The nominations for this year’s Emmy Awards were announced today and it’s safe to say there are a few predictable nominations as well as a few surprises. Firm favourite Game of Thrones received the most nominations with 19 nods. Overall, HBO was the network which received an astounding 90 nominations. Netflix also received 30 nominations, with Orange Is The New Black’receiving 12 of those.
With the fourth series being the darkest and grittiest yet, it is unsurprising that Game of Thrones is the most nominated show. Although it is one of my personal favourites, I believe Breaking Bad may just get the ‘Best Drama Series’ award, just because it was epic and it has come to the end of its run. That being said, although I love Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman, if Peter Dinklage doesn’t win for ‘Supporting Actor in a Drama’, I may actually erupt in a fit of anger. His portrayal of fan favourite Tyrion was astounding and the last time his acting was that on point, he won the award so let’s see if he can repeat history. Lena Headey has finally been nominated for her turn as Cersei and it was unsurprising as she went through more than most of the characters in the whole series. Although she is hugely deserving of the nomination, I think Anna Gunn may make a consecutive win for her portrayal of Skylar White, joining Bryan Cranston who I believe will win over popular choice Kevin Spacey for his dark portrayal of infamous meth lord Walter White.
My other favourite of this year Orange Is The New Black has also swept the awards categories in the Comedy section. With the show itself being up against previous winners Modern Family, as well as critically acclaimed Veep and Louie and the now overrated The Big Bang Theory, it has a great chance of winning the big award. Taylor Schilling is up for her portrayal of protagonist Piper Chapman, but is up against huge comedy stars like serial-nominee Amy Poehler for Parks and Recreation and Girls creator Lena Dunham, so it will be a tough contest. Mindy Kaling was robbed of a nomination in this category, as The Mindy Project is one of the wittiest female-fronted comedies to come out of America.
Kate Mulgrew has to win for Supporting Actress, as she is the actress with the biggest range and Red’s backstory was one of the best acted in the whole show. Three of the show’s biggest names have been nominated for ‘Guest Actress in a Comedy Series’: Natasha Lyonne for the interpretation of the brash Nicky, Laverne Cox for her performance as transsexual hairdresser Sophia and Uzo Aduba for the incredible child-like performance of Suzanne aka Crazy Eyes, the latter I believe will win the award. If any of these incredible women win the award, it will be great for Netflix, as would any wins for fellow Netflix great House of Cards.
This year seems to be the year for Martin Freeman with two of his heavyweight shows being nominated, with him being nominated for his acting in both. Sherlock: His Last Vow was one of the most gripping TV moments of the last year and Fargo was one of the most anticipated new series and my most surprising TV pleasure. He is up against Fargo co-star Billy Bob Thornton and Sherlock co-star Benedict Cumberbatch, as well as Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mark Ruffalo and Idris Elba for ‘Lead Actor in a Mini-series or Movie’, which should go to Thornton, as he played twisted Lorne Malvo to perfection. Unfortunately, Freeman has an equally harder challenge with ‘Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie’ with him being nominated for his performance as everyone’s favourite sidekick John Watson, but he is up against the popular The Normal Heart with four of the actors being nominated: Alfred Molina, Joe Mantello, Big Bang’s Jim Parsons and White Collar’s Matt Bomer ; as well as Fargo co-star Colin Hanks. I would love Freeman to win this but I think it will most likely be one of The Normal Heart stars, preferably Matt Bomer.
This year, the shows nominated have a huge array of talent and diversity, yet it’s obvious not all of the deserving actors will win. It could be the case that Game of Thrones and Orange is the New Black will sweep the board, but it will more than likely be that Veep will do it again.