Genre Is Television

Geek culture isn’t fringe. It’s not a niche. It’s not a side-show to “real” television. It is television.

Just look at this year’s Emmy nominations tally:

• Severance: 27
• The Penguin: 24
• The Last of Us: 16
• Andor: 14, including Outstanding Drama Series

Let that sink in: a Star Wars series is nominated for Outstanding Drama Series—the category usually reserved for shows like The Sopranos and Succession.

As someone who grew up watching Star Wars and reading Isaac Asimov, this feels like more than a milestone. It’s a huge cultural shift.

Genre is everywhere: Black Mirror, The Boys, House of the Dragon and What We Do in the Shadows. These shows are what people are talking about at the office and at dinner parties. This is where some of the most ambitious storytelling is happening: rich in ideas, character and craft.

Behind the screen are thousands of people pushing boundaries in production design, visual effects, sound, editing, costume, music and writing. A huge congratulations to everyone working on the nominated shows. We all know what it takes to bring these incredible worlds to life. The recognition is well deserved.