Emmy predictions 2023: Sizing up the contenders for Outstanding Drama Series
From locks like Succession to long shots and wild cards, these shows are on the hunt for an Emmy drama nomination
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With the 2023 Primetime Emmy nominations just around the corner—they’ll be announced on July 12, and the show takes place on September 18—The A.V Club has set out to break down this year’s contenders in some key races. We’re starting with the marquee category: Outstanding Drama Series. (Check out the Outstanding Comedy breakdown here)
Sure, there may be an undisputed frontrunner in Succession, but it faces some competition from at least three other HBO shows. Netflix comes in strong with a Princess Diana-centered season of The Crown, not to mention two Star Wars series from Disney+. Where does that leave Paramount Network’s hugely popular Yellowstone and its star-studded spin-offs?
Voters don’t usually watch every show that’s aired—shocker—and might be likelier to give into buzzier shows, which reduces the chances of gems like Mrs. Davis and Perry Mason. The Academy nominates eight shows, but we’ve opened up our roundup to 15 notable series, splitting them into four categories: top contenders, strong possibilities, wild cards, and ones that should (but won’t) be nominated. There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s get into it.
32 Comments
Should win: Better Call SaulWill win: Succession
Its depends—is Succession’s final season eligible next year? If not, then yeah, BCS is screwed.
Emmy season is June 1 to May 31. There used to be a “hanging episode” rule where if a show started its season and a few episodes aired in June they would still be considered (if the episode was available before voting started) but that was important only for awards based on submission of a single episode for consideration (acting, writing, directing, etc.) but they got rid of that rule. Anyway, Succession wrapped up in May.
Succession’s final season is eligible this year and this year only.
Should win: SuccessionWill win: Succession
Look…this is between Better Call Saul, Succession and White Lotus. You know it. I know it. We all know it. Everyone else can just enjoy the afterparty.
Old Man? No way. Slow and boring.And Yellowjackets S2 does not deserve a nomination. Loved S1, but S2 was a mess.
This list is proof that we were very recently in the golden age of television.
Better Call Saul wins or there truly is no God.(Andor next season)
I hate to break it to you but Succession is going to win.
Yep!….. Yep!…. Yep!
There is no God, but Succession will win and it deserves it.
I hope that show I like wins
No Star Trek: Strange New Worlds? The best Star Trek series in a Long Time.
Ehh, whatever. The Emmy winners never make sense to me. Better Call Saul has been amazing but has never won anything (Rhea Seehorn alone should probably have a little statue or two by now). Succession or The Last of Us would be fine by me though.
Hey Mando? Really? Is there a rule for minimum number of slides?
Hey Mando, he’s so fine, he’s so fine awards this time,
hey Mando! Hey Mando!
The Mandalorian is a “Strong Contender” but Beef can kick rocks? What I’m more curious about is what an Emmy telecast without writers will even be.
I’ve not seen Beef but would they not enter it in comedy and not drama?
I’m assuming they consider that a Limited or Anthology Series.
Should be: Somebody Somewhere, especially Bridget Everett.
Agree. But I think it’s a comedy.
Oh yeah, I think you’re right.
Is The Diplomat a comedy now, or…
Better Call Saul should win but knowing how the Emmys work, it feels like Succession (definitely them) and The Last of Us is gonna box them out. Which pisses me off even more how they kept shutting out BCS for years even though it was awesome. At the very least, Rhea Seehorn better fucking win. I can live with those other shows shutting BCS out, but give Rhea her damn statue. She’s earned it 10x over.Also, no Beef on that list? GTFO.
Beef will likely be in Limited or Anthology Series.
The Snubbing of Rhea Seehorn 2023 promises to continue an infuriating pattern.
There were just so many excellent shows this year in every genre. That’s some tight competition. It wasn’t that long ago the nominees were all network medical dramas and police procedurals.
I guess Tanya necessitates White Lotus moving from Limited or Anthology Series to
Drama? It still seems like an “anthology” series if that are going to have that as an explicit category with relatively few qualifiers.
I would love to see Andor, Fire & Blood, or Last of Us win, but my guess it’ll be a toss up between Succession, White Lotus, and Better Call Saul.