Just because the second season of “Severance” has finally come to a close doesn’t mean the conversation around the series will slow down anytime soon. After three long years, the wait has only helped the series gain a meteoric rise in popularity and acclaim, easily surpassing its first season. While the series has shown, it’s very much in the club with the Television Academy, this time around, nominations are all but guaranteed for what could be a dominant take over this year’s drama race at the Emmys. Let’s look at how “Severance” is currently on track for sweep potential (sort of).
“Severance” is in the sweet position where there is plenty to build upon this year compared to its freshman season. In total, the series earned fourteen nominations (winning two Creative Arts Emmys), landing in almost every major above-the-line category. Regarding acting potential, “Severance” could easily win all of the categories it’s nominated for and earn additional acting nominations compared to the first season.
It seems almost certain that Adam Scott will take home the Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series. Already earning a nomination for the first season, Scott’s performance in the second season is breathtaking, and the fact that his series is most likely winning only helps his chances. The only other actor who could give Scott competition in this category is five-time Emmy nominee Noah Wyle (“The Pitt”), but I don’t think the love for his series, despite having only raves is on par with “Severance.”
Additionally, Pedro Pascal, who could earn a nomination for the second season of “The Last of Us,” is in flux due to how the series is tackling the material of the second game and how apparent his role might be this time around. It’s more than likely Pascal could land in Outstanding Supporting Actor, but it’s a waiting game to see how HBO will officially campaign him. While Emmy darling Sterling K. Brown can earn a nomination for his new series “Paradise,” there isn’t enough there to overtake a win from Scott. The stars are starting to align perfectly for Scott, who could finally have his time to shine.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series can see former nominee John Turturro earn another nomination for the series and possibly win, especially with his standout performance in the episode “Woe’s Hollow.” It’ll be tough considering Walton Goggins (“The White Lotus“) is having a great year and is fresh off an Outstanding Lead Actor nomination for “Fallout.“ It also doesn’t help that Turturro is absent for most of the back half of “Severance’s“ second season. The real standout to many (including myself) is Tramell Tillman, whose performance is not only the scene-stealer of the season but is certainly coming along this time for an Emmy nomination. There’s even a world where he can earn a surprise win in this category over Turturro and Goggins.
If the Television Academy is checking names down the list, there’s also a chance Zack Cherry could also earn a nomination, but it feels like they’ll cap out the “Severance” boys for two nominations. It doesn’t help that the rest of this category will be over-populated with actors from “The White Lotus” and “The Last of Us.“ Cherry could fall into the same vein as Alan Ruckman in “Succession,“ who is constantly left out of the ensemble in terms of nominations but finally gets their due later in the show’s run. Christopher Walken, who earned a surprise nomination for the first season, has a far smaller role this season and doesn’t seem to be returning to the Emmys this year. It would be shocking if his name is called again on nomination morning compared to some of the previous names listed.
As for the ladies of “Severance,” there will be major love as Britt Lower, who didn’t earn a nomination for the first season, will definitely be in the mix this time. So much of the second season pertains to her character, and what she (and Scott) are able to do is a herculean task most actors would struggle to achieve. Whether Lower is winning is a different story due to the Television Academy possibly pulling a fast one and awarding Kathy Bates for “Matlock.“ Lower is certainly a top-three contender to win this category, but there are other options voters could go with.
In Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Patricia Arquette could return but just like Walken is absent for a majority of this season. Arquette, who earned a nomination for the first season, does have time to shine, so if anything, the love for her (and the series) could carry her to a nomination more so than the work itself. Especially since the women of “The White Lotus“ could take up half the nominations alone in this category. What could show a sign of strength for “Severance“ is the off chance they pull out a nomination for Jen Tullock, who is far more prominent this season and beloved by many.
Seeing “Severance“ lose the Emmy for Outstanding Director for a Drama Series for the first season was a bit surprising. Still, considering it lost to “Squid Game,“ a cultural phenomenon at that point, it makes plenty of sense retrospectively. This time, it seems “Severance“ is winning Outstanding Director for a Drama Series; the question is which episode will be crowned the winner. The possibility for the series to earn two to three nominations in this category is inevitable as there’s plenty to choose from, mainly “Woe’s Hollow,” “Chikhai Bardo,“ and the season finale “Cold Harbor.”
While the writing for “Severance“ is also on par with the direction, this is one category where the Television Academy could steer away from the series’s sweep potential. With shows like “The White Lotus“ and “Slow Horses,“ two shows that have both won Emmys for writing, returning, they could prove to become challengers for that category unless this season is just undeniably in the bag for “Severance.“ At the least, “Severance“ could earn multiple writing nominations unless the campaign chose to submit only one episode.
There’s still plenty of time to see this race unfold, but “Severance“ has one thing plenty of other shows don’t: momentum. That’s easy to say now compared to months from now when some new series can appear and steal the spotlight. It happens all of the time. Just look at what’s happening in the Outstanding Limited Series race with “Adolescence.“ With the power of Apple behind it, the general love for the series, and its overall popularity only growing, “Severance“ is in a good spot to have a strong turnout at the Emmys this year. Let’s see if we’re still saying this by the time nominations are around the corner.
What did you think of the second season of “Severance?“ Will the series have a significant presence at this year’s Emmys? Is there a world in which “Severance“ sweeps? Please let us know in the comments section below or on our X account.Â
