: Peter Dinklage
DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTRESS
I guess I’m just going to keep predicting this for Lena Headey until it happens for her
Alexis Bledel, The Handmaid’s Tale
Mille Bobby Brown, Stranger Things
Ann Dowd, The Handmaid’s Tale
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Vanessa Kirby, The Crown
Thandie Newton, Westworld
Yvonne Strahovski, The Handmaid’s Tale
I should confess here that I quit The Handmaid’s Tale a few episodes into the second season. The show just isn’t for me, it’s unbearably grim and hopeless and borderline torture porn, In my opinion. That doesn’t negate the tremendous job of the actors of course, but I wonder if three of them in this category might cancel each other out. But then who’s likely to benefit from that? Is it Lena Headey? Will she ever win for Game of Thrones? Usually the series winner takes at least one acting award along with it, so could that be her or Dinklage? Not sure. But since I don’t have a sense of who’s out in front here, I think I might go ahead and predict her for it. Not confident about this though.
Winner: Lena Headey
Alternate: Ann Dowd
Dark Horse: Yvonne Strahovski (I hear she gave the most impressive performance on Handmaid’s this season)
