In the grand scheme of life, it should not shock any of you that this article is coming out well into the 2025-2026 TV season. After all, television has gone through some monumental shifts and shows move around all the time. But now feels like a great time to finally dive into the best of TV with the Emmys around the corner. Taking stock of the last season, it was certainly a real year of upheaval and of these categories, I found Drama to be the most fascinating to dig into. So much so that I actually used the new Emmy eligibility rules to determine the amount of nominees in each genre or category, because the others were kind of lacking. You’ll still my top 10 in writing and directing for Drama and Comedy because I still struggle in narrowing those down. What were your favorite shows last year?
My Adventures with Superman
Demon Slayer
Batman: Caped Crusader
Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Blood of Zeus
Dan Da Dan
Actor
Jack Quaid, My Adventures with Superman
Michael Emerson, My Adventures with Superman
Hamish Linklater, Batman: Caped Crusader
Kōhei Amasaki, Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Masaaki Mizunaka, Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Natsuki Hanae, Dan Da Dan
Fred Tatasciore, Blood of Zeus
Actress
Alice Lee, My Adventures with Superman
Kiana Madeira, My Adventures with Superman
Jamie Chung, Batman: Caped Crusader
Satomi Amano, Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Claudia Christian, Blood of Zeus
Shion Wakayama, Dan Da Dan
Writing
Kiss of the Catwoman, Batman: Caped Crusader
Olsen’s Eleven, My Adventures with Superman
The True Name of Cowards, Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Episode 2, Dan Da Dan
Hades’ Choice, Blood of Zeus
Director
My Adventures with Supergirl, My Adventures with Superman
The Night of the Hunters, Batman: Caped Crusader
The True Name of Cowards, Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Hades’ Choice, Blood of Zeus
Kicking Granny’s Ass, Dan Da Dan
Music
My Adventures with Superman
Demon Slayer
Batman: Caped Crusader
Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Dan Da Dan
Editing
My Adventures with Superman
Demon Slayer
Batman: Caped Crusader
Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Dan Da Dan
Sound
My Adventures with Superman
Demon Slayer
Batman: Caped Crusader
Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Blood of Zeus
Movie
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Rebel Ridge
The Groomsmen: Second Chances
Miniseries
Lost Boys and Fairies
The Leopard
Adolescence
Actor
Aaron Pierre, Rebel Ridge
Jonathan Bennett, The Groomsmen: Second Chances
Kim Rossi Stuart, The Leopard
Owen Cooper, Adolescence
Siôn Daniel Young, Lost Boys and Fairies
Actress
Anna Sophia Robb, Rebel Ridge
Benedetta Porcaroli, The Leopard
Cate Blanchett, Disclaimer
Michelle Yeoh, Star Trek: Section 31
Renee Zellweger, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Supporting Actor
Alessandro Sperduti, The Leopard
Arwel Gruffydd, Lost Boys and Fairies
Ashley Walters, Adolescence
Don Johnson, Rebel Ridge
William Thomas, Lost Boys and Fairies
Supporting Actress
Deva Cassel, The Leopard
Elizabeth Berrington, Lost Boys and Fairies
Erin Doherty, Adolescence
Gwyneth Keyworth, Lost Boys and Fairies
Sarah Solemani, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Writing
Episode 3, Adolescence
The Groomsmen: Second Chances
With or Without You, Lost Boys and Fairies
Rebel Ridge
Episode 2, The Leopard
Director
Episode 3, Adolescence
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
The Groomsmen: Second Chances
Rebel Ridge
Episode 2, The Leopard
Music
Adolescence
Disclaimer
Rebel Ridge
The Leopard
The Narrow Road of the North
Costumes
Another Simple Favor
Lost Boys and Fairies
Star Trek: Section 31
The Leopard
The Narrow Road of the North
Cinematography
Adolescence
Disclaimer
Rebel Ridge
The Leopard
The Narrow Road of the North
Production Design
Lost Boys and Fairies
Rebel Ridge
Star Trek: Section 31
The Leopard
The Narrow Road of the North
Editing
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Lost Boys and Fairies
Rebel Ridge
The Groomsmen: Second Chances
The Leopard
Sound
Adolescence
Rebel Ridge
Star Trek: Section 31
The Leopard
The Narrow Road of the North
Deli Boys
Mid-Century Modern
North of North
Running Point
The Lady’’s Companion
The Studio
Guest Actor
Josh Hopkins, Shrinking
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Mid-Century Modern
Tan France, Deli Boys
Dan Jeannotte, North of North
Richard Kind, Mid-Century Modern
Zane Phillips, Mid-Century Modern
Guest Actress
Meredith Hanger, Shrinking
Cobie Smulders, Shrinking
Vanessa Byer, Mid-Century Modern
Taylor Hickson, North of North
Sofia Black-D’Elia, Deli Boys
Sarah Polley, The Studio
Actor
Asif Ali, Deli Boys
Drew Tarver, Running Point
Fabrizio Guido, Running Point
Nathan Lane, Mid-Century Modern
Saagar Shaikh, Deli Boys
Seth Rogen, The Studio
Actress
Anna Lambe, North of North
Jessica Williams, Shrinking
Kate Hudson, Running Point
Linda Lavin, Mid-Century Modern
