When an awards show features over 100 categories of recognition, it’s very easy to find both good news and bad news to celebrate.The 72nd annual Emmy Awardswere no exception this year, delivering a ton of expected recognition for favorites likeWatchmen,The Good Place, andThe Handmaid’s Tale, while also doling out some serious disappointments. Let’s break down the biggest jaw-droppers of the morning, from yet another bad morning for broadcast television andReese Witherspoonto unexpected triumphs for underseen critical favorites.
Surprise: The Emmys Fucking Love Baby Yoda
I mean, can you blame them? But in all seriousness,The Mandalorianracking up 15 nominationsis pretty stunning. While left out of the writing and directing categories, the Disney+Star Warsdrama did extremely well in below-the-line categories, including multiple editing nominations, acting nominations forTaika WaititiandGiancarlo Esposito(he had a good morning!), and even Outstanding Drama Series.
Surprise/Snub:This Is UsShut Out of Drama Series
WhileSterling K. Brown,Ron Cephas Jones, andPhylicia Rashadreceived recognition for their acting work, the one-time Emmys juggernaut otherwise received only two other nominations — Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling and Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics. Broadcast television hasn’t been competitive at the Emmys for a while now, butThis Is Uswas one of the last holdouts. This year, only streaming and cable programs are nominated in this category.
Snub: “Toss a Coin to Your Witcher” for Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics
Admit it, you’ve got it stuck in your head now, don’t you? While Netflix’sThe Witcherwas never going to be a major contender (it in fact received zero nominations this morning), the bop composed bySonya BelousovaandGiona Ostinelli, with lyrics byJenny Klein, was a real earworm that also played perfectly into the first season of the series.
Surprise: A Good Morning for Season 2 Comedy First-Timers
It can be hard for a second season show to break into the Outstanding Comedy Series category if it wasn’t recognized for its first season, but this yearDead to MeandWhat We Do in the Shadowspulled off that pretty impressive feat thanks to strong seasons that showed their capacity to grow. WhileRamywas overlooked for Outstanding Comedy Series,Ramy YoussefandMahershala Alipicked up Outstanding Actor and Outstanding Supporting Actor nominations, andChristina Applegatewas joined byLinda Cardelliniin the Outstanding Lead Actress category. The one catch there…
Snub: Kristen Bell forThe Good Place’s Swan Song
The Good Placedidn’t do too badly when it came to nominations, including richly deserved first-time nominations forD’Arcy CardenandWilliam Jackson Harper. But the backbone of the show, especially the finale, was always lovable Arizona dirtbag Eleanor Shellstrop, andKristen Bellbeing overlooked for the final chapter of Eleanor’s journey hurts just a little bit.
Surprise:Normal PeopleGets a Little Love
A sexually and emotionally intimate drama about two young Irish students isn’t exactly a shout of a series, but Hulu’sNormal Peoplewas a low-key heartbreaker, and so its four nominations for casting, writing, directing, and a lead actor nomination for starPaul Mescalwere a pleasant surprise. Would we be even happier if the show had also broken into the Outstanding Limited Series category, and ifDaisy Edgar-Joneshad also received recognition for her extraordinary work? For sure. But even a little extra attention toNormal Peopleis good news.
Snub: WitherWestworld?
Maybe voters were more focused on the other genre-skewing HBO series that begins with a W (even though they were competing in separate categories) but whileWestworldmanaged to receive 11 nominations, it was left out of Outstanding Drama Series, only picking up Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress nominations for previous nomineesJeffrey WrightandThandie Newtonoutside of the technical field.
Surprise:The Handmaid’s TaleIs Still in the Game
While winning big at the Emmys for its first season,The Handmaid’s TaleSeason 2 didn’t manage that same level of spark — however, this year Season 3 did manage to receive 10 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series and acting nominations forBradley Whitford,Samira Wiley, andAlexis Bledel. One notable omission, though:Elisabeth Mossdidn’t make it into Lead Actress this year. Speaking of…
Snub: Reese Witherspoon For… Everything
Reese Witherspoon starred in not one, not two, butthreebig Emmy contenders this year —Big Little Lies,Little Fires Everywhere, andThe Morning Show— and in all three cases was left out while her co-stars were nominated. Of the three, perhaps the most egregious isLittle Fires Everywhere;Kerry Washington’s performance was staggering and rightfully recognized, but Witherspoon took what might have been a prototypically “Karen”-esque role and really found the humanity lurking beneath Elena’s micro-aggressions and well-meaning intentions.
Surprise: The Emmys Agree, Zendaya’s Outstanding
Moss and Witherspoon both lost out to a newbie:Euphoriawasn’t a major contender in this year’s nominations, butZendayabeing nominated alongsideOlivia Colman,Laura Linneyand theKilling Eveladies for her work on the HBO drama was one of those moments where maybe, just maybe, it’s possible to believe that the Emmys really have their shit together. Then again…
