(CNN) The problem with saying who should win at the Emmys is that such choices inevitably come at the expense of someone else, who often will, and is just as deserving.

Still, having watched more of the nominees than is probably healthy, here's one ballot covering key categories and preferences among the 26 awards slated to be handed out during Monday night's ceremony, which will be televised live on NBC:

Elisabeth Moss in 'The Handmaid's Tale'

Best drama: This really feels like a two-horse race between "Game of Thrones" and "The Handmaid's Tale," and frankly, either one would be fine. Still, the Hulu series pulled off an extremely strong second season while operating largely without the benefit of Margaret Atwood's book, which is no small feat. Besides, "Thrones" can still nab a final Emmy for its upcoming swan-song season, which would bring an appropriate note of closure for what has been the most cinematic exercise ever mounted for TV.

Henry Winkler, Bill Hader in 'Barry'

Best comedy: "Atlanta's" second season wasn't quite as good as its first, while "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" felt a bit less marvelous than its Golden Globe victory would suggest. Surveying the rest of the field, that leaves "Barry," an HBO show that took what seemed like a silly premise -- hitman decides he wants to become an actor -- and turned it into one of the most unexpectedly satisfying shows on TV.

Jeff Daniels in 'Godless'

Limited series: was very good, but the latest iteration of the "American Crime Story" franchise didn't match the first edition devoted to O.J. Simpson's trial. There's a stronger case to be made for "Godless," a brutal, beautifully shot and cast Netflix western, which offered a reminder as to why that underappreciated genre once dominated television. "The Assassination of Gianni Versace" was very good, but the latest iteration of the "American Crime Story" franchise didn't match the first edition devoted to O.J. Simpson's trial. There's a stronger case to be made for "Godless," a brutal, beautifully shot and cast Netflix western, which offered a reminder as to why that underappreciated genre once dominated television.

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