18 September 2017
Don’t miss these Emmy winners on Showmax
Did you know that the Emmy Awards take place over two weekends? First came the Creative Arts Emmys, awarding shows for, well, arty things like Production Design and Sound Editing (and also, mysteriously – to us, anyway – Guest Actor and Actress). The awards everyone was talking about took place last night (Sunday, 17 September). Known as the Primetime Emmy Awards, this is where the statuettes for the “big” awards like Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress were dished out.
On Showmax, you’ll find a number of series that took home both Creative Arts Emmys and Primetime Emmys, plus loads that were nominated for some of the biggest, most hyped awards. These are the shows you don’t want to miss.
HBO’s Big Little Lies
An addictive and suspense-filled series that reveals the dark underbelly that lies beneath the lives of three seemingly perfect moms and their perfect kids. Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman were both up for the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series, with Nicole Kidman taking the trophy, while Shailene Woodley went up against Emmy winner Laura Dern (she’s in the header image of this post – and is spectacular in the series) for the Supporting Actress award. Alexander Skarsgard won the Outstanding Supporting Actor award, and the series also took home the Emmys for Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series, Outstanding Casting, Music Supervision, and Contemporary Costumes. Watch now »
HBO’s Westworld
Where do you draw the line between life and artificial intelligence? Prepare to have your mind blown in this incredible and unnerving show about man versus the machines we build. The sci-fi series won Special Visual Effects, Hairstyling, Make-up, Sound Mixing, and Interactive Media Emmys, giving it an early lead with five awards already in the bag before the Primetime Emmys even took place. It was up for 22 Emmys in total, including for Outstanding Drama Series, for Evan Rachel Wood as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and for Thandie Newton as Outstanding Supporting Actress. Watch now »
HBO’s The Night Of
Riz Ahmed and his co-star John Turturro were both up for Outstanding Actor in a Limited Series this year, but Ahmed ended up taking the trophy. The early Emmy favourite also bagged four Creative Arts Emmys (for Single Camera Picture Editing, Cinematography, Sound Mixing and Sound Editing in a Limited Series) out of the 13 nominations it received. The gripping thriller is about a student called Naz (Ahmed) who goes to bed with a stranger and wakes up a few hours later to find her butchered in her bed. Turturro plays his lawyer who, despite all the evidence and the details that start emerging about who Naz really is, believes fiercely in his client’s innocence. Watch now »
HBO’s Veep
Seasons 1-6 of this hilarious comedy about ambitious, ruthless, bungling politician Selina Meyer are currently available on Showmax. The series was the favourite to scoop the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, which it did with Julia Louis-Dreyfuss taking the Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy for a record sixth time in a row. Her co-stars Anna Chlumsky, Tony Hale and Matt Walsh were all up for the Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor Emmys respectively, and the series also won the Emmys for Casting, Cinematography and Production Design. If you haven’t watched it yet, get cracking – Veep’s being hailed as the best comedy on TV at the moment. Watch now »
South Park
This adult animated comedy was up for the Emmy for Outstanding Animated Programme for the 16th time this year. Seasons 19, 20 and 21 are currently on Showmax, with Season 21 coming fresh from the US on Showmax in weekly episodes! There apparently won’t be as much political commentary in this season as there was in Seasons 19 and 20, and we’re promised many more moments of the elementary schoolers just being kids. But this is South Park we’re talking about – it’s bound to be as irreverent and relevant as ever. Watch now »
The Young Pope
In this miniseries that comes first and only to Showmax, you not only get to see Jude Law naked, but you also get a behind-the-scenes peek at the inner workings of the Vatican. The miniseries scored an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Production Design, so you know the sets are awesome, plus it also got an Emmy nod for its cinematography, and when you watch it, you’ll agree that it’s beautifully shot. The story is about Lenny Belardo (Law), the youngest Pope in history but also the first American pontiff. The Church thought he could be controlled. They thought wrong. Watch now »
Fargo
Winner of six Emmys to date, including this year’s award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, and too many nominations to count (including for Outstanding Limited Series, Limited Series Actress and Supporting Actor), this dark comedy is based on the Coen Brothers film of the same name. It’s full of suspense, is brilliantly written and will keep you hooked as the intricate plots unfolds in each self-contained season. Seasons 1 to 3 are on Showmax. Watch now »
Silicon Valley
Up for the Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series, Directing in a Comedy Series and Writing for a Comedy Series, among others, this 22-time Emmy nominee is a fan favourite, a comedy series about the super-nerds who are set to take Silicon Valley by storm with their dream of a successful start-up. Seasons 1 to 5 are on Showmax. Watch now »
HBO’s Girls
Riz Ahmed (yep, the lead in The Night Of) and Matthew Rhys were both up for their incredible performances as Guest Actors in a Comedy Series, while Becky Ann Baker got a nomination for the Guest Actress Emmy, for their roles in single episodes of Girls. Catch Seasons 1-5 of the almost-too-real comedy series about four flawed young women trying to find their way in New York on Showmax. Watch now »
Original African stories by local talent
Untying Kantai
Untying Kantai follows King Kantai, a man who has spent 30 years of his life working hard to provide for his family, only to be conned out of his life savings. Stream from 9 May, with new episodes weekly.
Big Girl Small World
Stream the new Kenyan romcom series Big Girl Small World from 8 May, with new episodes every week.
Empini S1
Stream the Showmax Original drama series Empini from 23 May 2024.
Original Sin: My Son The Killer
Original Sin: My Son The Killer follows the murder of Andrea Venter by Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren, who then went on the run from South Africa to Brazil.
Tracking Thabo Bester
From the makers of Devilsdorp and the director of Convict Conman comes the true-crime documentary South Africa has been waiting for. All the episodes are streaming on Showmax.
The Illuminated
The Showmax Original docuseries The Illuminated explores different religious movements in South Africa. All episodes now streaming.
Koek S1
The crime comedy Koek, starring Cindy Swanepoel. All the episodes are streaming on Showmax.
Ekhaya Backpackers S1
Stream the Showmax Original comedy series Ekhaya Backpackers. All the episodes are now streaming.
What will be the cost of vengeance? Empini S1, coming soon
The Roast Of Minnie Dlamini, now streaming
More Mzansi gold
9 most shocking moments in The Illuminated
Are you strong enough to binge Showmax Original documentary series The Illuminated? Here’s what you’ll need to prepare yourself.
Youngins Season 1 Episode 37-39 recap: Expelled!
While the five’s video goes viral, they’re swiftly expelled and forced to return home following a disciplinary hearing in Episodes 37-39 of Showmax Original Youngins.
What to watch on Showmax in May 2024
Stream Barbie and Oppenheimer in South Africa now, only on Showmax. Plus a ton more great stuff coming in May.
The Mommy Club Season 2 Episode 11 recap: Cutting through
In episode 11 of The Mommy Club S2, Hermajesty hosts a ‘Healing with Hermajesty’ night picnic that turns sour. New episodes every Monday.