The Television Academy unveils their nominations for the 2025 Primetime Emmy® Awards on Tuesday, July 15. Through Friday, The Contending staff members will release their predictions of each major race in the Drama, Comedy, and Limited Series / TV Movie categories. Today, we close our analysis with our limited series Emmy predictions.
You know it’s a weird Emmy® year when the critically reviled Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is a full-fledged contender across the board. In years past, the limited series races provided some of the stiffest competition across any of the three major genres, but now, the well seems to have run dry. Temporarily, we hope. That’s not to say there aren’t good limited series this year. The Penguin and Adolescence, this year’s two main frontrunners, captured the attention and adoration of millions. FX’s sleeper hit Say Nothing also has major fans. You’ll see these opinions and more reflected in our limited series Emmy predictions below.
In fact, we’re unsure exactly how broad the love for these two shows will go. On the Adolescence front, all categories in which it contends seem a safe bet. Some even see two nominations in both supporting categories. The immediate comparison that springs to most Emmy watchers minds is last year’s Baby Reindeer. Both series came to Netflix under the radar and became instant worth-of-mouth sensations. So, as Baby Reindeer dominated its Emmy races last year, the general consensus seems to be that Adolescence will do the same.
On The Penguin front, few took the Batman spin-off seriously until it started screening. Initial reactions focused on Colin Farrell’s stellar work, but audiences grew to embrace the whole product in unexpected ways. We’re seeing the potential for multiple supporting nominations including bids for Farrell and the great, long overdue Cristin Milioti. Milioti, in particular, seems poised to give current Lead Actress frontrunner Michelle Williams (Dying For Sex) a definite run for her money. In a recent podcast, we proclaimed Williams a sure thing to win, and the tweets started pouring in countering that point with Milioti. And that’s great. We love to see a race where everything isn’t predetermined.
Otherwise, it’s a fairly dull limited series race this year. One in which audiences ho-hummed a Cate Blanchett / Alfonso Cuarón collaboration in Disclaimer. One in which the thrown-away Peacock film Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (should have been a theatrical release) could net multiple nominations outside of Television Movie. One in which one contender on no one’s radar – Great American Family‘s Imogen Faith Reid – come out of nowhere and nab a supporting actress nomination. Whatever the breakdown on Tuesday, we will undoubtedly be surprised.
Here are The Contending’s limited series Emmy predictions. Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and check us out next week as we reveal the 10th Annual Cooler Awards on Monday before Tuesday’s Emmy nominations.
Limited Series
Television Movie
Lead Actor
In a Limited Series / TV Movie
Lead Actress
In a Limited Series / TV Movie
Supporting Actor
In a Limited Series / TV Movie
Supporting Actress In a Limited Series / TV Movie
Cooper in Supporting feels wrong, but it's a much easier path to the win. Doherty is probably the frontrunner as well.
I agree, but I believe there's a reluctance to put younger actors in lead categories. Agreed with Doherty with the minor exception of Jenny Slate, depending on how broadly they receive Dying For Sex.
I would actually argue that they could all go Supporting since they aren't all in all four episodes. Graham is in the most with 3. Ashley Walters is only in 2. Cooper is only heard in episode 4. I think they rationalized that while he commits the crime, it's more about how it affects the family.