With less than two weeks until Emmy night its time to take a look at my predictions for arguably the most prestigious awards for the night: the drama category. Spoiler Alert: its gonna get a little repetitive.
Note: As always, when I say “Will Win” it I am basing it on the current odds and buzz and when I say “Should Win” I am basing it on my own personal and deeply biased opinion.
Outstanding Drama Series
Breaking Bad, AMC
Downton Abbey, PBS
House Of Cards, Netflix
Mad Men, AMC
True Detective, HBO
What Should Win: Breaking Bad
What Will Win: Breaking Bad
Yes, True Detective has a whole bunch of buzz and it’s been over a year since Breaking Bad aired its final episodes. And yes, the Emmy voting body can be a fickle lover, but Breaking Bad was too damn good for any of these other shows to dull its memory. Especially True Detective.
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Kevin Spacey, House Of Cards
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
Woody Harrelson, True Detective
Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
Who Should Win: Bryan Cranston
Who Will Win: Bryan Cranston
Ok, the odds are currently favoring McConaughey because apparently the ability to star in a few quality pieces after a career of mediocrity is endlessly impressive to show biz folk, but I refuse, REFUSE to believe that Bryan Cranston will get overlooked for his work in the final eight episodes of Breaking Bad. McConaughey was good (though still not as good as Jon Hamm, Kevin Spacey or even Woody Harrelson), but anyone who thinks his performance comes close to Bryan Cranston’s is delusional.
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Claire Danes, Homeland
Robin Wright, House Of Cards
Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex
Kerry Washington, Scandal
Who Should Win: Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Who Will Win: Robin Wright
Tatiana Maslany should win hands down for her work as nine different, freaking characters on Orphan Black, but Emmy voter hear the words “sci-fi” and “BBC” and immediately change the channel. It’s also a damn shame that Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men) was ignored for one of her best seasons of work. But there’s no sense in crying over the non-nominated, so lets give it to Robin Wright because she told a woman “I will let your baby wither and die inside of you” and made us love her for it.
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
Peter Dinklage, Game Of Thrones
Josh Charles, The Good Wife
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan
Who Should Win: Aaron Paul
Who Will Win: Aaron Paul
Breaking Bad’s final season was epic and everyone involved gave the most intense performances of their careers. The only sad part of their inevitable sweep is that everyone involved, from Dean Norris down to the craft service providers, won’t get their due recognition. But Aaron Paul will, because his was perhaps the most intense and epic of all.
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
Lena Headey, Game Of Thrones
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Who Should Win: Anna Gunn
Who Will Win: Anna Gunn
See above.
Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series
Breaking Bad, “Ozymandias”
Breaking Bad, “Felina”
Game Of Thrones, “The Children”
House Of Cards, “Chapter 14”
True Detective, “The Secret Fate Of All Of Life”
What Should Win: Breaking Bad, “Ozymandias”
What Will Win: Breaking Bad, “Ozymandias”
I know reading me go on about the perfection of Breaking Bad is getting old, so I’ll keep this as brief as possible. “Ozymandias” is one of best, if not the best, episodes of television ever. When writing my recaps I usually try to watch an episode twice, if not three times, but “Ozymandias” was so gut wrenchingly powerful it was the first time I physically could not watch it again without some time to process it first.
Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire, “Farewell Daddy Blues”
Breaking Bad, “Felina”
Downton Abbey, “Episode 1”
Game Of Thrones, “The Watchers On The Wall”
House Of Cards, “Chapter 14”
True Detective, “Who Goes There”
What Should Win: Breaking Bad, “Felina”
What Will Win: Breaking Bad, “Felina”
I don’t know if you’ve caught on, but I’m predicting this to be the year of Breaking Bad, so how could its final episode ever not win? It couldn’t.
I’m clearly leaning towards Breaking Bad come Emmy night, but there are just as many people predicting a True Detective sweep. Only time will tell. Though truthfully, I’m just biding my time until next year when Mad Men’s final season finally gets that show and its actors the recognition its been lacking. At least it better.
To complete your own ballot, check out my predictions for reality and variety; TV movie and miniseries and comedy! And to get the full Couple of Critics experience listen to the podcast below.
*The 66th Emmy Awards will air Monday, August 25 at 8/7c on NBC.
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Filed under: Awards
Tags: Emmys, Predictions
