5 Emmy-nominated series you'd better catch up on before the award show
3. The White Lotus
Another hugely successful show from HBO on this list is The White Lotus, the anthology series created by Mike White that premiered in 2021. The second season came out in late 2022 and received critical acclaim once more, and I think it was an improvement on the first. (I love both seasons, though!)
Each season of The White Lotus follows a group of wealthy vacationers as they enjoy a trip to a luxurious resort. Well, try to enjoy it. They might have a ton of money, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're happy. The show is a character study of human relationships and includes both hilarious and thought-provoking moments.
There are currently two seasons of The White Lotus and a third is on the way. At the Primetime Emmys on Monday, the show is nominated for multiple awards, including Outstanding Drama Series, Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (F. Murray Abraham, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, Will Sharpe), Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Jennifer Coolidge, Meghann Fahy, Sabrina Impacciatore, Aubrey Plaza, Simona Tabasco), and others.
If you're planning on staying inside and watching TV all weekend, we'd recommend binging both seasons of The White Lotus.
Where to stream: Max
4. The Bear
One of the best dramedies (that is apparently considered a comedy) in the past few years is definitely The Bear. The series, created by Christopher Storer, premiered on Hulu in 2022 and is already two seasons deep. It follows a chef named Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) who returns to his hometown of Chicago and takes over his late brother's restaurant.
The restaurant business is not easy, as you'd expect, and the series sees Carmy struggle to get his place up to code as he navigates his complicated relationships with those around him. Sure, The Bear has its fair share of funny moments, but especially in the second season, the show is also incredibly emotional.
At the Primetime Emmys, The Bear is nominated for a long list of awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (White), Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Ayo Edebiri), and others.
Despite Ted Lasso, which ended in 2023, competing against The Bear, I still think The Bear will win big at the ceremony on Monday. They did at this year's Golden Globes.
Where to stream: Hulu
5. House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is one of my favorite shows, and although it's not nominated as many times as the others on this list at the Emmys, it's still up for one of the biggest TV awards. The first spinoff of Game of Thrones, the show serves as a prequel to the story of Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen, taking place hundreds of years prior when House Targaryen sat on the Iron Throne.
The first season of House of the Dragon earned critical acclaim and record-breaking viewership, just like the others on this list, and for good reason. It's absolutely fantastic! The show was created by George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal, based on Martin's Targaryen history book Fire & Blood. It premiered in 2022 and only has one season out so far, though a second is premiering on HBO this summer.
House of the Dragon won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama at the 2023 ceremony, but I don't think it'll be so lucky at the Emmys. Though the show is nominated for Outstanding Drama Series (its only nomination), I'm thinking Succession will take home that award.
In any case, House of the Dragon is totally a show you can watch in a weekend. So if fantasy shows/movies or political dramas are your thing, what are you waiting for?
Where to stream: Max
The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards will air live on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, at 8:00 p.m. ET on Fox. If you're planning on streaming the show, you won't get to do so live, but it'll be available to watch on Hulu the next day. Keep up with us at Show Snob as we continue to cover the award season!
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