My 2014 Emmy Award Analysis - Drama

Best Drama Series

Nominees:

Breaking Bad - The final season of this show was absolutely incredible. Some of the best television ever. It backed itself into a corner slightly with the flash forwards, and most people correctly guessed how it was going to end, but that didn't matter. It was a great ride, putting it's foot down on the gas, never relenting, and a truly fitting end.

Downton Abbey - This show has lost some (most?) of the sizzle that it had when it first started. There is no doubt that it is good television, but I don't enjoy watching it anymore, and I could name several shows that deserve this spot more than this show.

Game of Thrones - Maybe the most popular show on television, with maybe the most die hard fans. I'm not one of those people. I think the show has flaws. But, that being said, I think this season was the best so far, and it definitely reached new creative levels. Not really a true contender this year, but i can absolutely see it winning this award within the next few years.

House of Cards - I'm not a fan of fourth wall breaking as a technique, here or anywhere else, so that immediately knocks this show down a notch for me. However, the second season uses this technique much less often than the first season does, which is one of the reason I think the second season is superior. It weaved together the threads very well, always delivering.

Mad Men - Another waning show, probably past its prime, but that isn't to say it's still not better than most shows currently on television. However, it's won this award four times, tied for the record for a drama series, so you cannot dismiss it's chances.

True Detective - What a fantastic show. The pacing, the atmosphere, the characters, the acting. Everything just worked with this show. With that being said, I feel like the show picked up too much speed in the last episode and would have benefited from having at least one more episode. However, it definitely delivered and was a remarkable viewing experience.

Who will win - Breaking Bad. It won last year for the first half of the 5th season, partly helped by the fact the the second half of the 5th season was airing at the tie of the voting. That fact, added to the fact voters will want to honor the final season of this great show, not to mention it was actually really good, makes this an easy winner.

Who should win - Breaking Bad. Those final four episodes were as good a stretch of television as you will ever see.

Darkhorse - Mad Men. Like I said, you can never count this show out. Emmy voters are known for being lazy and voting for previous winners often.

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Nominees:

Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad - What more can be said about this performance that hasn't already been said? So many great moments, so many great scenes.

Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom - Last year's surprise winner. A big surprise. I don't think anyone believes he can win this again. He doesn't have that big speech moment here and add that to the second season not being as good as the first, he's not a true contender.

Jon Hamm, Mad Men - Steady as rock Jon Hamm as Don Draper. He doesn't have the flash the other nominees have, instead he builds a subtle performance over the course the season. I really enjoy watching him in this role.

Woody Harrelson, True Detective - Saying he plays well off of Matthew McConaughey doesn't do him any justice at all. He's the one who had to be the rock, has to be the grounded one, has to be the voice of reason. Sometimes this is the more challenge performance to handle, and handle it he does.

Matthew McConaughey, True Detective - With all of the above being said about Woody Harrelson, McConaughey is fantastic here. Stretching this role over the time period, playing it the different ways he does, having this looming presence over everything. Amazing.

Kevin Spacey, House of Cards - His charm and charisma completely make this role, and without both, character has the potential for disaster. For that reason, I can't say enough about performance.

Who will win - Matthew McConaughey. This guy might be the biggest star on the planet right now, and the Emmy love to have star power. Being able to give this man an Emmy in the same year as he won a Golden Globe and an Oscar is too much for Emmy voters to resist.

Who should win - Bryan Cranston. "Tread lightly." "I've still got things left to do." So many great moments. He embodied this great character for so long and he never did it better than this final season.

Darkhorse - Jon Hamm. He has to win eventually right? He's been so great for so long on such a great show. That being said, he has no chance this year. It relly is a two person race between Cranston and McConaughey.

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Nominees:

Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex - I will admit that I have never watched this show.

Claire Danes, Homeland - The third season was a bit of a let down, but Danes performance was every bit as good as the first two seasons. Should she really be penalized?

Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey - Does anyone think she has any chance here? Didn't think so, but that isn't to say she doesn't give a fine performance.

Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife - This might have been the best season to date of this show. No one can deny how good she is in this role. Top notch all the way.

Kerry Washington, Scandal - Again, I will admit that I have never watched this show.

Robin Wright, House of Cards - I'm not certain that she belongs in the Lead Actress category. None of the story really revolves around her, and story really only serves to advance the stories arches of the characters around her. However, she plays it well, the soft, gentle person standing beside the loud attention grabbing people.

Who will win - Robin Wright. She's the biggest star in this category, and as I've said before, you can never discount that at the Emmy's. Also, I don't see this show getting shut out of the major awards, so handing the award to Wright is where the show will get it's recognition.

Who should win - Julianna Margulies. A previous winner who is better now then she was when she won the award two years ago, when the show is better now then it was before. That's a winner right there.

