I'm taking a look each week at some of the major categories for the Emmy Awards. Here's a look at the races for Lead Actor & Actress in a Drama Series!
LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Sterling K. Brown, Paradise (Hulu)
Gary Oldman, Slow Horses (Apple TV)
Mark Ruffalo, Task (HBO)
Rufus Sewell, The Diplomat (Netflix)
Rufus Sewell, The Diplomat (Netflix)
Noah Wyle, The Pitt (HBO Max)
Unlike the actress category (see below), there's not much drama for the Lead Actor Drama category. This award will go to Noah Wyle for The Pitt for a second year in a row and it doesn't feel particularly close. Wyle emerged victorious last year in a tough battle with Adam Scott of Severance but there is no one proving to be a real threat this year despite some strong performances among the rest of the nominees. I don't really consider this a possibility but if for some strange reason, Wyle's campaign imploded then I guess my second place contender would be former Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown for Paradise. The rest of the order sort of felt random. I put Rufus Sewell in third just because I think The Diplomat is the strongest of the three remaining shows. Mark Ruffalo is always a strong performer but Task, didn't get a nomination for Drama Series which is very telling. And Gary Oldman is a perennial nominee but seems unlikely to ever break through to a win.
Will Win: Noah Wyle, The Pitt
Power Ranking the Rest by Chance of a Win:
2. Brown 3. Sewell 4. Ruffalo 5. Oldman
Should Win: Wyle
Should Have Been Nominated: Billy Bob Thornton, Landman
LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age (HBO)
Chase Infiniti, The Testaments (Hulu)
Keri Russell, The Diplomat (Netflix)
Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus (Apple TV)
Zendaya, Euphoria (HBO)
While there is definitely a frontrunner for Lead Actress in a Drama Series, it is much less of a sure thing than Lead Actor. I was souring a bit on the chances of Pluribus especially after it underperformed a bit through the winter awards. But it got a huge haul of nominations including some unexpected ones and I think that was enough to put Seehorn back in the driver's seat despite her famously never winning for Better Call Saul. However, there are two other contenders who are right there. Keri Russell beat Seehorn for this award at the Actor Awards so there is precedent and that's why I have her in second place. A win for Russell wouldn't surprise me at all. Then we have Zendaya who was a two time winner in this category for the first two seasons of Euphoria. While the third season was not received nearly as well, this is still Zendaya and people generally still liked her performance. She would not be a surprise either. The other two nominees would be more of a surprise as they definitely have a "filling out the category" feel. Chase Infiniti was a bit of a surprise nomination and is definitely an up and comer the way Zendaya was when she first won for Euphoria but I don't see her winning the way Zendaya did. And Carrie Coon does not have a chance in this category. She will probably keep getting nominated though.
Will Win: Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus
Power Ranking the Rest by Chance of a Win:
2. Russell 3. Zendaya 4. Infiniti 5. Coon
Should Win: Seehorn
Should Have Been Nominated: Michelle Pfeiffer, The Madison
