We've been reviewing various Emmy categories as the Academy completes their voting (ballots due Monday). Here's Spencer Coile...
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It is an exciting change of pace to see the Drama categories actually become competitive this year. No race demonstrates this better than the Drama Supporting Actress category. After last year's batch of mostly Game of Thrones ladies (with Maggie Smith still sleepwalking her way to another victory), the six ladies this year feel fresh, new, and all worthy of discussion. Uzo Aduba is the only returning nominee (after missing the year before), so all six of the contenders in this category feel viable for the statue. Only one can be victorious...
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominees:
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Uzo Aduba as "Suzanne 'Crazy Eyes' Warren" in Orange is the New Black: "People Persons"
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Millie Bobby Brown as "Eleven" in Stranger Things: "The Bathtub"
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Ann Dowd as "Aunt Lydia" in The Handmaid's Tale: "Offred"
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Chrissy Metz as "Kate Pearson" in This Is Us: "Pilot"
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Thandie Newton as "Maeve Millay" in Westworld: "Trace Decay"
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Samira Wiley as "Moira" in The Handmaid's Tale: "Night"
Will Win: Aduba is lucky to return, after being dropped out of the category last year. And despite a stellar fourth season, with little talk surrounding Orange is the New Black this year, it may seem her nomination this year is the prize. The same could be said for Wiley. Her work on The Handmaid's Tale is great, and to an extent, this feels like a joint nomination for her final season on Orange is the New Black. Still, she is overshadowed here by her own co-star. Yet while Dowd is a truly compelling villain on Handmaid's, might it be too one-dimensional for voters? Brown is on a buzzed about show and it is not for nothing that she is so young and competing in a category with a slew of veterans. I wouldn't count her out.
In the end, this comes down to Metz vs. Newton. Metz has a sympathetic, complicated character on a well loved show. With Sterling K. Brown (probably) taking Best Actor in a Drama and This Is Us being so competitive in the Drama Series race, Metz could pull ahead of the pack. Conversely, Newton arguably has one of the most challenging and compelling characters on her show, and she plays every moment with pitch perfect precision. She truly was the MVP in the first season of Westworld.
I give the edge to Newton, but Metz winning would not be a surprise.
Should Win: All six of the contenders do fantastic work. And while Westworld was hit-or-miss, Thandie Newton's "Maeve" was endlessly beguiling and deeply compelling. That Emmy belongs to her.
Could Spoil: As discussed in the Guest Actress category, Dowd is a veteran actress who has not been paid her due yet. If she does not win for her guest appearance on The Leftovers, they might reward her here -- and this would not be altogether a shock. The Handmaid's Tale is the "it" show right now. Or Brown could surge ahead. After all, being so young and giving such a complicated performance is admirable. Not to mention, she seems like the only true acting contender from Stranger Things.
Your turn! Who of these six excellent nominees is going to win. Who should be winning?