Losing interest in American Horror Story

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS

American Horror Story: Freak Show now has just 5 episodes left of its 13 episode season and I wish I could say I was looking forward to it, but I'm not. I'm shocked by just how much I've lost interest because the season got off to a pretty solid start.

I was excited for Freakshow going into it. It brought back a bunch of great actors (Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett), added in Michael Chiklis (The Shield) who I think is one of the top 5 greatest actors in tv history, and had an interesting concept. To me, the treatment of the deformed is one of the most acceptable forms of discrimination present in the world today so I was eager to see how the show tackled this issue. I was even more excited when I saw that actual "freaks" were casted such as Jyoti Amge and Mat Fraser.

I'm not exactly in love with American Horror Story. I don't think it's as smart as it thinks it is but I think the acting is excellent and it's a lot of fun in a campy sort of way. So I basically had similar expectations for this season, though I was eager to see how the freak concept would be handled.

John Carroll Lynch as Twisty The Clown

It started off pretty well. The show successfully showed the way that society discriminates against the freaks and it had a clown serial killer which is as ridiculously awesome as it sounds. Twisty the Clown was played by John Carroll Lynch, one of my favorite character actors who gives a vastly underrated performance as suspected serial killer Arthur Leigh Allen in David Fincher's Zodiac (Twisty's murder at the lake reminds me of a similar scene in Zodiac). Twisty the Clown wasn't giving me nightmares or anything but it was crazy, gory, and kinda dumb but in a fun way. It gave the story a sense of focus.

Then Twisty died after four episodes.

I've seen many shows set up storylines and characters that seem like they're going to be sticking around for awhile only to abruptly end. Some examples include The Shield, Deadwood, and The Walking Dead. When I see a storyline abruptly end or a character get abruptly written out, I'll typically hold my criticism until I see what happens as a result of it. I was disappointed Twisty died so soon but perhaps it would give the show a chance to evolve into something even better.

But it didn't. It became an "open plot" so to speak. A lot of stuff was happening, yet nothing felt really important in the long run, or at least not enough for me to care. I've joked that the American Horror Story writers tend to throw a lot of shit at the wall and just see what sticks, but it feels really true right now, except nothing is sticking.

And in a typical American Horror Story fashion, there is a LOT going on at once. We've got Dandy, the spoiled man-child who's become a serial killer with a grudge against the freaks. It's obvious that Dandy is supposed to be annoying so I'll give Finn Wittrock a few points for his performance but Dandy is also so flat and just not interesting to watch. There's Stanley and Maggie, the con artists looking to murder and/or capture the freaks to sell them to a museum. Dell Toledo and his wife Desiree, a strong man and intersexed person respectively who are new to the freakshow. Except Dell is gay and Desiree is actually 100% female. Evan Peters plays Jimmy, who's more or less the show's moral compass and straight man which is pushed even farther from giving him the considerably less obvious deformity of syndactylys (since the camera rarely focuses on his hands). He's also Dell's son though he doesn't initially know this. Kathy Bates plays Ethel, a bearded lady, Dell's ex-wife and Jimmy's mom. She's second in command at the freakshow but seems to be the voice of reason. Then we got Belle and Dot, conjoined twins with a single torso, one pair of arms and legs, but two necks and heads and very different personalities. Dot wants a surgery to be separated from Belle which DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE because they share one torso. And we have Jessica Lange hamming it up as Elsa, the German head of the freakshow and secret amputee.

Worst of all, the show has slowly gone away from its best storyline, the unsubtle discrimination the freaks receive at the hands of others. I don't have any problem with showing conflicts within the freakshow but it would really challenge the audience to show the discrimination of a group they probably can't identify with (and possibly even forcing them to confront their own prejudices towards "freaks"), rather than showing the squabbles within the group and allowing the audience to not have to feel particularly bad about any of it.

Now lots of shows have handled large ensemble casts and storylines quite well. Game of Thrones and The Wire are two especially prominent examples. The problem with American Horror Story is that I just don't care about most of these people...in any way.

Some might say "well the characters aren't supposed to be likable" and I agree. But I should feel something for them. I found several characters on The Shield to be unlikable including its protagonist, Vic Mackey, but I still was intrigued by Vic's journey throughout and wanted to see what choices he made and what the consequences would be. There have been several characters on Sons of Anarchy who I've hated and wanted to die, but that just shows how much of an impact the show has to make me feel that way. I'm not getting that with Freakshow. I don't like them enough to want them to live, I don't hate them enough to want them to die (maybe Dandy just because he's so goddamn annoying) and I don't really care about their experiences. The most recent episode, Blood Bath, certainly lived up to its title by killing off two main cast members, Kathy Bates and Frances Conroy. As a major fan of both actresses, I thought this would have more of an impact on me, but it didn't. I still didn't care.

