The 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards are almost here, and it’s time to predict our winners and pick my favorites.
The ceremony is set to take place on Sunday, September 14, with awards being dished out for some of the year’s greatest shows across comedy, drama and more. Don’t worry if you see any you still need to catch up on though, because we’ll be sure to highlight which of the best streaming services you need to head to to stream them.
In terms of who will be walking away with the gold, Apple TV+ should probably ensure they bring plenty of empty luggage, with Severance up for ten awards, having already won big at the Creative Arts Emmys. The streamer is also looking strong in the comedy categories, with The Studio’s debut season receiving seven nods after winning a whopping 9 categories at the CAE Awards. HBO Max are also looking strong, however, with The Penguin, The White Lotus and The Last of Us, receiving a combined 20 noms for the streamer.
But the fun isn’t trying to predict who will win, it’s about picking a favorite and backing your (slow) horse. Below is my selection on who I’d like to see win across all the major categories. To be clear, this isn’t necessarily who I think will win, but who I’d personally like to see take home the prize.
Outstanding Drama Series – Slow Horses
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Where to stream it: Apple TV+
Following the residents of Slough House – a dumping ground for MI5 agents who have messed up, but not enough to be worth the paperwork of sacking – Slow Horses is a gripping and darkly comic spy thriller that’s utterly addictive from the opening titles to the closing credits.
An ensemble cast led by Gary Oldman as the irascible Jackson Lamb shine, with their unconventional love for one another the heart of the show. Season 4 delivered personal stakes that saw the threat land very close to home.
The show faces stiff competition in the Outstanding Drama category, but this often overlooked gem deserves the award for the sensitive way it handles a long-standing character’s battle with dementia alone, and it’s a travesty that Jonathan Price hasn’t received an acting nomination for his heart-wrenching portrayal of David Cartwright.
Outstanding Comedy Series – The Studio
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Where to stream it: Apple TV+
Seth Rogen’s Hollywood satire burst onto Apple TV+ earlier in the year and continued to get better and better each week.
Rogen plays Matt Remick, newly appointed head of a floundering film production company. Looking to return the studio to its classy past, he finds himself in a battle against the money-making machine and IP driven landscape. The Studio is a rare comedy that manages to be bitingly satirical and also very, very funny, with Matt’s exasperated film exec furiously trying to keep it together.
While Rogen excels in the lead, the supporting cast all compete for show-stealer honours, from Kathryn Hahn’s sassy marketer Maya to Catherine O’Hara as Matt’s mentor Patty. Ike Barinholtz is a stand-out as intense exec Sal, and the celebrity cameos that buoy the show are hit after hit, including Zac Efron, Charlize Theron, Martin Scorsese and Anthony Mackie, all perfectly spoofing their public personas.
Fast, ferocious and funny as hell, The Studio should walk away with the prize.
Outstanding Reality Series – The Traitors
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Where to stream it: Peacock (US)/Crave (CA)/BBC iPlayer (UK)/10Play (AU)
The Traitors‘ first couple of seasons were often criticised for being a poor imitation of the UK version populated with D-list celebs and forgotten reality stars, but season 3 saw the show really come into its own.
While still shot in the same Scottish location as the British iteration, the latest season saw far more original challenges and twists, which gave the show a unique identity it’d been lacking until now. Add to that the fact that host Alan Cumming has decided to take his eccentric landowner persona full camp after three seasons of downplaying and you’re left with an addictive and wildly unpredictable show.
Season three finally saw the conceit of inviting some of the US reality gameshow genre’s best players along deliver in spades, with veteran tacticians from Big Brother, Survivor and The Amazing Race dominate the middle of the game, with Boston Rob going down as a Traitors GOAT.
The non-game players were great fun too, especially with some personal history adding a little extra spice. Season 3 of The Traitors was big, bold and incredibly camp, finally delivering on the promise of what the show could be.
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series – Adolescence
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Where to stream it: Netflix
While its category-mates are all very respectable shows, for me, Adolescence is a no-brainer for this award.
Even leaving aside the jaw-dropping directions and cinematography for a moment (more on that below), Adolescence is a masterclass in writing and performance, with this story of teen murder gripping and devastating.
