The Film Experience

By Abe Friedtanzer

There were a staggering 455 men on this particular ballot, the most in any category this year (and ever). It’s a wonder that five shows are still represented by eight nominees. The question is whether actors whose costars are nominated – like the boys from Succession or Critics Choice winner Billy Crudup – can distinguish themselves like Peter Dinklage managed to do last year with his fourth trophy for Game of Thrones. Or will having no internal competition propel someone else to the win?

I’ll try to avoid major plot details in my analysis – but if you’d like more spoiler-filled descriptions, click on the episode titles. Let’s consider each nominee…

Nicholas Braun as Greg Hirsch in Succession (HBO)
Episode: “This Is Not for Tears”

This is Braun’s first Emmy nomination. To me, his inclusion is the epitome of overenthusiasm for the show that’s probably going to win Best Drama Series. He is indeed fun as the bumbling cousin who tries to chart his own ascension to power without becoming a truly terrible person, but his role really is minor, especially in comparison to his two nominated costars. It’s similar to last year’s bid in this category for Game of Thrones fan favorite Alfie Allen, whose prominence on the show didn’t really merit a nomination. He also chose the season finale, which is a much better showcase for costar Matthew Macfadyen (see below), but still not the best sample for either of them. Braun winning would be a shock – either of his cast members is infinitely likelier.

Billy Crudup as Cory Ellison in The Morning Show (Apple TV Plus)
Episode: “Chaos Is the New Cocaine”

This is Crudup’s first Emmy nomination, and he contended for a SAG Award earlier this year and won the Critics Choice prize. In a cast full of talented and showy performers, Crudup is a clear standout, effortlessly charming those around him with his self-assured direction of a news network he doesn’t have much experience running. I could think of a few episodes that show him doing spectacular work, including the installment where he has a Sweeney Todd duet with Jennifer Aniston. The third episode, where he pivots to take control of a major move he didn’t authorize, is a fine choice and should easily be able to show voters how perfect he is for this role.

Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy in Succession (HBO)
Episode: “Tern Haven”

This is Culkin’s first Emmy nomination, though it’s worth noting that he was the only cast member from his show to be recognized by the Golden Globes for the first season of his show last year (he earned a repeat bid this year). Culkin plays the least patient and most despicable of the three characters from his series nominated in this category, a rich kid who has learned all the worst things from his father about how to run a business and treat people. Roman is someone you love to hate, primarily because of the combination of smarm and self-deprecation Culkin infuses into his performance. His episode submission finds him trying – and failing – to behave at a weekend with another family, and features some tremendously memorable moments involving his unusual approaches to sexual intimacy. He had a few solid episodes to choose from, and this one is great. He’ll just have to overcome the fact that he’s nominated against costar Matthew Macfadyen.

Mark Duplass as Charlie “Chip” Black in The Morning Show (Apple TV Plus)
Episode: “The Interview”

Duplass was a nice unexpected inclusion on Emmy nominations morning, one of the elements of his large ensemble who I hadn’t thought voters would notice. Duplass won an Emmy for producing Wild Wild Country in 2018, and now he’s contending for an acting Emmy for playing a producer. Duplass’ work is subtle and effective throughout the season, especially as he navigates relationships with the anchors of the show-within-a-show. His choice of the season finale, which brings major changes for the show and network, is smart because it gives him more emphatic material but it isn’t necessarily his strongest work. He certainly doesn’t steal scenes the way his costar Billy Crudup does.

Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring in Better Call Saul (AMC)
Episode: “JMM”

Esposito surprised when he ended up being the only member of his cast nominated for an Emmy this year. It’s his third bid for this role after a 2012 nomination for Breaking Bad and a nomination last year. He’s also up this year for his guest gig on The Mandalorian. I firmly believe that Esposito should have won an Emmy back in 2012 for the incredible episode “Face Off,” but he lost to costar Aaron Paul. With five-time nominee Jonathan Banks snubbed, Esposito has no internal competition for the first time. Though he doesn’t play a big role in season five of Better Call Saul, he’s front-and-center in his submitted episode, which features the return of a few familiar faces and allows him to take subversive action against a rival. Before nominations were announced, I wouldn’t have said that he could win, but now I think he may be able to, especially if he serves as the vehicle for the enthusiasm voters would have doled out to his snubbed costars.

Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans in Succession (HBO)
Episode: “This Is Not for Tears”

This is Macfadyen’s first Emmy nomination. It’s not so easy to play someone who exudes so much confidence despite being so clueless about what people really think of them, but Macfadyen does so and manages to make him endearing. For his submission, he chose the season finale, which gives him some solid dramatic material. I probably would have chosen earlier episodes where he chucks water bottles at his underlings or flails hilariously during sworn testimony, but anyone who watches the show – which I suspect is most Emmy voters – will understand the scope of Macfadyen’s talents. He’s likeliest of the three nominees from his show to win and will have to beat out other contenders to eclipse this, which he very well could.

Bradley Whitford as Commander Joseph Lawrence in The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Episode: “Sacrifice”

Whitford won the guest actor trophy last year for debuting this role in the final episodes of his show’s second season. He also won a guest prize for Transparent and this award nineteen years ago for season two of The West Wing (he earned three additional nominations for those roles). Lawrence is a complicated character, the architect who made his totalitarian regime’s existence logistically possible and whose rebellious activities are motivated only by self-interest. The penultimate episode of season three finds him reexamining his priorities, which is a payoff for regular viewers but might not impress those only watching that hour. He’s still witty and terrific, and no one should underestimate this actor who has collected Emmys for three different roles.

Jeffrey Wright as Bernard Lowe in Westworld (HBO)
Episode: “Crisis Theory”

Wright is one of several performers this year who has now switched categories twice, competing in this race for season one of this show and then as a lead actor for season two. He previously won an Emmy for Angels in America in 2004. I was surprised to see Wright nominated this year given that his role is very minimal in season three of the mind-bending sci-fi series. The season finale does allow him to once again show how an understated performance can be very effective, but Wright’s work just doesn’t compare with what he’s done in the first two seasons.

Personal Ranking:

Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
Bradley Whitford, Handmaid's Tale
Matthew Macfadyen, Succession
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Mark Duplass, The Morning Show
Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul
Nicolas Braun, Succession
Jeffrey Wright, Westworld

Predicted Winner: Billy Crudup – The Morning Show

Potential Spoiler: Giancarlo Esposito – Better Call Saul