Emmys 2020: Outlander, Sam Heughan, Caitriona Balfe have better odds

Outlander season 4

Even though we’re just coming off of the Emmy nominations for this morning, why not look ahead to 2020? To be specific, let’s talk for a moment about how this could be a better year for Outlander and its two leads in Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe.

What hurt them this go-around? There are a lot of different things that you could’ve looked at, whether it be competition, promotion, or something as simple as timing. Moving into next year, there’s a chance for the odds to shake down in a different way.

Timing – For 2020, Outlander is going to be airing in presumably the winter/spring — or at least so we hope. If the show doesn’t kick off before June 1, it won’t be eligible for the Emmys at all! We’re just banking that it will premiere and air most of its season right when Emmy voters are thinking about nominations.

Competition – Game of Thrones is now over. For Sam and Caitriona, that means that another spot is open in their respective categories. While there could be contenders elsewhere, you can’t bank on any of them coming through and overtaking the nomination spot.

The Netflix factor – We thought that having the first seasons on the streaming service would help to familiarize viewers with the show. That didn’t fully happen this time around, but we do still think that this could happen in the future when more and more viewers start to really how good this show is.

The quality of season 5 – This is quite possibly the greatest risk and question mark that we’ve got, since we don’t know how good Outlander season 5 is going to be just yet. However, if it turns out to be one of the best seasons yet, it could leapfrog some of the competition. With the threat of war and with so many cast members all in one place, there will be chances for everyone to up their game.

Longevity – Sometimes, having an epic show make it deep into its run can help a series. Just think about Jon Hamm with Mad Men!

Do you think that Outlander season 5, Sam Heughan, or Caitriona Balfe could have a better chance for the Emmys next year? Be sure to share in the comments.

Photo: Starz

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