Each episode serves as its own mini-story, with the installments set days, weeks and months apart as we learn more about teen boy Jamie’s (Owen Cooper) murder of a classmate and the effect of the horrific events on those around him. Episode three in particular is a stand out, a two-hander between Cooper and Erin Doherty as his psychologist. But each of the three chapters have their stand-out moments, with Stephen Graham at his career best in episode four as a father trying to carry on with life while dealing with the consequences of his son’s actions.
If ever there was a show that arrived with the right message at the right time, it’s Adolescence, and I’d love to see the phenomenal efforts that went in to producing it rewarded with the Limited Series Emmy.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us)
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Where to stream it: HBO Max (US, AU)/Crave (CA)/Sky (UK)
Very much the man of the moment, Pedro Pascal may be riding high in Marvel-land now, but his portrayal of Joel in The Last of Us will be a tough act to follow.
While he doesn’t have as much screentime as the character enjoyed in the show’s first season, so much of his performance is quietly devastating. There’s a lot to dance around here for risk of spoiling things, but those who have seen the show will know that his almost silent response to Ellie (Bella Ramsay) on the porch is about as heart-string tugging as you can get – and Pascal barely says a word.
How involved Joel will be going forward remains to be seen, but Pascal has already delivered a portrayal of the character we want to root for so badly that it’s genuinely painful to watch when he makes the wrong decision.
Pascal missed out on the prize for season 1, it’d be great to see an even better turn in season 2 recognised with the award.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series – Bella Ramsay (The Last of Us)
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Where to stream it: HBO Max (US, AU)/Crave (CA)/Sky (UK)
How can we pick Pedro Pascal without also recognizing the person who made those scenes mean so much?
Bella Ramsey was a controversial choice, for some, when they were cast, but particularly in season 2 has quietened all naysayers. Ramsay perfectly encapsulates Ellie, swinging from goofball to vengeful killer with ease.
Again, I’m spoiler wary here, but Ellie’s reaction to one of the show’s early turning points is harrowing, as is her full descent into violence. But along the way, Ramsey (alongside Isabella Merced) creates a convincingly tender relationship between Ellie and Dina, and their side of those big moments with Pascal are equally as devastating.
I have concerns that as the show continues, we’ll begin to lose the more quirky side of Ellie that Ramsey nails so well, but for now, the young actor deserves to be recognized for one of TV’s best performances.
Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie – Phillip Barantini (Adolescence)
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Where to stream it: Netflix
I’ve already praised the performances, writing and structure of Adolescence, but a big part of what makes the show so gripping is the innovative one-take style.
Featuring no cuts, and using no CGI stitching together, each episode is one genuine take from start to finish, immersing the viewer in the action, whether that’s the frantic initial police investigation or the tense and claustrophobic meeting between Owen and his psychologist.
The show has already won the Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography for its second episode – likely down to the jaw-dropping ending drone shot – but Barantini deserves the award for the creative vision of the series as a whole.
My picks for every other 2025 Emmy Award
So that’s my pick across seven of the major categories, but that’s far from all the awards on offer. I won’t go into detail, but across the other nominations, here’s who I’d like to see walk away victorious:
- Outstanding Talk Series – The Daily Show
- Outstanding Scripted Variety Series – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
- Outstanding Variety Special (Live) – SNL50: The Anniversary Special
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – Jeremy Allen White – The Bear
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series – Jean Smart – Hacks
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie – Stephen Graham – Adolescence
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie – Rashida Jones – Black Mirror: “Common People”
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Ebon Moss-Bachrach – The Bear
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Catherine O’Hara – The Studio
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Jason Isaacs – The White Lotus
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Patricia Arquette – Severance
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie – Owen Cooper – Adolescence
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie – Erin Doherty – Adolescence
- Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series – The Bear: “Napkins” – Ayo Edebiri
- Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series – Severance: “Cold Harbor” – Ben Stiller
- Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series – The Rehearsal: “Pilot’s Code” – Nathan Fielder, Carrie Kemper, Adam Locke-Norton, and Eric Notarnicola
- Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series – Severance: “Cold Harbor” – Dan Erickson
- Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie – Black Mirror: “Common People” – Charlie Brooker and Bisha K. Ali
- Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
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