The biggest Emmys 2025 snubs, including Squid Game

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Although the 2025 Emmy Award nominations highlight significant television productions from the previous year, they overlook a few noteworthy contenders – such as the anticipated second season of Squid Game.

2022 has been an exceptional year for television, starting off strong with the long-awaited comeback of Severance, a series that lived up to the hype. This was swiftly followed by the premiere of The White Lotus Season 3 and the second season of The Last of Us – both highly anticipated sequels.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve gotta say, some fresh faces popped up that left me impressed! Among them were the talented cast of Adolescence, led by Owen Cooper, in Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne’s gripping Netflix series. They made history with Owen’s Emmy nomination as the youngest supporting actor contender ever!

This upcoming 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14 will determine the winners, but unfortunately, some highly discussed series and acts of this year may not secure a win.

Biggest Emmys 2025 snubs

This list below includes TV shows, actors, and crew members who generated significant buzz among viewers and critics, yet they didn’t receive any nominations for the 2025 Emmy Awards.

Squid Game 

Even though Squid Game falls neatly within the qualifying timeframe (from June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025), it doesn’t have a single nomination in any category – not one at all.

Apart from being one of Netflix’s most popular series, Squid Game Season 2 garnered an impressive 83% approval rating from critics, showcasing exceptional performances primarily from its stars, Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun.

It’s quite remarkable considering that Season 1 garnered 14 Emmy Award nominations, winning six of them – among these victories were the categories for exceptional drama direction by Hwang Dong-hyuk and outstanding performance by a lead drama actor, which went to Jung-jae.

As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but share my thoughts on the buzz surrounding Squid Game. In a chat with Variety, the head honcho at Netflix, Bela Bajaria, expressed that this series has made a massive cultural wave, becoming the most-watched show globally.

The initial season broke new ground for the Emmys, and it was well-received; the latest season also garnered positive feedback. However, I find myself feeling let down for Director Hwang and the acting ensemble.

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel let down that director Hwang didn’t receive the recognition he deserved, especially considering the massive global audience who adored his work and found it deeply resonating. It seems unfair that such an impactful creation hasn’t been acknowledged as extensively as it should have been.

Andor’s Diego Luna 

It’s important to clarify that although Andor, the Star Wars series, hasn’t been snubbed by the Emmys, having received 14 nominations including best drama series, its main actor, Diego Luna, who portrays Cassian Andor, has not been recognized in this year’s nominations.

In a similar vein, Genevieve O’Reilly’s portrayal of Mon Mothma was not chosen for recognition. As reported by Deadline, Andor creator Tony Gilroy expressed his regret over several unacknowledged performances. Among them were Diego Luna and Genevieve O’Reilly, with a dozen more.

He pointed out that these performances aren’t particularly strong scene by scene. Instead, what we’re seeing is a series of profound, extended explorations of the characters, spread across the 24 episodes.

I believe these performances will continue to be admired and talked about for a long time, and I’m quite certain of it.

The Handmaid’s Tale

Absolutely! While The Handmaid’s Tale may not be as culturally significant today as it was initially, its sixth and final season is still remarkable. A large part of this excellence can be attributed to the exceptional acting skills demonstrated by Elisabeth Moss and Yvonne Strahovski in their roles as June and Serena, respectively.

As a passionate gamer speaking about my favorite show, I’ve got to say that unfortunately, our beloved series didn’t manage to secure more than a single nomination this year – which is quite a letdown. However, the good news is that the exceptionally talented Cherry Jones has been recognized for her outstanding guest drama actress performance as June’s mom Holly. So while we might not have achieved the full recognition we were hoping for, it’s great to see such a skilled artist get the recognition she deserves!

In reaction to being overlooked, one spectator posted, “Perhaps if The White Lotus hadn’t dominated the categories for a single season and delivered roles, we could have applauded actresses like Yvonne Strahovski for her years of portraying a complex and evolving character such as Serena on The Handmaid’s Tale.

Yellowjackets

I was just as surprised as many others when Yellowjackets Season 3 didn’t receive any recognition at this year’s Emmy Awards, despite its captivating storyline and exceptional performances.

Indeed, despite a slight decrease in excitement, it’s quite astonishing to observe such a response given the impressive acting, costumes, direction, and lighting effects involved.

Fans are disappointed by the latest news, as one posted on Reddit, “I had high hopes that Sophie Thatcher would earn a Best Supporting Actress Emmy nomination this year.

“Watching her tearfully react as snow fell last winter deeply affected me. However, since four out of the seven nominees originate from a single series (‘The White Lotus’), there’s not much chance left for other contenders. I’m still feeling let down.

The White Lotus’ Patrick Schwarzenegger

Discussing The White Lotus, it’s evident that its third season garnered the appreciation it merits at the 2025 Emmys with a staggering 23 nominations. However, this only adds to the confusion as to why Patrick Schwarzenegger was overlooked despite his exceptional performance.

remarkably well-played by him as the loathsome character Ratliff’s son Saxon left no room for doubt, making his omission from the list quite unexpected.

Can’t help but feel a bit disappointed when I see The White Lotus up for countless awards and yet, Patrick Schwarzenegger isn’t even mentioned. That’s some tough decision-making right there!

To stay updated on this year’s TV news, follow along with our 2025 TV Calendar and our list featuring the top series of the current season.

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2025-07-16 13:19