The Emmys: Which of these losers should actually be winners?

#EmmysSoWhite is trending once again after these Emmy nominees got jipped out of being winners. Though many of the Emmy winners were standouts, many can (and have) argued that many amazing shows and actors got the short end of the stick this year. 

Emmy winners for this year were a bit . . . lacking in diversity, with some, such as The Crown (which is a great show) snatching the spotlight from other great shows such as Lovecraft Country that really push the boundaries not only through its diverse cast, but also through its innovative storytelling. 

Of course, we have a few thoughts on which of these Emmy losers should have been Emmy winners. We walked down the red carpet through the internet to find the shows & actors who deserved a shot at the gold. Walk back onto the stage as we dive into which Emmy losers should have been Emmy winners. 

Pose

Pose, a powerfully entertaining show on the world of balls, fashion, and identity for LGBTQ+ people unfortunately did not end up being the belle of the ball as we had hoped. Neither Billy Porter nor Mj Rodriguez ended up winning in their respective categories, the Emmys choosing to miss out on some historic opportunities. 

If Rodriguez had won, she would have been the first transgender performer to win a lead acting role at the Emmys. Porter would have also helped make history as the second Black man to win Best Actor twice after Bill Cosby. 

However, it isn’t just the historic moments the Emmys missed out on. They missed out on showcasing the power of progress through media and how this show articulates just what the LGBTQ+ community has gone through and, in many cases, still goes through today. The show is able to demonstrate the power of community in times of hardship as well as the individual struggles of every day. Sadly, this show didn’t get to strut its stuff. 

Lovecraft Country 

This is, sadly, the second time an actor has lost the chance to posthumously win an award for a role well acted. In this case, the late Michael K. Williams lost the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in Drama to Tobias Menzies for his role in The Crown. Though Kerry Washington did honor him before the award was given, it still left an incredible work in the dark at the award ceremony. 

Many by now know of H.P Lovecraft’s works, especially the racism and xenophobia that was rampant in said works. Lovecraft Country was a show dedicated to not only bringing his mythos to life, but also recontextualizing it to include those Lovecraft himself left in the shadows. 

As we follow Atticus and his friends, we not only get to see Cthulhu in all his glory. We see how monstrous Jim Crow America truly was, with Williams tying the narrative together as the father who begins this whole adventure of identity that many can empathize with, no matter how terrifying it can be. 

I May Destroy You 

Though the show did win the Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series Emmy, some have wondered why this fascinating story on the importance of sexual consent and the age of online dating didn’t get more recognition. 

The show’s focus on sexual assault, social media, and mental health make it a prominent piece of media for today, especially in the wake of the pandemic when so much has been digitalized. It forces us to ask about how we interact with others as well as how we live with trauma, especially a traumatic experience that was blocked from memory. It’s a timely show that wasn’t just well written. 

The Emmys missed out on showcasing shows that were not only diverse, but really reached into the core of what we as a society are considering and battling today. From identity to adaptation to trauma, these shows were able to push the envelope on what media can do and should do for the modern age. 

—

What other Emmy losers should have been Emmy winners? Tell us in the comments!