5 Emmy-nominated series you'd better catch up on before the award show
At long last, the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards are ahead! Because of the writers' and actors' strikes in 2023, one of the biggest nights in Hollywood was postponed from Sept. 2023 to Jan. 2024. It might feel a bit strange given we're in the midst of award season, but Monday night's Emmys will be recognizing television from June 2022 to May 2023. That means that a handful of shows that came out in 2022 which were covered at last year's Golden Globes have yet to be highlighted by the Emmys and will be in just two days. This is going to cause confusion, that's for sure!
In any case, we've got a long list of amazing shows to celebrate on Monday night's ceremony, namely these five titles. If you've been slacking on TV and want to catch up a little before the Emmys, look no further than this list. Here are the five shows you should at least be familiar with! Some are one-season shows you can binge in a weekend, and others might take you a little longer.
1. The Last of Us
The Last of Us was without a doubt one of the best shows of 2023, surprising both fans of the video game and newcomers alike. The HBO drama was created by Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) and Neil Druckmann (The Last of Us game) based on Naughty Dog's super popular video game of the same name.
The series takes place in a post-apocalyptic United States, following the dynamic between a jaded, bruised man named Joel (Pedro Pascal) and a naive and sheltered teenage girl named Ellie (Bella Ramsey).
The series has been applauded for its character-driven storylines, fantastic performances, and emotional moments. Sure, it's a show about zombie-like creatures infected by cordyceps, but it's so much more than that. You don't need to be a fan of the horror genre to connect with The Last of Us.
At the Emmys, The Last of Us earned over 20 nominations, already winning multiple at the Creative Arts Emmys on Jan. 6. Monday night's ceremony will see the drama up for major awards like Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Pascal), Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Ramsey), and others.
The Last of Us currently only has one season, with a second on the way.
Where to stream: Max
2. Succession
Though The Last of Us has a good chance of winning awards at the 75th Primetime Emmys, we're pretty sure Succession will be winning the most in the drama category. Another HBO favorite, the series was created by Jesse Armstrong and premiered in 2018. The show follows the wealthy and powerful Roy family who run a global conglomerate, and it aired its final season in 2023.
Succession is one of my favorite shows of the last decade, as it seamlessly blends drama and comedy and leaves a long-lasting impact on the audience.
The final season of Succession was one of the best — if not the best — seasons of the show, and this combined with the fact that it's their last award season means they're probably going to win big at the Emmys. They did at this year's Golden Globes, at least.
At Monday's ceremony, Succession is nominated for the major categories, including Outstanding Drama Series, Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Kieran Culkin, Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong), Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Sarah Snook), and a handful of others.
There are four seasons of Succession, meaning you probably can't watch it all this weekend — but you can at the very least start it.
Where to stream: Max