When the outside world stood still during the pandemic, many of us turned to our TV screens to free us. We delved into far off worlds with The Mandalorian and joined a royal tour alongside Princess Diana as she bore the burden of donning The Crown.

There are so many deserving shows and performers nominated for this year's Emmys®, and most of us can credit a vast array of streaming content for helping us navigate the past year. Read more about our favorite artists, designers, and content, and find a few predictions for those in the mix to take home an Emmy statuette in our favorite categories this year. 

1. Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)

• Kris Bowers, Bridgerton
• Ludwig Göransson, The Mandalorian
• Laura Karpman and Raphael Saadiq, Lovecraft Country
• Siddartha Khosla, This is Us
• Martin Phipps, The Crown
• Adam Taylor, The Handmaid’s Tale

Who won:

The 73rd Annual Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony was held over two nights on September 11 and September 12, 2021. Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson took home the award for scoring Disney+’s wildly popular show, The Mandalorian.

Who we think should have won:

As the characters of pandemic-era TV shows began to feel like real friends, the scores of these shows became the soundtracks of our lives. There were millions of plays on Spotify of the Bridgerton soundtrack. Kris Bowers’ compositions transported us from our couches to the Queen’s Ball, after all. Still, we agree that Ludwig Göransson is definitely deserving of this award — he conveyed the complexity of a faceless Mandalorian’s emotions with sound alone.

2. Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour) 

• Alexandra Fehrman, Rich Weingart, Thomas Hayek, The Boys
• Lee Walpole, Stuart Hilliker, Martin Jensen, Chris Ashworth, The Crown
• Lou Solakofski, Joe Morrow, Sylvain Arseneault, The Handmaid’s Tale
• Marc Fishman, Mathew Waters, Amanda Beggs, Lovecraft Country
• Bonnie Wild, Stephen Urata, Shawn Holden, Chris Fogel, The Mandalorian

Who won:

The Mandalorian took home yet another Creative Arts Emmy for Sound Mixing.

Who we think should have won:

Although The Mandalorian is deserving of this recognition, we would have loved to see Lovecraft County take home the award for Outstanding Sound Mixing. Fishman, Waters, and Beggs’ masterful mixing of dialogue and sound effects, paired with the unique contemporary soundtrack, transported viewers to 1954 Chicago, the Gothic Ardham Lodge, whole other planetary dimensions, and back again.

3. Outstanding Drama Series

• The Boys
• Bridgerton
• The Crown
• The Handmaid’s Tale
• Lovecraft Country
• Pose

Who is predicted to win:

Netflix’s The Crown collected 24 nominations this year, making the British period drama a shoo-in for this award.

Who we think should win:

Again, Lovecraft Country is our hopeful winner for this category. The standout soundtrack, costumes, production, and acting work in tandem together to tell an incredibly harrowing story about the Jim Crow era using the vehicle and tropes of the sci-fi/horror genre.

The cast includes the late Michael K. Williams as Montrose Freeman, the estranged father of Atticus, the story’s hero and protagonist. Williams, who received a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, tragically passed on on September 6, 2021 at the age of 54. 

4. Outstanding Comedy Series

• black-ish
• Cobra Kai
• Emily in Paris
• The Flight Attendant
• Hacks
• The Kominsky Method
• PEN15
• Ted Lasso

Who is predicted to win:

We’d be surprised if Ted Lasso, with its 20 Emmy nominations, didn’t secure this award.

Who we think should win:

While we are Ted Lasso fans, we would be thrilled if Hacks took home a statuette for Outstanding Comedy this Emmy season. The evolution of Jean Smart and breakout star Hannah Einbinder’s spirited, hilarious dynamic, and the impeccable writing, kept us engaged throughout the season. Needless to say, we are very excited for the Season 2 premiere.

5. Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

• Aidy Bryant, Shrill
• Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant
• Allison Janney, Mom
• Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish
• Jean Smart, Hacks

Who is predicted to win:

Jean Smart is expected to win in this category, with Kaley Cuoco on her heels for performance in The Flight Attendant.

Who we think should win:

Jean Smart stole our hearts as the aging, brash, but compassionate comedian Deborah Vance in HBO’s Hacks. (Bonus: we stan Smart’s dynamic, and all-together different, performance as Mare’s mom Helen Fahey on HBO Max’s Mare of Easttown too!) 

6. Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

• Anthony Anderson, black-ish
• Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
• William H. Macy, Shameless
• Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
• Kenan Thompson, Kenan

Who is predicted to win:

Jason Sudeikis is expected to win this year’s award for his performance as the eponymous star of Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso. At his heels are could-be winners Michael Douglas of The Kominsky Method, and Kenan Thompson of Kenan.

Who we think should win:

We’re on board for this year’s prediction. After years of playing, in his own words, “an a-hole” in almost every single project he’s done, Jason Sudeikis has perfected the character of the kindness-first optimistic, Ted Lasso. When this show premiered in August of 2020, it provided us with something we all needed — a glass half full outlook on life.