2022 Emmy Predictions: Limited Series categories will be a showdown between ‘Dopesick’ and ‘The White Lotus’

In less than a week, the 74th Primetime Emmy awards will award the best of television that aired from June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022. In that time, many series have come out and, as usual, the limited series categories are stacked with talented actors, great directors and thoughtful series.

Looking at the nominations closely, one might notice that Hulu is dominating these categories for Limited or Anthology Series, taking up three spots in the Limited Series category (Dopesick, The Dropout and Pam and Tommy are all Hulu shows vying for the top prize in the category). As such, Hulu series occupy at least two slots in every primetime category that involves Limited or Anthology Series (including writing and directing).

When it comes to the acting categories, things seem pretty clear-cut going in. In the Lead Actor category, which is filled with deserving performances, but it seems that Michael Keaton is (and has been) the frontrunner. He won the SAG award for his performance earlier this year, and it only makes sense that he’ll repeat at the Emmys. Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series seems less obvious at this point – earlier it seemed that Amanda Seyfried (The Dropout) was the clear frontrunner, but will late support for performances like Margaret Qualley in Maid and Lily James in Pam and Tommy provide a surprise winner? The two supporting categories have had frontrunners since The White Lotus premiered last summer, with Jennifer Coolidge and Murray Bartlett both giving stirring performances on the HBO series. It would be a surprise if anyone else took the wins away from either of these performers, but Kaitlyn Dever from Hulu’s Dopesick sure makes a case for herself to win.

The directing and writing categories for Limited or Anthology series could provide an interesting win or two with no clear frontrunner going into the ceremony. Both categories feature specific episodes that were nominated as well as the entirety of The White Lotus, as it was written and directed by one person. In directing, The Dropout is represented twice, including an episode that Michael Showalter directed (“Green Juice”), which could end up being the winner. With so many nominations for The White Lotus, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the series earned more than just accolades for its performers. Over on the writing side is a similar situation (minus the two noms for The Dropout), where there are many shows represented, making it difficult to narrow down what Emmy voters will choose.

The series category will very likely be a showdown between Dopesick and The White Lotus, it will just come down to which series resonated more with the Television Academy.

The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards airs live starting at 8pm. ET/5pm PT on NBC and Peacock, is hosted by Kenan Thompson and will feature John Legend performing his new song “Pieces” during the In Memoriam segment of the show, with as Zedd as the evening’s DJ and comedian Sam Jay as announcer.

Here are my predictions for the Limited or Anthology Series categories at the 2022 Emmys:

Limited Series

Dopesick (Hulu)
The Dropout (Hulu)
Inventing Anna (Netflix)
Pam and Tommy (Hulu)
The White Lotus (HBO) – PREDICTED WINNER

Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie

Colin Firth – The Staircase (HBO Max)
Andrew Garfield – Under the Banner of Heaven (Hulu)
Oscar Isaac – Scenes from a Marriage (HBO)
Michael Keaton – Dopesick (Hulu) – PREDICTED WINNER
Himesh Patel – Station Eleven (HBO Max)
Sebastian Stan – Pam and Tommy (Hulu)

Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie

Toni Collette – The Staircase (HBO Max)
Julia Garner – Inventing Anna (Netflix)
Lily James – Pam and Tommy (Hulu)
Sarah Paulson – Impeachment: American Crime Story (FX)
Margaret Qualley – Maid (Netflix)
Amanda Seyfried – The Dropout (Hulu) – PREDICTED WINNER

Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie

Murray Bartlett – The White Lotus (HBO) – PREDICTED WINNER
Jake Lacy – The White Lotus (HBO)
Will Poulter – Dopesick (Hulu)
Seth Rogen – Pam and Tommy (Hulu)
Peter Saarsgard – Dopesick (Hulu)
Michael Stuhlbarg – Dopesick (Hulu)
Steve Zahn – The White Lotus (HBO)

Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie

Connie Britton – The White Lotus (HBO)
Jennifer Coolidge – The White Lotus (HBO) – PREDICTED WINNER
Alexandra Daddario – The White Lotus (HBO)
Kaitlyn Dever – Dopesick (Hulu)
Natasha Rothwell – The White Lotus (HBO)
Sydney Sweeney – The White Lotus (HBO)
Mare Winningham –Dopesick (Hulu)

Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series

“The People vs Purdue Pharma” – Dopesick (Hulu)
“Green Juice” – The Dropout (Hulu) – PREDICTED WINNER
“Iron Sisters” – The Dropout (Hulu)
“Sky Blue” – Maid (Netflix)
“Wheel of Fire” – Station Eleven (HBO Max)
The White Lotus (HBO)

Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series

“The People vs Purdue Pharma” – Dopesick (Hulu)
“I’m In A Hurry” – The Dropout (Hulu)
“Man Handled” – Impeachment: American Crime Story (FX)
“Snaps” – Maid (Netflix)
“Unbroken Circle” – Station Eleven (HBO Max)
The White Lotus – PREDICTED WINNER