Emmys 2022: Outstanding Limited Series — Our Dream Nominees!

Exacerbated by an 11th hour blitz that saw dozens of high-profile miniseries squeak in before Emmy's eligibility deadline (see also: Starz's Gaslit, HBO Max's The Staircase, Hulu's Candy, FX's Under the Banner of Heaven, etc.) this year's Outstanding Limited Series field is so congested it would make the 405 at rush hour blush (that one's for our L.A. readers).

How can any one project hope to break through the unprecedented clutter? We've got two words for ya: Dream Emmys!

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 such-and-such?!"For the record, 2022 Emmy nominations will be voted on from June 16-27, and unveiled on July 12. The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled to air on Monday, Sept. 12 on NBC.

Scroll down for links to our previous Dream Emmy categories:

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

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: The Yellowstone prequel, set on the post-Civil War Oregon Trail, followed John Dutton's family as they set out for a better life on the West Coast. The vistas were breathtaking and the story even more so: A strong cast led by Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Isabel May truly brought home the harsh realities of life in the unforgiving American Plains. Far more than Little House on the Prairie with F-bombs (though it was that, too), Taylor Sheridan's latest chapter of the Dutton family saga was a moving tribute to the twist of fate that brought John's forebears to Montana.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Hulu's drama deftly humanized addiction by focusing on the residents of a fictional Appalachian town ravaged by opioid abuse, including Dr. Samuel Finnix (a stellar Michael Keaton) and his patient Betsy (the always-wonderful Kaitlyn Dever). Finnix prescribed OxyContin to ease the discomfort of local coal miners when a Purdue Pharma rep lied about the "miracle painkiller" hooking less than 1 percent of its users. Unfortunately, Betsy and Finnix both became addicted, and the series was unflinchingly, brutally honest in its portrayal of their struggles.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Based on the Walter Mosley novel of the same name, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey captivated as it followed a loquacious nonagenarian (Samuel L. Jackson) who temporarily overcame dementia through an enigmatic doctor's (Walton Goggins) experimental cure. Jackson doubled as an executive producer and truly shined as Ptolemy, delivering what was arguably one of his strongest and most charming performances in years. The Deuce's Dominique Fishback also lit up the screen as Ptolemy's trusted teenage caregiver, Robyn, and proved she can more than hold her own opposite an icon.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: If you still haven't watched Season 2 of Love Life, remedy this oversight as soon as possible. HBO Max's dramatic rom-com kicked off in late 2021 with a new and relatable protagonist in Marcus Watkins, played with emotional intelligence and depth by The Good Place's William Jackson Harper. By switching the lead from Anna Kendrick's Darby to Marcus, the series' creator and writers boldly tackled race, class and gender politics. Best of all, it was a sexy, will-they-or-won't-they kind of courtship, enhanced by the engrossing and indisputable chemistry between Harper and Jessica Williams as Mia.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Netflix's Maid presented a rarely seen perspective on domestic violence by showing a woman who had to leave multiple times before finally breaking free. Instead of using his fists, Sean, a struggling alcoholic, beat down Alex (an impressive Margaret Qualley) with words and emotional manipulation that drained her into submission, until Alex grabbed their daughter Maddy and made a run for it. Alex never stopped trying to achieve a better life, and the show's nuanced depiction of navigating an abusive relationship made us cheer for her victories even more.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: It was quite a thing to, in the year 2021, spin a yarn about the frightful onset of a viral pandemic and its world-changing aftermath. And yet showrunner Patrick Somerville adapted Emily St. John Mandel's 2014 novel in such a way that a throughline of hope ran across it, as orphaned Kirsten found her place among a traveling theater troupe, her accidental caretaker Jeevan realized his purpose as an ersatz doctor, and quarantined shipping exec Miranda quietly saved many lives. A stellar cast, led by Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, Danielle Deadwyler and Caitlin FitzGerald, made this pandemic tale a must-watch.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Set at a high-end Hawaiian resort catering to the ultra-wealthy, Mike White's delectable HBO dramedy took delight in skewering the guests' obnoxious level of privilege. But White didn't just poke fun: He also dug deep, exposing the insecurities and anxieties of guests and staff alike and finding real insight in their petty problems. The ensemble was strong throughout, but Jennifer Coolidge absolutely stole the show with an instant-classic performance as hot-mess socialite Tanya McQuoid.