By Although it may feel like we just gathered around to watch the Oscars, awards season is upon us again. That’s right: The Emmys are on the horizon. While the nominations won’t be announced until July 12, there is already a lot of speculation on who the contenders will be for the 2023 Emmys.
There are plenty of older shows, like Barry and The Crown, still in the running, but this year there are also a lot of newer additions to the TV lineup, from Andor to The Bear to Love & Death. While not all of these shows will be celebrated during the Emmys on September 18, it’s certainly possible that some of them will be, so why not get caught up now? Here are all the shows you should watch ahead of this year’s Emmy Awards.
The Crown
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The Crown is always one of the best dramas of the year, and its recent fifth season is no different. The new cast, which includes Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II and Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana, will certainly have a few acting nominations between them. But it’s also the crafts departments, like costumes, production design, and hair and makeup, that usually net The Crown a few Emmys. Although prior viewing of the earlier seasons helps, it’s not necessary as each season feels like its own chapter in the royal story.
Where to watch: Netflix
Andor
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Although some of the Star Wars series have felt overdone, Andor stands out as its own story. Set prior to the events of Rogue One, the show follows Rebel spy Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) on a journey to stop the Empire. It’s truly masterful storytelling, especially as the narrative veers to new locations and new conflicts. Luna, along with Fiona Shaw, Stellan Skarsgård, and Denise Gough, is an acting contender, as is the overall series.
Where to watch: Disney+
Succession
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The final moments of Succession are now upon us, but it’s never too late to join in the Roy family drama. The series, about a group of siblings fighting for control of their father’s media empire, continues to impress with its slick, clever writing and impressive acting, especially from Sarah Snook and Jeremy Strong. It’s historically an Emmys favorite, and this year should be no different. And why not celebrate terrible people with some trophies?
Where to watch: HBO Max
The Last of Us
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HBO’s adaptation of best-selling video game the Last of Us proved that video games can make for must-see TV. Its leads, Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, are shoo-ins for acting nods, while the brutal, dystopian world of the series raised existential questions about human survival, leading to a possible Outstanding Drama Series nomination. Even if you think you don’t like video games — or zombies — don’t skip this one. It’s brutal and beautiful in equal measure.
Where to watch: HBO Max
The White Lotus
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The insane drama of the second season of The White Lotus, this time set in Italy, far surpassed the first. Following a group of guests and employees at a five-star resort, the series proved that terrible people are the most fun to watch. Expect a lot of acting nods for this one, but especially for Jennifer Coolidge, who performed one of the most compelling and craziest swan songs a character could have. Also on our radar: Aubrey Plaza, Meghann Fahy, and Will Sharpe.
Where to watch: HBO Max
Yellowjackets
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Two words: Melanie Lynskey. Of course, everyone on Yellowjackets is amazing, but Lynskey’s performance as a housewife with some serious secrets is one of the best on TV. The Showtime series is currently airing its second season, which has amped up the drama of the first, so there’s no better time to get caught up. And we’re not sure what’s scarier, the cannibalism or the teen girl drama.
Where to watch: Showtime
Abbott Elementary
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Just when you thought the mockumentary format had been played out, Abbott Elementary arrived and proved that it is still a comedy gold mine. Created by Quinta Brunson, who also stars, the series is equal parts funny and poignant, particularly when it reflects on the public education system in the United States. Brunson and co-star Sheryl Lee Ralph both scored Emmys last year for the first season, and we certainly expect more nominations this season. Keep an eye out for Janelle James, who plays the school’s hilariously inept principal. The series is easily bingeable if you haven’t watched it yet.
Where to watch: Hulu
The Bear
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Last summer, The Bear captivated TV viewers with its brutal depiction of a restaurant kitchen. It has won tons of awards since, but because of its premiere date, it’s only now eligible for the Emmys. Expect an acting nod for Jeremy Allen White, who plays a high-end chef forced to take over a family sandwich shop in Chicago, as well as potentially for Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Ayo Edebiri. Although the series is categorized as a comedy, it’s really not — it’s the emotional drama of the story that’s so compelling, especially for those with a hospitality background.
