Thursday, July 17, 2025

My (Honestly) Mostly Pleased Reactions to the 2025 Emmy Nominations, Conclusion: Outstanding Limited Series

 

I didn't expect to do as well with this list then I thought in my original set of predictions. Most of the errors I made were based on overestimation in some categories but I did better than I thought. The few surprises in this category were pleasant ones.

I was somewhat surprised – but not that surprised – that there were no nominees from the TV movie category. These days its become pretty much impossible to break in no matter how much recognition you get from other award shows as we saw with The Caine Mutiny Court Martial last year. Still I figured Aaron Pierre from Rebel Ridge and Renee Zellweger had a good chance anyway. Oh well, it's not like I invest that much in it.

Here are my reactions.

 

OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES

I predicted that Monsters, The Penguin and Dying for Sex would be those included and while I'm still not thrilled Adolescence is as well.

In hindsight I'm shocked its taken this long for the Emmys to acknowledge, yes Black Mirror is an anthology series and not a group of TV movies. I will confess I'm surprised Disclaimer, which dominated so many of the end of year awards shows did so poorly with the Emmys. In hindsight it's shutout by the Astras was a portent of things to come. There were benefits to that – as you'll see below.

 

OUTSTANING LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES

It didn't take a genius to say that Colin Farrell, Stephen Graham and Cooper Koch were all going to be nominated. I have to say I wasn't entirely sure that Jake Gyllenhaal would be here for Presumed Innocent. He didn't rank that high in most Emmy prediction sites I saw. I really thought Kevin Kline or Aaron Pierre would get in ahead of him.

Bryan Tyree Henry's presence for Dope Thief in hindsight isn't much of a shock. He received a lot of nominations in the last few months and a special prize from the Gotham TV Awards. I suppose that will serve as consolation for when he inevitably loses to Farrell.

 

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES

As I predicted Cate Blanchett is here for Disclaimer as are Cristin Miloti for The Penguin and Michelle Williams for Dying for Sex. As for the other two nominees, I think it's safe to say no one saw them coming.

I think everyone thought that if Black Mirror was going to have a nominee here it would be for Cristin Miloti but it ended up being for Rashida Jones, who frankly is well past deserving recognition from the Emmys. No one thought Meghann Fahy was going to be here for Sirens. This is as big a shock as Uzo Aduba is being nominated for The Residence. As someone who has immense respect for both actresses and think they deserve all the nominations they can get I endorse both. (Fahy was just as good this year in The Perfect Couple.)

I'm not surprise Shailene Woodley (or indeed Three Women) was completely shut out. And honestly not that shocked Ari Gaynor was ignored for Monsters. But honestly it's not a bad group.

 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES

Not in my wildest dreams did I think Bill Camp would be nominated for his work in Presumed Innocent. It was a great performance no question but I figured if there was going to be a nominee from this show it would be Peter Sarsgaard – and it turns out the Emmys did have room for both. Good for them.

My major problem was I overestimated the nominees: I thought seven would be in this category, it ended up being six. I accurately predicted Owen Cooper and Ashley Walters for Adolescence, Javier Bardem for Monsters and Rob Delaney for Dying For Sex. So no complaints.

 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES

This is where I suppose I should take a bow. My selection as the FYC in this category was Chloe Sevigny for Monsters and lo and behold, the Emmys nominated her. I honestly thought she wouldn't make the cut – and that was when I predicted seven nominees instead of the six we got.

I was right in predicting Erin Doherty for Adolescence, Jenny Slate for Dying for Sex and Diedre O'Connell for The Penguin. I'll be honest I wasn't entirely sure Ruth Negga would make it for Presumed Innocent; I did think it would take seven nominees for her to be included.

I will confess I wasn't wild about Christine Tremarco's nomination for Adolescence. I really would have preferred Betty Gilpin being chosen for Three Women over her. Betty, you've got to stop working with Starz if you want a nomination.

 

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A LIMITED SERIES

Pretty much what you'd think. The Penguin, Dying for Sex and Adolescence are all present as is Black Mirror. Say Nothing did get a nod here – it's only nomination.

 

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION FOR A LIMITED SERIES ANTHOLOGY

Again Adolescence and Dying for Sex is here and The Penguin is here twice. Interestingly four of the six nominees in this category are women, including Nicole Kassell for Sirens. (I may end up getting to this show after the Emmys are over.) Veteran Lesli Linka Glatter is here for Zero Day the only nomination of consequence this show got.

 

OUTSTANDING TV MOVIE…as Bill Murray would say, who cares?

But seriously there are few surprises. The Gorge, Rebel Ridge, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and the usual HBO entry Mountainhead. I don't know if they'll give the award on the main ceremony or in the creative arts section.

 

OVERALL REACTION

Honestly I didn't think Presumed Innocent would get as many nominations that mattered from the Emmys this year. I've seen almost every major nominated series and actor and I'm genuine impressed with all of them, even if I'm not overjoyed by the recognition Adolescence got. My guess is that The Penguin will win the most overall awards but Adolescence will win the ones that count – though again I hope I'm wrong.

 

I don't really care that much about reality shows though I would love to see Alan Cumming win as many prizes as possible for The Traitors, in large part because he never got recognition for The Good Wife. I do care if Jeopardy and Ken Jennings win for Outstanding Game show and Host because well, you know.

 

For once I'm at a loss as to how few issues I have with the nominations this year. As the summer continues I will weigh in on more than a few of the contenders I haven't gotten to yet but was planning to. By the middle of August I will start weighing in with my predictions.

Stay tuned, true believers.

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