Anyone bored by this year’s Emmy winners just hasn’t been paying attention. This was a revolution. The idea that “Shōgun” could enter the drama race and then break the history books with 18 wins was astounding — and sure didn’t seem possible even a year ago.
The fact that “Hacks,” in its third season, could upset “The Bear” — even as the incumbent still smashed the record for most wins for a comedy in a single year — has changed the balance of power in that race. And then there was perhaps the biggest shift of the night: “ The Traitors ” ending the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” streak in reality competition series. That’s a field where “The Amazing Race” won 10, “Drag Race” won five and “The Voice” has four — so there wasn’t much movement in the category.
“The Traitors” has at least busted things up, making for a more dynamic playing field. Davids slaying Goliaths? Why, here you go: “Fargo” star Lamorne Morris beat Robert Downey Jr. (“The Sympathizer”), while “The Bear”’s Liza Colón-Zayas took down Meryl Streep (“Only Murders in the Building”) and Carol Burnett (“Palm Royale”).
This was most certainly an Emmys to remember. FX besting HBO and Netflix for the first time, landing the year’s victory among programming outfits. The Cinderella story of Richard Gadd and “Baby Reindeer,” which earned six trophies.
And “Slow Horses” writer Will Smith winning the drama writing Emmy with the line of the ni.