Finally, here we are now with the top series categories. There’s one lock, one two way race and one with I think three of four distinct possibilities.
DRAMA SERIES
Jon Snow, Khaleesi and the iconic series says goodbye
Better Call Saul
Bodyguard
Game of Thrones
Killing Eve
Ozark
Pose
Succession
This is Us
The least suspenseful award of the night goes to Game of Thrones in a walk, given its record nomination haul and the recognition of the series long achievement as a whole. I don’t think anything else stands a chance actually, so I’m not sure what else to even make a case for. It will be a more interesting race next year, when Succession’s buzz will have grown even higher, in my opinion, and perhaps with The Handmaid’s Tale back in contention as well.
Winner: Game of Thrones
COMEDY SERIES
I’m too chicken to predict my favorite, Barry, so I’m defaulting to last year’s winner
Barry
Fleabag
The Good Place
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Russian Doll
Schitt’s Creek
Veep
This one is more difficult, because I think the winner could be any one of either Veep, Maisel, Barry or Fleabag. But, I will adhere to my own Emmy rule- when in doubt go to last year’s winner. So as much I really would like Barry to win and was excited at first about its chances when it got so many nominations, I think it’s in competition with Veep as the other HBO series (and that one being a multiple past winner that just had its final season), and that leaves space for the voters to just go with Mrs. Maisel again, which got a bunch of creative arts Emmys last weekend and seems to still be on a high with the industry in general. The other choice here is Fleabag, which has no other chance to ever win, but I still think that’s a major dark horse, despite the huge buzz surrounding Phoebe Waller-Bridge. My guess is that show wins a writing award for its creator/star, while the top ones go to something else.
Winner: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Alternate: Veep
Dark Horse: Barry/Fleabag
LIMITED SERIES
I think Chernobyl will take it…but When They See Us could easily prevail
Chernobyl
Escape at Dannemora
Fosse/Verdon
Sharp Objects
When They See Us
I believe this one will go to HBO’s Chernobyl, but it’s in a head to head fight with Netflix’s When They See Us, and it’s probably closer than people think. Both series are incredibly powerful and got showered with nominations this year, and the passion for them is high. But I think When They See Us will take an acting award and possibly directing for Ava Duvernay, leaving Chernobyl, as the prestige HBO series (the network still triumphs over streaming) to come out on top in series. As for the other shows, probably Ben Stiller’s Escape at Dannemora is in third, with Fosse/Verdon fourth and Sharp Objects having come out too long ago now to sustain its initial buzz, as HBO’s other entry.
Winner: Chernobyl
Alternate: When They See Us
Dark Horse: Escape at Dannemora
