Who Will, Could, and Should Win at the 2025 Golden Globes - TV

Will Win - Shōgun 

Could Win - Slow Horses

Should Win - Shōgun 

Shōgun absolutely dominated at the Emmys this year, winning the most Emmys for a single season of television ever. Though this is an international voting body, I expect this show to still play like gangbusters. Yet if there was one show that threatened Shōgun at the Emmys, it was Slow Horses, which surprisingly won Writing over it. If Slow Horses snags a win for Gary Oldman, I think it has the chance to upset here. As great as Slow Horses is though, I sincerely hope the categories in Drama remain predictable. Shōgun is just that good.

Will Win - Nobody Wants This

Could Win - Hacks

Should Win - Hacks

I am going out on a limb for Nobody Wants This here. I am a fan of the show, as the chemistry of Kristen Bell and Adam Brody is absolutely addictive. I do think the third season of Hacks is vastly superior, as the show finds new ways to make the dynamic between Jean Smart's Deborah and Hannah Einbinder's Ava compelling and even heartwrenching. However, the Golden Globes have never been in love with Hacks. Yes, it won this prize for its first season (along with a Golden Globe for Jean Smart) even though Ted Lasso Season 1 had beaten it at the Emmys. As a disclaimer, it was Ted Lasso Season 2 that Hacks Season 1 beat out at the Globes. But for Hacks's second season, Jean Smart actually lost to Quinta Brunson! Also, the Golden Globes are not prone to repeating Series wins unless the show is called Succession. In Comedy, the last repeat winner was Glee! They are far more likely to go for the "shiny new toy" show, the sensation that everyone is abuzz about. Though Nobody Wants This may not seem like the type of show a high-brow organization would go for, it is a huge hit for Netflix and has audiences raving. If Hacks does manage to win this, I don't think any show can take it down for the 2025 Emmys barring a sharp decrease in quality.

Will Win - Baby Reindeer

Could Win - Ripley

Should Win - Baby Reindeer

Baby Reindeer won Best Miniseries at the 2024 Emmys over True Detective: Night Country and Ripley, and I personally do not see Disclaimer, Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story, or The Penguin being strong enough win the top prize at next year's Emmys. I feel pretty solid in having Baby Reindeer take this, though Ripley did win Directing over it and could be more the Golden Globes's taste. Nonetheless, I feel pretty confident that Richard Gadd's hit miniseries is winning here.

Will Win - Anna Sawai

Could Win - Keri Russell

Should Win - Anna Sawai

Anna Sawai is unbelievable in Shōgun and is the clear standout of a phenomenal ensemble in my eyes. Given her Emmy win, the strength of her performance, and the fact that Shōgun is likely winning Drama Series, I will not doubt her here. However, I do think that if anyone upsets her, it is most likely Keri Russell for The Diplomat. She's won a Golden Globe before, and a win here could signify that she is well on her way to win an Emmy for its riveting second season.

Will Win - Hiroyuki Sanada

Could Win - Gary Oldman

Should Win - Hiroyuki Sanada

I think Hiroyuki Sanada is in a similar position to Anna Sawai, as both are deserving Emmy winners for a show that is the frontrunner in Drama Series. He is a bit more vulnerable than Sawai because of the existence of Gary Oldman in this category. Gary Oldman is fantastic in Slow Horses, and as I said earlier, if Slow Horses is to upset in Drama Series it would likely upset here. I would be happy with either winning, but for what it's worth, I do prefer Sanada by a good amount.

Will Win - Kristen Bell

Could Win - Jean Smart

Should Win - Jean Smart

Among those who love Nobody Wants This, Kristen Bell seems to be a standout. Granted, this is anecdotal evidence, but my mother who has seen Nobody Wants This and Hacks actually prefers Kristen Bell to Jean Smart! (She also thinks the series overall should win for how original it is). Jean Smart has also lost the Golden Globe before for Hacks despite winning the Emmy. If Nobody Wants This is as big of a deal as I think it is, I believe Kristen Bell comes along for the ride. I could be overthinking this category, though, since Jean Smart gives far and away the best performance here. Whichever one of Smart or Bell (or defending winner Ayo Edebiri) wins here will probably have their season win Best Comedy Series.

Will Win - Adam Brody

Could Win - Jeremy Allen White

Should Win - Ted Danson

Adam Brody is unbelievably charming in Nobody Wants This, and I would argue he is the show's most likely win here. It is hard to see Nobody Wants This winning without Brody haivng a Globe in hand. Jeremy Allen White is great as always in The Bear, and he has won 2 Golden Globes for this role, but this category feels overdue for a new winner. The Bear's third season is also notably more dispassionate amongst critics and audiences than its first two, so it would be strange that an arguably dramatic performance would win another Golden Globe. Ted Danson is absolutely marvelous in The Man on the Inside and gives a performance equal in humor and heart, so I am holding out hope for him to win a prize somewhere.

Will Win - Jodie Foster

Could Win - Cristin Millioti

Should Win - Sofia Vergara

This category feels a bit open, so I am just defaulting to reigning Emmy winner in this category Jodie Foster. Cristin Millioti has a lot of passion from audiences for her role in The Penguin, so if she can translate that into a Golden Globe win here, an Emmy may be within her reach. Griselda is not very good, but Sofia Vergara is absolutely captivating in this transformative role. I just cannot see her winning for a performance that came out almost exactly one year ago.

Will Win - Richard Gadd

Could Win - Andrew Scott

Should Win - Richard Gadd

I just do not see how anyone could deliver a performance like Richard Gadd's monologue in Episode 6 of Baby Reindeer and lose an acting award. If Ripley or The Penguin upsets in Best Series, perhaps Andrew Scott or Colin Farrell win here as well. Nonetheless, I am quite confident that Gadd repeats his Emmy success with a Golden Globe win here.

Will Win - Jessica Gunning

Could Win - Allison Janney

Should Win - Hannah Einbinder

Jessica Gunning chews up every single scene she has in Baby Reindeer, simultaneously terrifying and oddly sympathetic. She was arguably the show's most "locked" Emmy win going in. I don't think her win is as secure this time around, though, since Allison Janney could very well win for her menacing presence in The Diplomat despite being eligible in Guest Actress. If she manages to snag the top prize here, I think there is a strong possibility she could win an Emmy in Supporting Actress — The White Lotus ladies be damned! Hannah Einbinder still not having any awards for her performance in Hacks is a crime, but I unfortunately do not think this trend breaks here.

Will Win - Ebon Moss-Bachrach

Could Win - Tadanobu Asano

Should Win - Tadanobu Asano

Ebon Moss-Bachrach has not won a Golden Globe for his fan favorite role in The Bear. Seeing as the show managed the most Golden Globe nominations out of any television series this year, I cannot confidently say it will go empty-handed. He doesn't have that much to do in The Bear Season 3, but this feels like the perfect opportunity to award someone who has been paid dust for a beloved role due to the unfortunate circumstance of competing against Matthew Macfadyen. Tadanobu Asano has much more to do in Shōgun and manages to make such a duplicitous character extremely enjoyable to watch. I am crossing my fingers that he can win for this role, but I am currently just playing it safe here.

Will Win - Nikki Glaser: Someday You'll Die

Could Win - Any of these?

Should Win - I have no idea

I watch a lot of television and a good number of films. I do not typically watch comedy specials unless they are by Bo Burnham. I'll predict Nikki Glaser since the last winner in this category had also hosted the Golden Globes. Any of these could win, though!