The Emmys is an award show that recognizes some of the best cinematic shows of the year. TV shows are often separated into their respective categories, making for a suspenseful and captivating nominating process. While many shows are released each year, only the best and most popular get nominated to win the most competitive award for television.
Shōgun, made by Fox Studios, is leading with the most nominations in general, while also leading in the Drama category, a prestigious and competitive field. The show follows a sailor who gets stranded in Sengoku-era Japan and soon after finds himself involved in Tokugawa Ieyasu’s rise as a powerful military leader. Shōgun is the second non-English show ever to have been nominated for best drama series. The show has a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 99% and is in Rotten Tomatoes’ Top Shows of 2024, so much so that top critic Daniel Fienberg said “the network would want to push forward with future seasons beyond James Clavell’s novel.” Even television critics are sure the show will continue to captivate audiences worldwide.
The Bear, a show created by Fox, has been nominated for 23 Emmys. They have been nominated for many impressive categories, including Outstanding Comedy Show of the Year, but it seems like critics are happier with the earlier seasons of the show. According to the Guardian, The Bear is, “at its best… the finest show on TV. But the new season feels half-finished, wastes its best actors, and ends maddeningly.” It’s not just The Guardian that feels this way. Amy McCarthy, writer for Eater, says, “The Bear is trying to do a bit too much all at once. Sometimes, the constellation of heavy themes that it explores – mental health, family trauma, how food systems work, economic uncertainty, ageism, toxic chef culture — collapses in on itself.” Critics are unhappy with the 3rd season, but the show still has a 93% Rotten Tomatoes score, showing that fans and critics may disagree.
Netflix is leading the way with 107 nominations across 35 shows, but The Crown accounts for a significant portion of its nominations with 18. Its IMDB rating is the same as Shōgun, the top-rated show in the lineup, but The Crown has fewer Emmy nominations. According to IMDB, The Crown is “gorgeous” but “also compelling, well written, and well performed.” In the end, it comes down to the preference of the judges.
As the Emmys come closer, audiences are getting more and more anxious to see which show will win the most in this competitive season. Be sure to watch the Emmys on Sunday, September 15 on ABC or Hulu at 8 PM ET – 7 PM CT.
