Culturess
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Emmys 2017: The dark horse pick to win every major category

By Shea Corrigan

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Photo: Patrick Harbron/FX

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

  • Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
  • Anthony Hopkins, Westworld
  • Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
  • Matthew Rhys, The Americans
  • Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
  • Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
  • Milo Ventimiglia, This Is Us

Sterling K. Brown is winning the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and we could not be more excited. Yes, maybe, Bob Odenkirk wins for Better Call Saul. But c’mon, this is as close to a sure thing as possible. Everyone loves Brown. Even if you don’t love This Is Us, you love Brown. Let it happen.

But say it with me: Justice. For. The. Americans. In a normal world, Matthew Rhys would not be a dark horse for this award. (The dark horse should be Milo Ventimiglia: For all my love for This Is Us, I don’t totally understand that nomination.) But for some reason, The Americans, the FX show following the moral crises, murderous antics and surprisingly resonant parenting and or marital dilemmas of two undercover Russian spies, is like Emmy … I can’t even think of a good analogy, but it’s such a tease.

Rhys and Keri Russell are consistently nominated and they consistently lose. Ditto the show’s writing. The only element of the show the Emmys has ever recognized is Beloved Character Actress Margo Martindale. (As they should.)

But Rhys is so, so good on the show as the half of the couple — “Philip” — who is most struggling with his commitment to Mother Russia, the things he’s done and is asked to do and the impact it may all have on his daughter. This is peak “upset that shouldn’t be an upset.”

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

  • Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
  • Claire Foy, The Crown
  • Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale
  • Keri Russell, The Americans
  • Evan Rachel Wood, Westworld
  • Robin Wright, House of Cards

Yes, Elisabeth Moss did excellent work on the uncomfortably and unfortunately relevant dystopian Hulu drama, The Handmaid’s Tale.

But one more time: Justice. For. The. Americans. All of the above applies again. And in addition to the delightful spy work (and wigs!) that she rocks, much like Rhys, Russell delicately conveys Elizabeth’s own particular set of concerns and preoccupations. Raising their daughter — technically, they have a son, too — but also her relationship to religion and Russia. The more die-hard of the two, the later seasons have given her layers that complicate her motives. And still, no awards.

Look, Emmys. If you snub The Americans again, there’s only one season left for you to make it right. And no one likes to settle for an obligatory last-season award.

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