Darkhorse - Claire Danes. Can the two time defending winner be considered a darkhorse? It seems like she as a very slim chance of winning this year, but as always, you can't ignore the lazyness of Emmy voters.

Directing for a Drama Series

Nominees:

Boardwalk Empire, "Farewell Daddy Blues," - This is a really solid episode. It's not explosive like some of the other's of this show, but it closes threads off while opening up others very well. Just solid.

Breaking Bad, "Felina," - I'm a little surprised this is the episode that got nominated. It was a little predictable because of where the story was going, but that didn't mean it wasn't interesting. A great wrap up to this series.

Downton Abbey, "Epsiode 1," - Whatever.

Game of Thrones, "Watchers on the Wall," - The intensity brought in this episode was remarkable. Piecing together this battle from all sides was a big feat, and it worked.

House of Cards, "Chapter 14," - This episode is pitch perfect. It really is fantastic. It sets up the atmosphere for the season to follow, giving us the pacing and the tone that we need.

True Detective, "Who Goes There," - Everybody is going to talk about the final tracking shot, where McConaughey goes Rambo in the neighborhood, and rightfully so. However, there is much more to this episode than that. Everything in this episode works.

Who will win - True Detective. An award like this shouldn't be based on six minutes of an episode, but most of the voters wont be able to resist.

Who should win - True Detective. Six minutes shouldn't be what wins an award, but what a great six minutes.

Darkhorse - Boardwalk Empire. Don't forget that Boardwalk Empire won this award for each of it's first two seasons. That means something.

Writing for a Drama Series

Nominees:

Breaking Bad, "Felina," - The final episode. As I've said before, this episode is predictable, but there are really good moments here.

Breaking Bad, "Ozymandias," - For my money this is one of the greatest episodes of television ever. Plain and simple. Every moment of this episode is first rate, intense, and in the pocket. It just works.

Game of Thrones, "The Children," - I have a problem giving a writing award to an episode that cobbles together bits and pieces of story from different places that has no real, true flow to it, which I feel is what the majority of this shows episodes do. But, there is a strong thematic connection here which works well.

House of Cards, "Chapter 14," - I'm slightly surprised that this episode is the one nominated for writing instead of the season finale, which I feel is the better overall episode, and in terms of story. That being said, the story here picks up right where we left off, and delivers some shocking moments to let us know what to expect, or not to expect.

True Detective, "The Secret Fate of All Life," - Piecing together the aftermath of raid, life moving on, realizing you've made a mistake, and then trying to fix it. This is life, characters, and its brilliant.

Who will win - Breaking Bad, "Ozymandias." It's tough to beat one of the greatest episodes of television of all time. Masterfully constructed and executed.

Who should win - Breaking Bad, Ozymandias."

Darkhorse - Game of Thrones.

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Nominees:

Jim Carter, Downton Abbey - I don't really have anything to say about this, other than he can't win.

Josh Charles, The Good Wife - This guy is so underrated here. Steady as a rock, dependable as ever. Really good.

Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones - This guy is a star, and this season belonged to him. Tryion Lannister, the best character on television? Maybe. We all know the moment, and how good was it? Fantastic.

Mandy Patinkin, Homeland - His role got bigger this season, and this veteran was better because of it. Again, should be be penalized for the show having a down season?

Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad - Jesse Pinkman. No "Yeah bitches" anymore. Some real emotion here from all the trauma Jesse suffered. It comes out so well in this performance. So well.

Jon Voight, Ray Donovan - This show sucks. I can't watch it, but he's good, I guess.

Who will win - Aaron Paul. A third win for Paul to go with three wins for Cranston. It seems fitting. Also, big honors should be coming to this show in its final season.

Who should win - Peter Dinklage. This was the best season of this show yet, and he was right at the center of it. Tyrion's trial and confession is one of those moments that you look for, and it's right there.

Darkhorse - Josh Charles. This guy was really good in his final season on the show, the show's best, maybe because of him.

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Nominees:

Christine Baranski, The Good Wife - She might be the best character on this show. She is probably the reason I keep watching this show.

Joanne Froggat, Downton Abbey - I'm through with Downton Abbey. There is good acting there, but no ones going to win for it anymore.

Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad - A surprise winner last year when I thought she really didn't deserve it. This year however, she absolutely deserves it. Her final two confrontations with with Walter are must see television, and she goes toe to toe with him never backing down.

Lena Headey, Game of Thrones - This is a surprise nomination. She doesn't really have the presence needed to win this year, but knowing what's coming up for Cersei, a win could very well be in her future.

Christina Hendricks, Mad Men - If she hasn't won by now, she's not going to.

Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey - She what I said above about Downton Abbey.

Who will win - Anna Gunn. Toe to toe with the best actor on television and matching him is a recipe for winning. It doesn't hurt that she is the reigning winner.

Who should win - Anna Gunn.

Darkhorse - Christine Baranski. Why not?