Emmys 2021: Outstanding Drama Series — Our 7 Dream Nominees!

TVLine's annual advocacy period known as Dream Emmy season has arrived! As per tradition, we're kicking things off with the Outstanding Drama Series race and this burning question: Are the Royals unbeatable?

Without question, Netflix's The Crown — riding a wave of well-deserved acclaim for its Charles and Diana-themed fourth season — is not only a shoo-in for a nomination but the odds-on favorite to take home the top drama prize (especially considering last year's victor, HBO's Succession, is not in the running this year). And, for our money, the sumptuous period drama should be among the seven series in contention.

Scroll through the list below to see which series are joining The Crown on our Dream Emmy short list (remember, these aren't predictions; it's a wish list) and then tell us if our picks warrant a "Hell, yes!," "Um, no" or "How could you leave off so-and-so?!"For the record, 2021 Emmy nominations will be voted on from June 17-28, and unveiled on July 13. The 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled to air on Sunday, Sept. 19 on CBS.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Amazon Prime's gritty superhero series truly came into its own in Season 2 as the storytelling took political and social commentary to the next level. With the introduction of a social media-savvy Nazi supe, the comic book tale evolved into an eerily prescient reflection on our own society — but with super abilities. At the same time, The Boys never lost its twisted sense of humor or gruff heart, even under the weight of its heavy themes, making for a smart, thrilling sophomore run.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Sexy and sumptuous, Shonda Rhimes' first scripted Netflix series never failed to leave viewers as hungry for more of it as its tempestuous lovers were for more of each other. But what catapulted the period drama into the category of "incomparable" wasn't merely that it was pretty and hot. Its writing was saber-sharp, its acting as thrilling as its central romance, and its racially integrated reimagining of Regency-era London as bold and brilliant as any of Queen Charlotte's wigs.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Season 4 of Netflix's addictive royal drama was actually its most consistently compelling season yet, thanks to a pair of towering performances. A nearly unrecognizable Gillian Anderson wowed us with her uncanny portrayal of embattled U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, revealing the wounded soul behind the Iron Lady. But the true standout was Emma Corrin's heart-wrenching turn as Princess Diana, whose volatile courtship with Josh O'Connor's Prince Charles gave The Crown a jagged dose of reality to cut through all the pomp and glamour.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: The Apple TV+ gem is a veritable jack of all trades — and a master of them all. Equal parts political thriller, sci-fi adventure, horror show, family drama and love story, the alternate universe astronaut series not only defied the dreaded sophomore slump gravitational pull in its second season, but it exceeded the incredibly high bar set by Season 1. Apologies for the ubiquitous pun, but the show is out of this world.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: The debut season of HBO's workplace drama hooked us with its delicious blend of high-stakes financial crises and soapy indulgences. The young, diverse cast was a breath of fresh air as a group of graduates wheeling and dealing in messy office politics and savage betrayals, all in hopes of securing their desks at an international investment bank. Seeing them navigate romance, drugs and unrelenting stress in such a taxing, toxic environment was one roller coaster of a watch — and we didn't want to get off the ride.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Not one to rest on the laurels of the adorable meme that is The Child, Season 2 of Disney+'s flagship series served up indelible imagery (the skittering ice spiders still give us chills!), perfectly brought Ahsoka Tano and other animated canon to life, and to cap a thrilling finale, lifted the hood on one of the small screen's best-kept secrets ever. This is the way... you follow up a freshman run.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Snowfall's thoughtful writers, and the actors who bring their words to life, brought even higher stakes and authenticity to the FX drama in Season 4. From humanizing crack addiction to tracking how the accidental shooting death of a child rips apart not only the victim's family but her shooter's, Snowfall dug deep beneath the glamour of crack slinging to expose the relatable aspirations, hypocrisies and fears of the buyers, sellers, CIA suppliers and everyone in between.