This year, Limited Series is a surprisingly competitive category this year. There are feasibly nine legitimate competitors for the five slots. At the top of the list is FX’s “The People vs. O.J. Simpson”. They are going to feasibly be the nominations leader with multiple nominations in each category and it has the cultural clout that you don’t often get with a limited series.
Right behind them is the early frontrunner and last year’s winner, “Fargo”. It surpassed reviews from last year as well as buzz. I can see them going toe to toe with “The People vs. O.J. Simpson” in almost every category. It’s going to be one of the closest races on Emmy night.
Closely following the two frontrunners is “American Crime”. It had a great year last year including a win for Regina King, who is certain to return. However, the one thing against it is that it doesn’t have nearly as much buzz as the first two series I mentioned. It’s going to have to cover a lot of ground to overcome that.
The above three series are pretty much locks. However, these last two spots are going to be a fight. It can be a combination of six shows that are all in contention. “Roots”, which is a reimagining of the 1977 miniseries that famously was nominated 37 Emmys, could go one of three ways: it is nominated only for Best Limited Series and a few other categories, it is nominated in several categories except for Best Limited Series, it is a nomination juggernaut.
Right now, I am leaning towards the first option. I don’t think it’s going to be a huge factor in nominations, but it is going to get a few that will justify a series nomination. I can also see it easily missing.
Then there’s the question of the ever confusingly nominated “American Horror Story: Hotel”. The show has been consistently nominated since inception, but never seems to have caught on with wins. The “Hotel” season was probably the least lauded, but last year they hit a high in nominations. Sadly, I can’t see it not being nominated, but it could be bumped out because of the crowded year.
- “The People vs. O.J. Simpson”
- “Fargo”
- “American Crime”
- “Roots”
- “American Horror Story: Hotel”
———————– - “The Night Manager”
- “Show Me A Hero”
- “Flesh and Bone”
- “11.22.63”
- “True Detective”
Hey, I'm Karl, founder and film critic at Smash Cut. I started Smash Cut in 2014 to share my love of movies and give a perspective I haven't yet seen represented. I'm also an editor at The New York Times, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and a member of the Online Film Critics Society.