The Outstanding Drama Series category for the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards is an array of fantastic serials. One-half of the group of nominees consists of final contenders (Ozark and Better Call Saul), international debuts (Squid Game), and first-time entrants (Euphoria) of the category. The other half is made up of a returning winner (Succession), a post-pandemic comeback (Stranger Things), and introductory seasons (Yellowjackets and Severance).
Winning an Emmy for the aforementioned category can be a major boost for a show's growth and popularity. Some shows have only nabbed the prestigious award once, others have been fortunate enough to win multiple times. Ultimately, a series relies on critical and audience acclaim. Rotten Tomatoes reflects which Emmy winners have a lower score than others.
Based on George R.R. Martin's novel series A Song of Ice and Fire, Game of Thrones had honorable characters, breathtaking visual effects, and phenomenal costumes. These are all the elements that make for fantastic television, and Game of Thrones has cemented its status as one of television's best.
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The show won Outstanding Drama Series four times in eight seasons, including back-to-back wins twice. Alas, season 8 was significantly abominated by critics and diehard fans. While the final season cannot be recreated, there is still hope for a better adaptation with the upcoming HBOMax prequel series House of the Dragon.
The Fox series 24 was a compelling blend of action, espionage, and drama. The show won Outstanding Drama Series for season 5, which has widely been regarded as its best season. Since the 2001 series debut, 24 has proven to be a significant franchise in the TV landscape.
24: Redemption was the first television film in the series, set between seasons 6 and 7. Two limited series have been produced since the 2010 conclusion, 24: Live Another Day and 24: Legacy. The show has also been adapted internationally with 24 in India and 24 Japan.
Showtime's Homeland went deeper in its eight-season run than the average political thriller. The show was both gritty in its take on homeland security and transparent with the portrayal of mental illness. However, a show with such a serious topic matter was not unscathed by controversy, with the depiction of Middle Eastern politics and Muslims being heavily criticized.
Homeland won Outstanding Drama Series for its inaugural season, with Claire Danes winning two consecutive times in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Despite the accolades, numerous opinions have concluded that Homeland only had one good season.
J.J. Abrams' Lost is a profound fixture of early 2000s television. Combining mystery, supernatural, and science fiction elements, the show continues to be embraced over ten years after its final episode aired. Lost won Outstanding Drama Series in 2005 for its debut season.
While the show has established a large cult following, Lost has not aged well since the series finale. In the time since, many fans have been delighted to see the appearance of several cast members in the fantasy series Once Upon A Time and its spin-off, Once Upon A Time in Wonderland.
Based on Margaret Atwood's novel of the same title, The Handmaid's Tale has some terrifying laws in its fictional universe. The series revolves around a dystopian setting where women are stripped of all constitutional rights and reduced to being childbearing "Handmaids". One of these Handmaids is the story's protagonist, June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss).
The Handmaid's Tale came out of the gate swinging, winning eight Emmy Awards in its debut season, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Moss and Outstanding Drama Series. As June's journey is far from over, perhaps the show may win an Emmy again.
Preceding police procedural dramas such as The Wire and Chicago P.D., there was NYPD Blue. The show's legacy has been something of a mixed bag. While it received continuous praise for its writing, acting, and raw depictions of NYPD events, it has also been criticized for its use of profanity and nudity on a primetime network.
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In twelve seasons, NYPD Blue won Outstanding Drama Series in 1995. A sequel series had been in development at ABC since 2018. Similar to thirtysomething, the network ultimately decided in 2020 not to move forward with the show.
ABC's coming-of-age drama thirtysomething was a scripted yet raw look on the lives of a group of friends in Philadelphia hitting the dreaded thirty age group. thirtysomething would inspire other shows in the same genre, including Parenthood and My Generation.
The show only won Outstanding Drama Series once, but it was an Emmy favorite in additional categories over the course of four seasons. A potential sequel series had been in the works with ABC in 2019, having cast prominent actors Patrick Fugit and Odette Annable for lead roles. In 2020, ABC shelved the project (per Deadline).
Pickett Fences was the debut series following the launch of creator David E. Kelley's production company, David E. Kelley Productions. Revolving around the residents of a rural Wisconsin town, the show chronicled heavy topics such as abortion, polygamy, and homophobia.
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Pickett Fences would win Outstanding Drama Series in 1993 and 1994, in addition to twelve additional wins in numerous categories throughout its four-season run. This would include wins for lead actors Tom Skerritt and Kathy Baker. David E. Kelley would go on to be at the helm of future Emmy darlings The Practice, Ally McBeal, and Big Little Lies.
The West Wing, like The First Lady, is an intriguing political drama. Not only were former White House staff contributing writers alongside creator Aaron Sorkin, but the show became well known for its fast-paced walk and talk segments down the White House halls.
The West Wing is one of five shows to have the most Outstanding Drama Series wins. Sixteen years after its final term, the show continues to be hailed as one of the greatest television shows of all time. A reunion episode with most of the original cast is available to stream on HBOMax.
NBC's legal drama L.A. Law provided a realistic look into the world of law and touched on many relevant issues in mainstream society. The show launched many acting careers, including Blair Underwood, Harry Hamlin, and Star Wars franchise alum Jimmy Smits. L.A. Law won the Outstanding Drama Series four times in eight seasons, with three consecutive wins from 1989-1991.
While the show was a ratings favorite, an unsatisfactory final season played a large contributing factor to its low Rotten Tomatoes score. A made-for-television movie, L.A. Law: The Movie, was released on NBC in 2002.
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