Emmy Preview 2018: Limited Series wishlist; vote on your favorite!
What shows should be nominated for Outstanding Limited Series at the 2018 Primetime Emmy Awards? We are back with another edition of our annual CarterMatt Emmy Preview Series to answer this very question!
One of the things that has been a real delight to see play out over the past few years is the increased presence of limited series all across the board. These were popular many decades ago but over the past five or so years, we’ve seen them come roaring back in a big way. At times, they are fantastic fictional stories that dive you into a world with a defined beginning, middle, and end. At other points, these are biopics and stories meant to capture a particular part of a famous person’s life. The same goes for a historical event.
In addition to sharing both our dream nominees and some other likely possibilities based on current industry projections, at the bottom of this article is a poll for you to vote for your own favorites! We will announce our reader picks on July 11, 2018, one day before the actual Emmy nominations are announced. Hopefully, this is a way to kick off the Emmy campaign period in a fun, super-engaging manner for everyone.
Voting Rules – Vote however many times you like! Voting is open between now and 1:00 p.m. Pacific time on July 11. By voting, you consent to have your vote tabulated in the final result. As a reminder, CarterMatt polls are simply for fun and to help aid in Emmy campaigns. Voting for the Emmys themselves is conducted by members of the Television Academy.
I can’t see the poll; what do I do? – If you’re on mobile, scroll to the bottom of the page and click to view the non-AMP version. If you still cannot see it, try to either clear your cache or use a different browser or device. Give it time, as with slower internet it may take a moment to load.
Limited Series – CarterMatt Wishlist
The Alienist (TNT) – This show combined the elements of a period piece with something that is very much exciting and different — this is a show that developed a cryptic and captivating mystery over time with some fantastic performances across the board. It had a style and substance that was uniquely its own and potentially also thrust TNT further into awards-show discussion for many years to come.
The Assassination of Gianni Versace (FX) – The moment that we heard that Ryan Murphy was looking at the story of Versace’s death at the hands of Andrew Cunanan, we knew that we were destined to get a visceral, visual, and sprawling emotional feast for the senses. In the end, the show met all expectations thanks in part to a powerful performance from Darren Criss and a great supporting cast across the board.
Howards End (Starz) – One of the best adaptations of the year, and one of the most underrated. Hayley Atwell shined at the center of the production, which was all about exploring key themes of love and heartache at the turn of the 20th century. Starz has shown a real knack over time for putting tremendous period pieces on the air and this is certainly no exception.
The Sinner (USA) – One of the best limited series of last year was as creepy and cryptic as they come. This was a show all about the case of Cora, a woman who killed a young man named Frankie who, on the other side of it, had no clear understanding as to why she committed the act. A big part of what made this season fantastic was navigating the ins and outs of this case and watching the mystery play out in real time. Also, Jessica Biel and Bill Pullman are fantastic.
The Terror (AMC) – This may be one of the most unique shows of the year, both in terms of its barren landscape and also its choice to combine elements of horror and period drama. This is a show anchored by its themes of imperialism and arrogance, coupled with some excellent performances from the likes of Tobias Menzies and Jared Harris. There isn’t a way that this show could have appealed to us more.