After a record-breaking number of wins last year, the Iron Throne sits vacant at the 2017 Emmys, with Season 7 of Game of Thronesineligible for awards recognition until next year.
In its absence, the drama race is wide open -- but there's plenty of drama to be found elsewhere on the ballot, with the limited series field stuffed with A-list talent. Below, check out our predictions for some of the top categories at this year's Emmy Awards.
Outstanding Drama Series
Better Call SaulThe CrownThe Handmaid’s TaleHouse of CardsStranger ThingsThis Is UsWestworld
Our pick:The Handmaid's Tale
With no previous winners in the running this year, it's anyone's game, but consensus is pretty evenly split between Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale, Netflix's Stranger Thingsand NBC's This Is Us.All three dominated the zeitgeist in their freshman seasons and could easily walk away with the gold, but we're giving the edge to Handmaid's for its powerful performances, cinematic visuals and unflinching social commentary. It might feel a little too timely right now, but there's no other show quite as ambitious, elegant or challenging.
Outstanding Comedy Series
Atlantablack-ishMaster of NoneModern FamilySilicon ValleyUnbreakable Kimmy SchmidtVeep
Our pick:Veep
Atlanta and Master of None are both coming off standout seasons, and either would be a breath of fresh air in an increasingly predictable category, but defending champ Veepshould be a lock in a year of extreme political upheaval.
Outstanding Limited Series
Big Little LiesFargoFeud: Bette and JoanGeniusThe Night Of
Our pick:Big Little Lies
Unlike the steamroller of The People v. O.J. Simpsonlast year, there's no clear-cut favorite going into this star-studded category. HBO's The Night Of was a riveting mystery that had critics raving when it debuted, but its buzz has since been drowned out by the rapturous reception given toBig Little Liesand Feud. The TV Academy isn't quite as impressed by movie stars as the Golden Globes, but the sheer wattage of Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern and Zoe Kravitz can't be underestimated.
Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Viola Davis, How to Get Away With MurderClaire Foy, The CrownElisabeth Moss, The Handmaid's TaleKeri Russell, The AmericansEvan Rachel Wood, WestworldRobin Wright, House of Cards
Our pick: Elisabeth Moss
Handmaid's Talemight have a fight on its hands in the drama category, but Moss' victory is all but assured after her riveting, haunting performance in Hulu's breakout hit, which is all anyone can seem to talk about this awards season. After being bafflingly snubbed forMad Menover the years, the recognition is also long overdue.
Lead Actor in Drama Series
Sterling K. Brown, This is UsAnthony Hopkins, WestworldBob Odenkirk, Better Call SaulMatthew Rhys, The AmericansLiev Schreiber, Ray DonovanMilo Ventimiglia, This is Us
Our pick: Sterling K. Brown
We might all be fixated on the fate of Ventimiglia's character, but Brown's poignant performance is the emotional anchor that grounds NBC's labyrinthine family drama. Unless the two co-stars split the vote (in which case Odenkirk could squeak through), Brown's People v. O.J. prize should have some company come Sunday night.
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Pamela Adlon, Better ThingsJane Fonda, Grace And FrankieAllison Janney, MomElli Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtJulia Louis-Dreyfus, VeepTracee Ellis Ross, black-ishLily Tomlin, Grace And Frankie
Our pick: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
The Veepstar is poised to break another Emmy record this year; if she takes home the gold, she'll be the performer with the most wins for a single role (6 altogether, beating Candice Bergen for Murphy Brownand Don Knotts on The Andy Griffith Show), and will tie Cloris Leachman's record of most wins (8 in total) for a performer. The Emmys love to break their own records, so Louis-Dreyfus seems like a safe bet, even if Pamela Adlon's painfully honest (and painfully funny) portrayal of a single mom is the worthier choice.
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson, black-ishAziz Ansari, Master of NoneZach Galifianakis, BasketsDonald Glover, AtlantaWilliam H. Macy, ShamelessJeffrey Tambor, Transparent
Our pick: Donald Glover
Tambor has won twice in a row, but considering Transparentdidn't make the cut in the Best Comedy category, the heat on Amazon's groundbreaking dramedy seems to have cooled. That clears the way for voters to reward Glover's powerhouse performance in Atlanta, even if they don't anoint the series itself just yet.
Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Carrie Coon, FargoFelicity Huffman, American CrimeNicole Kidman, Big Little LiesJessica Lange, Feud: Bette and JoanSusan Sarandon, Feud: Bette and JoanReese Witherspoon, Big Little Lies
Our pick: Nicole Kidman
We wouldn't be mad if any of these powerhouse performers took home the prize, but Kidman's complicated, confrontational role is the one that lingers longest. If conflicted voters can't choose between their Liesor Feudfavorites, we could see Carrie Coon walking off with a win -- even if it's secretly a symbolic reward for her stunning work in The Leftovers, which was astonishingly snubbed in its final season.
Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Riz Ahmed, The Night OfBenedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: The Lying Detective Robert De Niro, The Wizard of LiesEwan McGregor, FargoGeorffrey Rush, GeniusJohn Turturro, The Night Of
Our pick: Robert De Niro
A few years ago, McGregor would've been a sure thing for his nuanced portrayal of two very different brothers in FX's crime anthology, but in a post-Tatiana Maslany world, pulling double duty isn't as impressive as it used to be. We're rooting for Riz Ahmed's breakout role in The Night Of, but this is De Niro's first Emmy nomination, and the two-time Oscar winner is a heavy enough hitter to win just for showing up.
The 69th Primetime Emmy Awards air Sunday, Sept. 17 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on CBS.
TopicsEmmysStranger Things
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