Nadia de Santiago, The Lady’’s Companion
Uzo Aduba, The Residence
Supporting Actor
Alexander Tavizon, The Manny
Alvaro Mel, The Lady’’s Companion
Braeden Clarke, North of North
Chet Hanks, Running Point
Ike Barinholtz, The Studio
Ken Marino, The Residence
Supporting Actress
Alfie Fuller, Deli Boys
Brenda Song, Running Point
Crista Miller, Shrinking
Maika Harper, North of North
Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Emily in Paris
Poorna Jagannathan, Deli Boys
Writing
Delivery Boys, Deli Boys
Here’s to You, Mrs. Schneiderman, Mid-Century Modern
Working Girls, Mid-Century Modern
Carnivores, North of North
No Freeloading, North of North
A Special Place in Hell, Running Point
The Travis Bugg Affair, Running Point
Episode 1, The Lady’’s Companion
Dial M for Murder, The Residence
The Oner, The Studio
Director
Delicate Boys, Deli Boys
The Show Must Go On, Mid-Century Modern
Carnivores, North of North
No Freeloading, North of North
A Special Place in Hell, Running Point
The Travis Bugg Affair, Running Point
Last Drink, Shrinking
Episode 1, The Lady’’s Companion
Dial M for Murder, The Residence
The Oner, The Studio
Music
Deli Boys
Emily in Paris
North of North
The Lady’’s Companion
The Residence
The Studio
Costumes
Deli Boys
Emily in Paris
North of North
Running Point
The Lady’’s Companion
The Studio
Cinematography
Deli Boys
Mid-Century Modern
Running Point
Shrinking
The Lady’’s Companion
The Studio
Production Design
Deli Boys
Mid-Century Modern
North of North
The Lady’’s Companion
The Residence
The Studio
Editing
Deli Boys
Running Point
Shrinking
The Lady’’s Companion
The Residence
The Studio
Sound
Deli Boys
North of North
Running Point
The Manny
The Residence
The Studio
Black Doves
Dept. Q
High Potential
Interview with the Vampire
Invisible Boys
Like Water for Chocolate
Love in the Big City
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Guest Actor
Alex Overev, Brilliant Minds
Angus Miller, Dept. Q
Derek Wilson, The Boys
Hugh Bonneville, The Agency
John Noble, Severance
Justin Jedlica, Doctor Odyssey
Na Hyun Woo, Love in the Big City
Robby Benson, Severance
Guest Actress
Adrienne Palicki, Doctor Odyssey
Agnes O’Casey, Black Doves
Angeles Cruz, Like Water for Chocolate
Debi Mazar, Kaos
Gina Gershon, Doctor Odyssey
Sofie Kane, Watson
Tilda Swinton, The Boys
Tracey Ullman, Black Doves
Actor
Adam Scott, Severance
Andres Baida, Like Water for Chocolate
Aydan Calafiore, Invisible Boys
Ben Whishaw, Black Doves
Charlie Vickers, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Jacob Anderson, Interview with the Vampire
Matthew Goode, Dept. Q
Nam Yoon Su, Love in the Big City
Actress
Azul Guaita, Like Water for Chocolate
Britt Lower, Severance
Delainey Haynes, Interview with the Vampire
Irene Azula, Like Water for Chocolate
Kaitlin Olson, High Potential
Keri Russell, The Diplomat
Kiera Knightley, Black Doves
Tamberla Perry, Brilliant Minds
Supporting Actor
Alexej Manvelov, Dept. Q
Danny Dyer, Rivals
Eric Bogosian, Interview with the Vampire
John Magaro, The Agency
Lloyd Owen, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Misia Butler, Kaos
Peter Mark Kendall, Watson
Tramell Tillman, Severance
Supporting Actress
Ana Valeria Becerril, Like Water for Chocolate
Katherine Parkinson, Rivals
Kathryn Hunter, Black Doves
Lee Soo Kyung, Love in the Big City
Lelia Farzad, Kaos
Oh Hyun Kyung, Love in the Big City
Sarah Lancashire, Black Doves
Saura Lightfoot-Leon, The Agency
Writing
The Cost of It All, Black Doves
The Man from Gronzy, Brilliant Minds
Pilot, Doctor Odyssey
Don’t Be Afraid, Just Start the Tape, Interview with the Vampire
Atole, Like Water for Chocolate
A Piece of Rockfish, a Taste Out of This World 2, Love in the Big City
The Day, Paradise
Episode 4, Rivals
Episode 7, Severance
The Camgirl Inquiry, Watson
Director
Episode 6, Dept. Q
Don’t Be Afraid, Just Start the Tape, Interview with the Vampire
I Could Not Prevent It, Interview with the Vampire
Episode 7, Kaos
Atole, Like Water for Chocolate
Cream-Soaked French Toast, Like Water for Chocolate
The Day, Paradise
Episode 7, Severance
St. Pauls, The Diplomat
Doomed to Die, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Music
Interview with the Vampire
Like Water for Chocolate
Severance
Thamepo Heart Skips a Beat
The Agency
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
The Royals
Costumes
Domino Day
Interview with the Vampire
Kaos
Like Water for Chocolate
Rivals
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
The Royals
Cinematography
Dept. Q
Interview with the Vampire
Kaos
Like Water for Chocolate
Rivals
Severance
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Production Design
Dept. Q
Domino Day
Interview with the Vampire
Kaos
Like Water for Chocolate
Rivals
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Editing
Black Doves
Dept. Q
High Potential
Interview with the Vampire
Like Water for Chocolate
Love in the Big City
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Sound
Black Doves
Dept. Q
Interview with the Vampire
Kaos
The Agency
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
The Rig