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The race remains a runaway for the two top contenders, “Adolescence” and “The Penguin” — they’re still the only two limited series to appear on all ballots.
Matt Roush says, “Netflix once again has this coveted and competitive category in the bag, with the blistering ‘Adolescence’ dominating the field, making an instant star of remarkable teenage newcomer Owen Cooper.”
“Penguin” romped at the critics’ and guild awards before “Adolescence” even dropped. While the Bat-villain series appears to hold the edge in the lead acting categories, the Netflix show has inched into the lead for the limited series prize. Beyond that, who knows?
“‘Adolescence’ and ‘The Penguin’ continue to dominate,” says Trey Mangum, “while the other three nominations truly could go any way.”
One way they’re not expected to go is the way Kristen Baldwin says they should: “[Climbs up on soapbox, raises megaphone] ‘La Máquina’ … needs to be part of the Emmys conversation!”
- “Adolescence”
- “The Penguin”
- “Dying for Sex”
- “Disclaimer”
- “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”
- “Dope Thief”
- “Say Nothing”
- “Black Mirror”
More predictions: Limited / TV movie actor | Limited / TV movie actress
Los Angeles Times
Lorraine Ali
1. “Adolescence”
2. “The Penguin”
3. (tie) “Dope Thief”
3. (tie) “Say Nothing”
5. “Disclaimer”
“Stephen Graham’s intense family drama ‘Adolescence’ is at the front of the pack. So expect to hear plenty more about the Netflix limited series as we approach the big day in September. HBO’s ‘The Penguin’ (starring Colin Farrell) and Netflix’s ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ (with Javier Bardem) will also be competing.”
Entertainment Weekly
Kristen Baldwin
1. “Adolescence”
2. “The Penguin”
3. “Dying for Sex”
4. “Dope Thief”
5. “Black Mirror”
“[Climbs up on soapbox, raises megaphone] ‘La Máquina’ — a darkly funny and wonderfully surreal Spanish-language series starring Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal as best friends caught up in the sinister underworld of boxing — needs to be part of the Emmys conversation! It’s not too late, voters!”
Los Angeles Times
Tracy Brown
1. “The Penguin”
2. “Adolescence”
3. “Dying for Sex”
4. “Disclaimer”
5. “Say Nothing”
“As always, this is one of the tougher categories to whittle down, but my favorite of the year remains ‘The Penguin.’ That’s mostly for Cristin Milioti’s scene-stealing turn as Gotham’s forgotten mob-boss daughter who grows increasingly unhinged as she fights for control of her family’s criminal empire.”
Shadow and Act
Trey Mangum
1. “Adolescence”
2. “The Penguin”
3. “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”
4. “Dying for Sex”
5. “Disclaimer”
“‘Adolescence’ and ‘The Penguin’ continue to dominate, while the other three nominations truly could go any way. People seem to be keen on ‘Disclaimer,’ but it could easily be a number of other series that grab the remaining spots in this category.”
TV Guide
Matt Roush
1. “Adolescence”
2. “The Penguin”
3. “Dying for Sex”
4. “Disclaimer”
5. “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”
“Netflix once again has this coveted and competitive category in the bag, with the blistering ‘Adolescence’ dominating the field, making an instant star of remarkable teenage newcomer Owen Cooper. HBO’s dark origin story of ‘The Penguin’ likewise exceeded expectations, transcending its comic-book roots.”
Los Angeles Times
Glenn Whipp
1. “Adolescence”
2. “The Penguin”
3. “Dying for Sex”
4. “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”
5. “Disclaimer”
“Another year, another Netflix limited series from England that arrives seemingly out of nowhere to dazzle critics and push viewership numbers through the roof. ‘Baby Reindeer’ took the Emmy in 2024 and kept on winning through the SAG Awards this year. Expect ‘Adolescence’ to embark on a similar run.”
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