‘We Were the Lucky Ones’ will bring Joey King back to the Emmys
Hulu’s new limited series “We Were the Lucky Ones” tells the heartbreaking story of a Polish Jewish family split up during WWII. Some go into hiding and others are forced into concentration camps. It then charts their post-war journey as the family attempts to reunite. Adapted from Georgia Hunter‘s 2017 book of the same name, it’s a tough watch but a vital one.
It is propelled to greatness thanks to wonderful performances from the extensive cast, led by Joey King as the youngest sibling, Halina who works as a lab assistant. Critics agree, King is in top form here.
Proma Khosla (Indie Wire) observed: “King stuns as the young Halina becomes skilled at lying, adapting, and running. It’s she who delivers one of the series’ most potent lines, when Halina faces separation from husband Adam (Sam Woolf) in later episodes: ‘I cannot bear not to know our children.'”
Aaron Pruner (The Wrap) stated: “As for standouts among the cast, King is the one to watch. She again proves herself as a powerhouse actress, delivering a knockout performance as Halina.”
Robert Daniels (Roger Ebert) opined: “King, in a more mature role than in her hit ‘Kissing Booth’ franchise, is a notable highlight. She never plays the character’s many tragedies too broad, retaining a difficult measure of grit and tenacity that rarely dims even as the odds grow bleak.”
As a result, King could be in contention for a second Emmy nomination for Best TV Movie/Limited Series Actress despite some tough competition this year from Oscar-winners Jodie Foster (“True Detective: Night Country”), Brie Larson (“Lessons in Chemistry”), and Kate Winslet (“The Regime”). King contended in this category in 2019 for “The Act,” however, so we already know that Emmy voters like her specifically in this category. That’s a big help.
King is also starring in a period drama, which is a great way for actresses to earn nominations in this category. Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Queen’s Gambit”), Cynthia Erivo (“Genius: Aretha”), Cate Blanchett (“Mrs. America”), Michelle Williams (“Fosse/Verdon”), and Michelle Dockery (“Godless”) all reaped bids for their leading roles in period dramas.
Plus, “We Were the Lucky Ones” is actually based on Hunter’s own ancestors so there is truth to this tale. True stories do well in this category, too, with the likes of Erivo, Blanchett, Williams, Jessica Chastain (“George & Tammy”), Sarah Paulson (“Impeachment: American Crime Story”), Lily James (“Pam & Tommy”), and Julia Garner (“Inventing Anna”) all earning citations for performances in limited series telling true stories.
King is likely still in that “afterglow” phase, too, wherein her first Emmy nomination cemented her in the minds of voters and she has remained there since. Plenty of actresses have earned follow-up nominations soon after their first bids, such as Margaret Qualley (“Fosse/Verdon”/”Maid”), Kathryn Hahn (“Transparent”/”WandaVision”/”Tiny Beautiful Things”), and Kerry Washington (“Scandal”/”Confirmation”/”Little Fires Everywhere”).
King is also a up-and-coming star. This profile of performer does well in this category, with similar nominees Taylor-Joy, James, Garner, Qualley, Riley Keough (“Daisy Jones & the Six”), Dominque Fishback (“Swarm”), and Lizzy Caplan (“Fleishman is in Trouble”).
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