Emmy Predictions: Best Directing for a Drama Series

The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, July 16th. As always, chime in below in the comments with any thoughts of your own.

Last year’s nominees: Paterfamilias (The Crown), Beyond the Wall (Game of Thrones), The Dragon and the Wolf (Game of Thrones), After (The Handmaid’s Tale), The Toll (Ozark), Tonight We Improvise (Ozark), Chapter Nine: The Gate (Stranger Things)

The top contenders:
Return to Murder House (American Horror Story: Apocalypse)
Smoke (Better Call Saul)
Wiedersehen (Better Call Saul)
Episode 1 (Bodyguard)
Twin Cities (Counterpart)
The Iron Throne (Game of Thrones)
The Last of the Starks (Game of Thrones)
The Long Night (Game of Thrones)
Holly (The Handmaid’s Tale)
The Word (The Handmaid’s Tale)
Protocol (Homecoming)
Desperate Times (Killing Eve)
Nice and Neat (Killing Eve)
Game Day (Ozark)
One Way Out (Ozark)
Reparations (Ozark)
Stag (Ozark)
Pilot (Pose)
Celebration (Succession)
Blurryman (The Twilight Zone)
The Comedian (The Twilight Zone)

Two of last year’s nominated shows didn’t air this past season, while one - The Handmaid’s Tale managed to submit two episodes that aired at the start of the season even though it’s not eligible in other categories. Game of Thrones chose three of its six episodes, and it’s very possible all of them could be honored. A double nominee last year, Ozark submitted four episodes this year, which may make it harder for voters to choose. Better Call Saul, last nominated when it was eligible two years ago, submitted nine episodes, one or two of which could show up here. Watch out for new shows like Pose, Succession, and Homecoming to make a splash, and it’s possible The Twilight Zone could show up too. Killing Eve and maybe even Counterpart have a shot at placing here, as does American Horror Story: Apocalypse now that it’s officially categorized as a drama series.

The predicted nominees: Episode 1 (Bodyguard), The Iron Throne (Game of Thrones), The Last of the Starks (Game of Thrones), The Long Night (Game of Thrones), Holly (The Handmaid’s Tale), Pilot (Pose)

The predicted winner: I think Game of Thrones wins it for “The Long Night.”

Next up: Best Writing for a Drama Series