The Emmy nominations 2025 were announced, with Apple TV+’s Severance now considered a leading contender. With 27 nominations in all, it quite clearly positioned itself as the item of consideration in the drama category.
Adam Scott and Britt Lower got acting nominations for yet another sign of artistic acclaim for the show in its second season. However, the series faces strong competition from The Last of Us (HBO), Andor (Disney+), The Diplomat, The Morning Show, The Curse, and Shōgun.
Nevertheless, the technical polish provided by Severance makes it shine above the rest, along with rich acting talent and an eerie tone. Apple’s clued-in pursuit of prestige storylines is paying dividends now, with Severance showing that it is able to hold its own and win against the streaming titans such as Netflix and HBO.
Severance tops Emmy nominations 2025 with 27 nods, leading the drama category spotlight.
What shows and actors were surprisingly snubbed?
This year, the list saw jaw-dropping snubs that disappointed both critics and fans. Even with much viewership, Squid Game: The Challenge, a global Netflix sensation, did not receive any nominations.
A shocking turn saw T.O.P’s performance as Thanos being completely ignored when a nomination was deemed to be coming. Even more shocking was the absence of Patrick Schwarzweger, who has been praised for his turn on The White Lotus.
The critics considered him a potential Best Supporting Actor candidate, yet he was not even shortlisted. More to the point, Keira Knightley was missed for Black Doves while Renée Zellweger was not on the radar for Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
Another notable omission: Natasha Lyonne, who was widely tipped for her role in Poker Face. Perhaps, troubles with the categorisation arose, given the weirdness of the crime-comedy series.
How did limited series perform this year?
This limited series category saw another fierce competition, with HBO’s Penguin soaring to 24 nominations. Even Colin Farrell’s moody Gotham City noir managed to charm the audience and voters with its storytelling and production standards.
Netflix’s Adolescence made a splash with its 13 nominations. Ranked as the second-most-watched English-language series on the platform, the series symbolised both fame and prestige. Its harrowing story of adolescent identity has touched various demographic groups.
Other nominees in the limited series category included Fargo, A Murder at the End of the World, Ripley, and Lessons in Chemistry. This category continues to serve as a byway for cinematic storytelling in the largely shorter format of television.
The Penguin soars with 24 Emmy nods, as Colin Farrell’s Gotham noir captivates voters and viewers alike.
Pedro Pascal’s nomination raises eyebrows
A very discussed nomination was for Pedro Pascal in the drama category for The Last of Us. In season two, his character Joel, dies early on. And though he came in with limited screen time, his emotional connection was stronger than the norm and carried the nomination barrier.
The critics remain divided: some say that his outstanding performance was enough to ensure his nomination, irrespective of screen time. Others say that the award represents the consistency throughout the entire season. In any case, Pascal’s role somehow had to leave an impression on audiences and voters alike.
On the other hand, Bella Ramsey joined in on the nominations as well, giving further acknowledgment to the critical acclaim The Last of Us has had. The show received some nominations in various technical and performance categories-amassing 23 nominations in all.
Severance leads with 27 Emmy nods
The one show with the highest number of nominations this year is Severance.
With its high-concept sci-fi premise exploring memory division in corporate life, it somehow remains timely and unsettling.
Apple’s gamble on this cerebral series has returned great benefits in terms of cultural impact and award potential.
The layered second season had now built on the already intricate storytelling.
Nods to the season are for emotionally engaging performances, visually striking scenes, and resonating with Emmy voters.
They went further into directing, writing, editing, scoring, and production design—a sweep across multiple technical departments.
From the acting standpoint, with Adam Scott’s portrayal of Mark continuing to serve as the anchor of the show, and Britt Lower’s Helly contributing additional emotional layers, the series garnered so many nominations that it should be big come awards season.
Severance leads 2025 Emmys with its gripping, high-concept take on memory and corporate life.
When are the Emmys, and who will host?
The Emmy Awards ceremony will be held on September 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. Nate Bargatze will be hosting this year’s show with his easy-going style of humour. The live ceremony will have a wide viewership.
Expect tight competition and tearful speeches as veterans and newcomers duel for TV’s highest honours. From Severance to The Last of Us, to Adolescence and The Penguin, the show is promising to deliver powerful narratives with unpredictable outcomes.
There will be snubs to discuss, but most of the night should focus on celebrating excellence in storytelling.
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A Year of Bold Choices, Big Upsets and Breakout Performances
The Emmy nominations 2025 paint a vibrant picture of today’s television landscape, filled with surprises and fierce competition. Severance’s position atop the list shows that the cerebral brand of storytelling is still at the forefront, even in this streaming-naut era.
Limited series like The Penguin and Adolescence uplift prestige on the banners of companies like Netflix and HBO alike.
At the same time, while in the same breath the awards continue to insult the intrepid and to the offbeat must come a sort of homage: wonky inclusions remain.
The eyes of all members of the industry shall be cast on how these nominations will fare in history on 14 September: in two simultaneous acts of either dying their death or of everlasting birth.
