So far as the Emmys go, this year’s line-up of shows is perhaps the most entertaining and eclectic mix in a decade, says streaming columnist NICK OVERALL.

Apple TV Plus’ sci-fi thriller Severance is leading the Emmys pack with 27 nominations, Batman spin-off The Penguin on Max is in second place with 24 nominations and The White Lotus and The Studio have third place tied up with 23 nominations each.

Never thought the day would come that a Star Wars spin off show on Disney Plus could also be nominated for 14 awards, but the second and final season of Andor absolutely deserves it.

This series delivered a political war thriller that was dark and prescient yet didn’t lose the charming heart that Star Wars is known for.

However, it was disappointing to see no nomination for Genevieve O’Reilly, who played the embattled senator Mon Mothma fighting against the corrupt forces that encroach upon the galaxy.

One of her monologues in particular will be remembered as one of the most powerful TV moments of the year, regardless of an Emmy nod or not, but despite this snub it is great to see a big-franchise show step out and take some risks and then reap the rewards from it.

This year the Emmys also has its new youngest actor nominee in the form of Owen Cooper, the star of Netflix’s limited series Adolescence.

At just 15-years-old, Cooper gave a haunting performance as Jamie Miller, a young teen who is arrested for murdering a girl at his school.

Cooper’s performance was compelling, emotional and most of all frightening. It makes him the clear winner here, a remarkable feat given he’s up against talent such as Javier Bardem.

With the enormous amount of buzz and conversations it generated, Adolescence is also likely to take out the prize for outstanding limited series and outstanding writing. It’d be a major upset for it not to.

Another young talent, Bella Ramsey, has scored a nod for her acting in season two of the post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us on Max, despite an exorbitant amount of hate she’s got from people getting wound up about what they personally think the character should look like. It doesn’t matter. Ramsey has proven she has the emotional range to make it work, but this year’s prize should ultimately go to Kathy Bates for her entertaining performance as cunning septuagenarian and legal genius in Paramount Plus’ Matlock.

In what is likely no surprise to anyone who watches it, The Bear has scooped up its third consecutive nomination for best comedy series, having taken out the prize once before.

This sensational series on Disney Plus about the brutal game that is working in a kitchen is undeniably deserving of its recognition, but this year also stands alongside stiff competition including Hacks (on Stan), a hilarious dark comedy show about a failing stand up comedian that is also deserving of its second win in the category. This one’s a dead heat.

Best directing also has a heated line up this year, but my pick goes to Jessica Lee Gagné’s work on season two of Severance.

Until now she had led the cinematography for this trippy and existential thriller about office workers who separate their mind into two halves, one for work and one for play.

But in the show’s seventh episode Lee Gagné jumped into the directing chair for her first time and delivered one of the most heart wrenching and mind bending hours of television of the last few years.

Packed with ingenious and original use of practical effects, the episode was a visual treat and the highlight of the show so far. A directorial debut that hopefully will be this year’s dark horse of the Emmys.

The best actor category is also packed with talent but Adam Scott’s performance in Severance is the standout.

He’s come from a comedy background and brings that charisma here while also creating a chilling portrait of a man who has willingly split his mind in half.

In one of the show’s climactic episodes, Scott sells the ideas of playing two characters at the same time, both halves of his mind competing and conversing with one another in a Jekyll and Hyde-like monologue that made for creepy and fascinating TV. That moment is what makes him deserving of the win.

All of this culminates to make Severance the best thing on TV since Twin Peaks, and for that it should take out the most coveted prize of best drama series.

Severance, The Penguin lead nominations for Emmy Awards