Emmys 2023: Supporting Actor In A Drama Series — Our Dream Nominees!

Succession's Matthew Macfadyen won this category last year and he's the odds-on favorite to take home the gold again, especially now that his biggest competition — co-star Kieran Culkin — has graduated from supporting to lead.

Speaking of Culkin's big move, his absence — and the ineligibility of so many of last year's contenders (four from MIA-in-'23 Severance and Squid Game, alone) — opens the door to an infusion of new blood among nominees. Who will fill the void? Better yet, who should?

Scroll through the list below to review all of our Dream Nominees (remember, these aren't predictions; they're wish lists) 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, 2023 Emmy nominations will be voted on from June 15-26, and unveiled on July 12. The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled to air on Monday, Sept. 18 on Fox.

Scroll down for links to our previous Dream Emmy categories:

🏆 Outstanding Drama Series — Our Dream Nominees
🏆 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series — Our Dream Nominees
🏆 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series — Our Dream Nominees
🏆 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series — Our Dream Nominees

WHY HE DESERVES A NOD: The Homicide and Brooklyn Nine-Nine vet, whose awards chest already includes two Emmys, super-charged the Good Wife spinoff's final season as the firm's flamboyant new partner Ri'Chard Lane. And while it was a delight watching Braugher chew through the legal drama's elegant scenery, we were just as transfixed when he dialed back his outsized character's bluster to show us the vulnerable human being behind the egotistical showman.

WHY HE DESERVES A NOD: Córdova's effortless athleticism and magnetic presence as the wood elf Arondir made him an early standout amongst the Prime Video series' stacked ensemble. Arondir's ferocious spirit while battling it out against Sauron's forces — employing exciting acrobatic moves in the process — was compelling to watch. But it was the poignant stoicism that Córdova brought to the character in quieter moments, like that solemn atonement before cutting down a tree in Episode 3, that had us firmly rooted in his corner.

WHY HE DESERVES A NOD: As much as we appreciated Luke's restraint, particularly when it served as a foil to his vengeance-seeking wife, we were all in this season as June's husband reached his limit — mainly because it gave Fagbenle so much great material to play! He took Luke's long-standing, though newly admitted, bloodlust from a spark to a conflagration by the end of the season, his new angle on the character an engrossing one. One of our favorite moments, out of a season of many, came in Episode 4 during Luke's showdown with Serena. Fagbenle dazzled as Luke's feigned calm disintegrated, replaced by murderous rage in the space of a few minutes.

WHY HE DESERVES A NOD: Leung crafted a character we'd never want to cross, but would definitely want in our corner. In Season 2 of the HBO series, the actor again delivered unwavering bravado, as Eric Tao blackmailed his way to creating a new division for his team. Leung effortlessly pivoted from going for the jugular to a quiet calm that caught us off guard as Harper once again sought advice after making a critical error. The actor fully embodied the savage financier's rough edges and towering ambition, not only demanding our attention, but stealing every scene he was in.

WHY HE DESERVES A NOD: Tom's lofty ambitions for money and power began to slip through his grasp in Succession's final season, and Macfadyen managed to be both poignant and hilarious as Tom flailed wildly to hang onto them (successfully, in the end). Between his rapidly deteriorating marriage to Shiv, the death of his father-in-law Logan and a contentious presidential election, Tom was under a lot of pressure this season, and as he faltered, Macfadyen shined, especially when Tom and Shiv unloaded years of emotional baggage on each other in a brutally vicious argument. Tom was still a reliable punchline, but Macfadyen made sure we felt for the big dope, too.

WHY HE DESERVES A NOD: Skarsgård instantly engaged us as Luthen Rael, starting with the resistance leader's first meet-up with Cassian. What set out to be a simple barter session instead segued into a recruitment session of sorts, as Luthen eyed something unique in the Ferrix thief. Subsequently, Luthen's formidability was underscored when he forced "Clem" onto Vel's Aldhani team, and Skarsgård's tone made clear that it was his way or the space highway. But when Luthen, to covertly conspire with Mon Mothma, adopted the persona of a colorful gift shop curator? That's when it became clear Skarsgård was doing something extra-special on the Star Wars espionage drama.

WHY HE DESERVES A NOD: Attack by a jaguar. Attack by an elephant. Attack by lions. Boat wreck at sea. Manslaughter. The sum of these events make for a credulity-testing amount of misfortune for one character (in one season!), but we happily suspended disbelief while watching the Yellowstone prequel because Sklenar was so captivating in the role of Spencer. His take on the Duttons' overseas nephew simmered with the pain of the trauma he'd endured in World War I and burned with the intensity of his love for Alexandra, both juxtaposed with a deadpan sensibility that provided some of the highly dramatic series' lightest moments. Bottom line: Sklenar can do it all.