Star Trek: Picard's Emmy Awards Snub Sparks Controversy

Star Trek: Picard, despite receiving critical acclaim and an impressive awards campaign, has surprisingly been overlooked at this year's Emmy Awards. This feels like a significant error, considering that Star Trek shows typically fare well in technical categories such as hair and makeup, costume design, and visual effects. In line with expectations, Picard season 3 has been acknowledged with nominations for Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) for the episode "Vox" and Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for the Picard finale, "The Last Generation." However, it is peculiar that despite being the most universally adored season of the Patrick Stewart-led spinoff, Star Trek: Picard season 3 has fewer Emmy nominations compared to its predecessors.

While Picard season 1 received five nominations and season 2 obtained four, the series faced further disappointment as it failed to secure a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series or an Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series for Patrick Stewart's final portrayal as Admiral Jean-Luc Picard. It is evident that despite Star Trek's eight Hollywood Critics Award nominations, the Emmy voters still do not perceive science fiction series like Picard as deserving of serious recognition, which is a substantial oversight.

The Emmys Should Have Nominated Star Trek: Picard

Star Trek: Picard season 3 went beyond mere nostalgia by reuniting the beloved cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The final adventure of the USS Enterprise-D dealt with significant themes, such as the radicalization of the young, exemplified by Picard's efforts to save Jack Crusher from becoming the Borg King. However, it seems that these deeper messages were overlooked by the Emmy voters, who instead chose to nominate the more traditional "serious" dramas like Succession, Better Call Saul, and The Crown, or sci-fi shows with more obvious thematic resonance like Andor and The Last of Us.

It is unfortunate that Patrick Stewart was not recognized with a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Particularly frustrating is the fact that three separate nominations were given to Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, and Kieran Culkin from Succession. While their nominations are well-deserved, it appears that Emmy voters may have only watched a few TV shows this year. A nomination for Stewart would have been a fitting tribute to the legacy of Jean-Luc Picard and a testament to his poignant and multifaceted performance in the role.

Why Star Trek Is Snubbed By The Emmys

Star Trek: Picard's absence from the Outstanding Drama Series and Lead Actor nominees might be attributed to a touch of snobbery. The vast popularity of the Star Trek franchise could potentially put Picard at a disadvantage in winning over awards voters. The third season of Picard delved deeply into Star Trek history, which may have diverted attention from its relatable tale of fatherhood and family. Sci-fi and franchise-based content often struggle to resonate with awards voters, as evidenced by Spider-Man: No Way Home's Oscar snub and subsequent fan outcry.

A sobering reality for Star Trek: Picard is that, unlike the Hollywood Critics Awards, the Emmy categories do not distinguish between Network and Streaming shows in the outstanding TV drama category. Consequently, the show finds itself competing against cultural powerhouses like HBO and AMC, renowned for their prestigious dramas. Since 2017, the Star Trek franchise has been toying with the idea of incorporating the prestige drama format, and it seemed that Star Trek: Picard season 3 had successfully cracked the code, aligning itself with shows like Succession and Better Call Saul. Unfortunately, it is disheartening that the Emmy voters fail to recognize this accomplishment.