When the Emmy FYC events kicked off in March, FX’s “Shōgun” was in the midst of its acclaimed run, with viewers tuning in weekly to enjoy court intrigue, feudal politics and, yes, those tense tea ceremonies.
At the time, everyone thought “Shōgun” would be a big Emmy winner in the miniseries category. The 10-episode adaptation of James Clavell’s 1975 historical novel told the book’s story from beginning to end. It was a brilliant, nuanced interpretation. And it was complete. It doesn’t get more limited than that.
But then, a week after the Emmy nominations were due, FX announced that “Shōgun” would be back for “probably” two more seasons. And so, “Shōgun” was bumped up to the Emmy drama category because, you see, it will be back. Someday. So putting “Shōgun” in a miniseries would be disingenuous. Of course, someone at the network could have surveyed the competition in the drama categories and seen a barren landscape, ripe for the taking. Why not move it?
To which I only have one thing to say: Thank you!
It’s now unthinkable to imagine the Emmy drama categories without “Shōgun.” Which series would have won? After the nominations, readers were left wondering how it was possible that shows like “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “The Morning Show” and “3 Body Problem” had been nominated in the drama series category. What? Did they want Marvel’s “Loki” or “Star Wars: Ahsoka” instead? Thanks to the walkouts, this was the weakest field of contenders in decades.
So get ready for one of those Emmy nights where five shows win just about everything. And one of them will be “Shōgun.” As for almost everyone else, in the immortal words of Hiromatsu: “They will know what it is like to be denied something.”
DRAMA SERIES
“The crown”
“Fall”
“The Golden Age”
“The morning show”
“Mr. and Mrs. Smith”
“Shogun”
“Slow horses”
“Three-body problem”
Winner: “Shogun”
If you complain that “Shōgun” isn’t a drama, I assume you don’t think “The Bear” is a comedy either. OK. But doesn’t the high standard of “The Gilded Age” clearly qualify it as a comedy? What is it doing here? And if half the audience tunes into “The Morning Show” solely to watch shows that aren’t good, shouldn’t that disqualify it as a drama, even if the Primetime Emmys don’t have a soap opera category?
PRINCIPAL ACTRESS
Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show”
Carrie Coon, “The Gilded Age”
Maya Erskine, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”
Anna Sawai, “Shōgun”
Imelda Staunton, “The Crown”
Reese Witherspoon, “The Morning Show”
Winner: Mountain range
For a while, it seemed like the only person who could snatch this Emmy away from Sawai was Emma Stone, who won her second Oscar earlier this year for “Poor Things” and might have been even better in “The Curse,” in which she and Nathan Fielder played the hosts of a home-renovation show. But Stone wasn’t nominated. And neither was “The Curse” (not at all). That exclusion feels more embarrassing than anything this strange, disturbing show had to offer.
So that leaves Sawai, who probably would have won easily anyway. Maybe her impressive portrayal of Lady Mariko will encourage more people to check out “Pachinko,” which returns for a second season on Aug. 23. She’s terrific in that film, too, playing a young woman trying to be taken seriously in the corporate world of late-1980s Japan.
MAIN ACTOR
Donald Glover, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”
Walton Goggins, “Repercussion”
Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”
Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shōgun”
Dominic West, “The Crown”
Idris Elba, “Kidnapping”
Winner: Sanada
Oldman has enjoyed a glittering career, and the foul-mouthed, flatulent, alcohol-soaked veteran secret agent Jackson Lamb might be the best thing he's ever done. It was nice to see him (and “Slow Horses”) finally get some love from Emmy voters. Could he win? Not with Sanada in the category. Here's another actor with a stellar resume and plenty of accolades from his native Japan. It's his time.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Christine Baranski, “The Golden Age”
Nicole Beharie, “The Morning Show”
Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown”
Greta Lee, “The Morning Show”
Lesley Manville, “The Crown”
Karen Pittman, “The Morning Show”
Holland Taylor, “The Morning Show”
Winner: Debicki
How is it possible that “Shōgun” got 25 nominations but none for Moeka Hoshi? Were voters behind some kind of “eight-sided fence” when watching the show?
Looking at the nominees, it’s odd that they come from just three shows. I found it hard to predict which women from “The Morning Show” would be nominated. The voters’ response? Everyone! Meanwhile, Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden were nominated for “Slow Horses,” but not Kristin Scott Thomas. It’s a strange list.
Debicki is the heavy favorite for her sensitive portrayal of a brooding Diana in “The Crown,” but her co-star Manville might be more deserving. You’ll know that if you watched Manville’s breakout episode, “Ritz,” the beautiful and devastating climax of “The Crown’s” final season. It’s Manville’s first Emmy nomination. Debicki was recognized last year but ultimately lost to Jennifer Coolidge for “The White Lotus.” Voters are likely to elevate her this year.
SECONDARY ACTOR
Tadanobu Asano, “Shōgun”
Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”
Mark Duplass, “The Morning Show”
Jon Hamm, “The Morning Show”
Takehiro Hira, “Shogun”
Jack Lowden, “Slow Horses”
Jonathan Pryce, “The Crown”
Winner: Crudup
Say what you will about “The Morning Show,” but even the people who watch it to complain about how bad it is have nothing but love for Crudup and his charmingly chaotic Cory Ellison. For many, Crudup, who won an Emmy for the series’ first season, is the only reason they still tune in. And “The Morning Show” earned 16 nominations, including nine for acting. Clearly, someone loves all that emotionalism.