Where to watch: Hulu
Shrinking
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Shrinking, created by Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel, and Brett Goldstein, is the sort of show that digs its hooks into you and won’t let go. The dramatic comedy stars Segel as a therapist grieving the death of his wife, and his emotions begin to bleed into sessions with his patients. Segel gives a compelling turn as someone who isn’t handling things well at all, and Harrison Ford is delightful as his mentor and boss. The series is both clever and thoughtful, and deals with grief in a way rarely seen on TV. It’s definitely one of the strongest new contenders this year, thanks in part to Ted Lasso star Goldstein being one of the writers. The 10 episodes are an emotional commitment, but it’s a journey worth taking.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
Black Bird
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Black Bird, based on a true story, gives Taron Egerton a prime role as a criminal serving a 10-year prison sentence. He’s offered a chance for freedom if he can get a confession out of a fellow inmate — and serial killer — played by Paul Walter Hauser. The limited series, which spans six episodes, is tensely wrought and impressively acted. Hauser has already scored a Golden Globe and a Critics’ Choice Award for his performance, while both Egerton and Hauser were up for a SAG Award earlier this year. Expect more of that, as well as some love for co-star Ray Liotta, in one of his final roles.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
Daisy Jones & the Six
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Based on the novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Daisy Jones & the Six is a limited series told as a documentary. It follows a Fleetwood Mac-like band who broke up at the height of their fame, although we don’t discover why until the end. Not only should leads Riley Keough and Sam Claflin get their due when the nominations are announced, but the series’ catchy song “Look at Us Now (Honeycomb)” could also score.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Love & Death
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In 1980, Candy Montgomery murdered her friend (and the wife of her lover) with an ax. The story has been told on-screen before but not this well. Here, the crazy tale has been written by David E. Kelley and directed by Lesli Linka Glatter (the director behind much of Homeland), with Elizabeth Olsen as Candy. Olsen’s performance is one of the year’s best, and she does an amazing job finding compassion for an accused murderer. Possible other nods could come for Jesse Plemons, Lily Rabe, and Patrick Fugit.
Where to watch: HBO Max
Fleishman Is in Trouble
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Claire Danes has consistently proved herself to be a favorite at the Emmys — and for good reason. Her most recent role, in the TV adaptation of Fleishman Is in Trouble, was a slow burner, but eventually showcased Danes’ impressive, nuanced acting skills. Although the series itself, based on the novel by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, was a bit uneven, it’s worth keeping an eye on. Jesse Eisenberg and Lizzy Caplan gave similarly memorable performances, but it’s Danes who gave the series its edge, revealing how women’s stories are never what they appear to be from the outside.
Where to watch: Hulu
Barry
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After four seasons, Barry Berkman’s blood-soaked journey is reaching its end point. The series, about a hit man who also wants to become a Hollywood actor, is stressful, exciting, and constantly surprising. The fourth and final season, which airs through May 28, will hopefully bring Barry, played by Bill Hader, some much-needed peace (but probably not). Barry has scored numerous awards, especially for Hader, and this will be the last shot to celebrate the series and cast with accolades. If you haven’t seen it, it’s not something you should binge; watch Barry slowly so as not to overdose on its inherent anxiety.
Where to watch: HBO Max
Ted Lasso
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If it seems like every cast member on Ted Lasso has been Emmy nominated, it’s because, well, mostly they have. Now airing its third season, the comedy drama is supposedly making its way to a conclusion (although an official declaration that this is the end hasn’t come yet). So far, the big contenders are Hannah Waddingham, with a complex portrayal of a woman trying to figure out what she wants, and Nick Mohammed, whose character Nate is on a redemption arc that is both infuriating and compelling. Ted Lasso has already won a considerable number of Emmys — and other awards — but it will likely continue to sweep the comedy categories.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
The Last Thing He Told Me
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Based on the novel by Laura Dave and produced by Hello Sunshine, this limited series has the potential to come into the Emmys conversation. It stars Jennifer Garner as a woman whose husband disappears, forcing her and her stepdaughter to search for clues to his whereabouts. It’s the sort of mystery thriller viewers love, and Garner, as usual, gives a nuanced, genuine performance as a woman caught between her devotion to her husband and the need to protect her stepdaughter. The series airs weekly through May, so it’s the perfect time to get on board.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
House of the Dragon
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After many years of awards success by Game of Thrones, it seems only fitting that its prequel, House of the Dragon, will have the same success. Depicting the struggle for power within House Targaryen, the series focuses on another strong, dragon-riding female character, Rhaenyra Targaryen. Expect a nomination for Emma D’Arcy, who plays an older Rhaenyra, as well as potential nods for Paddy Considine, Olivia Cooke, and Matt Smith. Most likely, House of the Dragon will sweep the craft categories, especially visual effects and costume design. You don’t necessarily need to have seen Game of Thrones to enjoy the spectacle and drama of this one, although it helps.
