Here’s Why I’m Excited About Hiro Murai’s Emmy Win For Widow’s Bay

I have a bad habit. Every year I watch the Emmys knowing I’m going to get frustrated with the awards, and every year I end up feeling the exact same way.

While the ceremony itself was surprisingly bearable this year (last year’s charity countdown timer was a total disaster), I was shocked by the overwhelming lack of diversity among the winners.

This year, not a single actor of color won in any of the 12 leading and supporting categories.

Ever since the #OscarsSoWhite campaign, it’s become increasingly clear that film and TV awards shows often fail to platform actors and creatives of color.

And it’s not that diverse shows aren’t getting recognized in the nominations. Abbott Elementary and Paradise, both Black-led TV series, scored multiple nominations in the comedy and drama categories, respectively.

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But the win rate is drastically low for people of color, and this year’s Emmys made that startlingly obvious.

Part of the problem is that many series tend to win multiple awards in the same category.

The Pitt took home a ton of non-acting Emmys in the drama category, but its diverse cast was shut out. Plus, some of its key supporting actresses of color, such as Isa Briones and Supriya Ganesh, didn’t even score nominations.

In comedy, Widow’s Bay, a primarily white-led cast, won big, and I was pleasantly surprised by one of its wins: best directing for a comedy series.

The award went to Hiro Murai, a Japanese filmmaker. His win marks the first time an Asian filmmaker has won in his category and the third time an Asian director has won, with the last time being Lee Sung Jin for Beef in 2023.

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Recent years have seen more recognition for shows created and led by Asian Americans and Asians, such as Shogun‘s monumental wins in 2024.

I’m always happy to see an Asian filmmaker win, but I’m especially happy about Hiro Murai’s win.

Before Widow’s Bay, he directed several of my favorite series, including Atlanta, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Snowfall, and Barry. He was also an executive producer for The Bear.

These shows stand out because of their innovative take on comedy and experimenting with the bounds of what’s considered funny and what we should take seriously.

This sentiment is especially true for Atlanta, Snowfall, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, series led by actors of color that critically interrogate race in America.

I’ve always admired Murai’s directing style and his eye for leaning into the absurd without losing any grounding.

In fact, learning he worked on Widow’s Bay is why I started watching the show (though I will admit, I’m always a sucker for comedy-horror series).

Widow’s Bay fits right in with Murai’s portfolio, and his directing style suits the show’s mix of humor and supernatural twists.

I’ll give credit to the writers for crafting an engaging story, but Murai’s directing undoubtedly played a pivotal role in developing the Apple TV series’ distinct visual aesthetic.

With this win in his back pocket, I’m hopeful that Murai will return to direct Season 2 of the show and that this Emmy will open up more opportunities for him.

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Still, this one win was basically the only highlight for me.

Sure, I cheered for Jean Smart winning again for the final season of Hacks, but I was mostly disappointed by how few wins went to creatives and actors of color.

Murai’s win marks an important moment in Emmy’s history, but one win isn’t enough to illustrate wider change. It’s absolutely shameful that the Academy did not award any Black and brown creatives and actors in the main ceremony.

I always hope the industry will wake up to the bleak reality of how often the Emmys shut out diverse voices, but year after year, the change feels incremental.

So, instead of focusing on the negatives, I try to celebrate when people of color get a rare chance in the spotlight.

Murai’s win is certainly a step in the right direction, but there’s always more work to be done.

What did you think of this year’s Emmys?

Did any of the shows you were rooting for win? What were your personal highlights (or eye-roll moments) of the show?

Comment your hot takes below!