‘The biggest upset in years’ – why Shōgun’s epic Emmys haul leaves me with a nagging feeling

Shōgun’s giant haul also reinforces the tiny, nagging feeling that it was nominated in the wrong categories. Until long after it was even broadcast, the showrunners were adamant that this was going to be it. Shōgun was a one-series remake of a one-series show that was adapted from a book with a finite end. As such, common sense dictates that it was destined to qualify for the limited series categories. And yet, thanks to a last-minute about face, another series will be made. That said, this one took the best part of a decade to come to fruition, so who can say when it will happen. Either way, it does feel like Shōgun made it as a drama on a technicality.

Speaking of miscategorisation, here comes the snub. The Bear did not win best comedy. In January, it won best comedy. In January, it basically won everything, to the extent that it looked like The Bear was going to win everything it was ever nominated for until the end of time. But last night it was beaten by Hacks.

Now, this isn’t to say that The Bear was shut out completely. Many of the cast members who were nominated won, plus it won a trophy for directing. But it didn’t win the big one, and this might be a tacit acknowledgment by the Emmy voters that, while The Bear is very good, it obviously isn’t a comedy.

This subject was up for much discussion after the nominations were announced. As good as The Bear is, it’s about as funny as a panic attack. And this is by design, which means that it doesn’t belong where it’s been put. You can admire its writing, performances, editing and look, but if it doesn’t make you laugh it shouldn’t really be nominated as a comedy. As such, Matt Berry – a man who gave the most purely comedic performance of the year by a mile in What We Do in the Shadows – was locked out of a win he richly deserved. We can resume this discussion when the nominations are announced next year.

 

But let’s end on a happier note. Lamorne Morris won an Emmy for his sweet, unshowy performance as a police officer in Fargo, beating Robert Downey Jr (whose multiple performances in The Sympathizer were unbearably showy). His win was completely unexpected but thoroughly deserved. More like this next time, please.