Where to watch: HBO Max
Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
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Although Ryan Murphy’s Dahmer series was not without its controversies, star Evan Peters has already been pegged as a shoo-in for an Emmy nomination. In the first season of an intended anthology series, Peters plays real-life serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer with terrifying intensity. The episodes recount Dahmer’s life and the events surrounding his gruesome murders, which took place between 1978 and 1991. Some of it is dramatized, but the fact that it’s largely true may put off some viewers. This isn’t one we’d recommend to everyone, but if you like true crime (or Peters), Dahmer is notably captivating.
Where to watch: Netflix
Great Expectations
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If Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham doesn’t convince you that this dark adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations is worthwhile, then nothing will. Written by Steven Knight, the limited series reimagines the story in a gritty, dirty Victorian London, where class is the one thing that defines you. Colman is, of course, unparalleled in the literary role, although it’s unclear if this series will make any other ripples at the Emmys. Still, it’s worth watching, and Fionn Whitehead is a truly solid casting choice for Pip.
Where to watch: Hulu
Tiny Beautiful Things
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Oh, Kathryn Hahn. What can’t this woman do? In Tiny Beautiful Things, adapted from the book by Cheryl Strayed, Hahn embodies a writer who just can’t get it together. Her life is in chaos, and she’s a mess, something Hahn portrays with empathy and authenticity. The series, which switches between two timelines, follows the character as she begins writing an advice column, despite the fact that she can’t fix her own circumstances and relationships. It might fly too under the radar for the Emmys, but Hahn deserves all the awards.
Where to watch: Hulu
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
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The cinematic world of The Lord of the Rings came to the small screen with The Rings of Power, set thousands of years before Peter Jackson’s films. While the complex narrative, filled with all sorts of fantastical characters, took some time to open up, it’s ultimately a compelling series about the search for power, whether you’re human, elf, or wizard. Morfydd Clark, as Galadriel, is the standout, but Ismael Cruz Córdova was equally strong as a fellow elven warrior. This should earn lots of craft nominations, including for production design, costume design, and visual effects, but it could also sneak into the drama categories. While it requires an interest in fantasy worlds, no prior knowledge of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books is necessary to enjoy the series.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Beef
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Netflix’s breakout series about two people living parallel lives in very different circumstances has earned its viewership thanks to its edgy story and performances by Steven Yeun and Ali Wong. Wong, in particular, proves her dramatic chops as a woman who engages in an increasingly problematic feud following a road rage incident. It’s a show that asks more questions than it answers, and it feels like the sort of show that will continue to build long after its premiere. It wouldn’t be surprising if it sweeps the Emmys — or at least, brings Wong into the conversation.
Where to watch: Netflix
George & Tammy
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Biopics have been few and far between this Emmys season, but George & Tammy, about Tammy Wynette and George Jones, stands out for other reasons. Starring Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon as the country legends, the limited series is a true showcase for Chastain’s ability to inhabit almost any role. The actress already scored a SAG Award and a Golden Globe nomination, so she will certainly be in the running for an Emmy. Watch out for the rest of the cast as well, including Steve Zahn and Tim Blake Nelson. With only six episodes, there’s no excuse to pass this one by.
Where to watch: Showtime
White House Plumbers
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The Watergate scandal is a never-ending provider of films and TV series. This one, based on a 2007 book by Egil Krogh and Matthew Krogh, focuses on Nixon’s political operatives E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy. Played by Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux, the pair are tasked with plugging press leaks following the incident at the Watergate by any means necessary. Domhnall Gleeson, Lena Headey, and Kiernan Shipka also star. The five-episode limited series comes from some of the same people who made Veep, if that’s any indicator of the Emmys potential here.
Where to watch: HBO Max
Emily Zemler is a freelance writer and journalist based in London. She regularly contributes to the Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, PureWow, and TripSavvy, and is the author of two books. Follow her on Twitter @emilyzemler.
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