Besides that, the season is throwing in typical shock value content like having a guy sit on a toilet seat covered in nails (a scene that served no purpose other than to give a character a random backstory that still doesn't give them any more depth) and a young woman is kidnapped and forced to participate in an orgy with the freaks while heavily drugged (a scene that has some really unfortunate "It wasn't rape. She liked it" implications).

We still have 5 episodes left so I'm hoping things can turn around but at this point I'm not really looking forward to Wednesdays.


Written by Alex Bauman

Top films to see Fall/December 2014

Another year, another list of Oscar bait movies I wanna watch. As usual, it's overcrowded. This time it includes THIRTY SIX movies that I wanna watch and yeah, I know I won't end up watching some of them, at least not this year. Yup. Here we go.

36. The Cobbler

I love Thomas McCarthy. I love The Station Agent, I love The Visitor, I love Win Win. I even greatly enjoyed his acting role on the final season of The Wire. So why is this at 35 on the list? Because this film has inexplicably been panned by critics. The Station Agent has a 95% rating, The Visitor has an 89% rating, Win Win has a 94% rating, The Cobbler has a 0% rating. I don't know what went so wrong, but this film is getting panned. The Cobbler stars Adam Sandler and Steve Buscemi and tells the story of a shoe store worker who stumbles upon a magical heirloom that allows him to step into the lives of his customers and see the world in a new way. I'm still curious regardless due to McCarthy's involvement. It has a 0% rating on Rotten tomatoes based on 7 reviews with an average rating of 3.2/10.

35. Suite Francaise

Based on the novel, Suite Francaise stars Michelle Williams as a French woman living in Nazi-occupied France during WWII as she falls in love with a German soldier. I am not familiar with the book but Michelle Williams is one of my favorite actresses and easily one of the best under 40.

34. Men, Women, and Children

The newest film from Jason Reitman, who has arguably been in a slump (Young Adult and Labor Day lacked the acclaim of his earlier films). His newest film has the vague plot outline of being about sexual frustrations teenagers and adults face in modern society. The cast includes Rosemarie Dewitt, Jennifer Garner, Dean Norris, Judy Greer, and Adam Sandler. It currently has a 54% rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an average rating of 5.9/10.

33. American Sniper

Like Reitman, it's been argued that Clint Eastwood has been in a slump. It's typically said that either Letters from Iwo Jima or Gran Torino was his last masterpiece and Invictus was his last good movie. His last three films, Hereafter, J. Edgar, and Jersey Boys all received mixed reviews. It's hard to know if American Sniper will break that slump, but I hope so. It's the true story of Navy Seal Chris Kyle who had 160 confirmed kills and was murdered last year in Texas, allegedly by a marine he knew. Bradley Cooper will be playing Kyle and has bulked up quite a bit for the role, but major details about the film are still unclear.

32. While We're Young

While We're Young is the new film from Noah Baumbach (The Squid and The whale, Frances Ha, Greenberg). It stars Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts as a middle aged couple who befriend a younger couple (Amanda Seyfried and Adam Driver). Baumbach has done an amazing job in the past at bringing three-dimensional characters to life and all accounts say this is no different. It currently has a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 11 reviews with an average rating of 8/10.

31. Exodus: Gods and Kings

Many argue that Ridley Scott has been in a slump lately. Indeed, The Counselor was critically panned and while Prometheus received fairly positive reviews, there was still a strong sense of divisiveness and not the acclaim the man once had. Body of Lies and Robin Hood also received mixed reviews. Exodus is the second biblical film released in 2014, the first being Noah, which was positively received by critics but received a much more mixed reception by audiences. Christian Bale stars as Moses. The rest of the cast includes the underrated Joel Edgerton, Aaron Paul, Sigourney Weaver, John Tuturro, Ben Kingsley, and the underrated Ben Mendelsohn. It's hard to know if this'll be a return to form for Scott or not but I sure do hope so.

30. Selma

Selma is about the Selma to Montgomery marches during the civil rights movement and features several key historical figures with a great cast including David Oyelowo (Martin Luther King Jr.), Tom Wilkinson (Lyndon B. Johnson), Tim Roth (George Wallace), Oprah Winfrey (Annie Lee Cooper), and Cuba Gooding Jr. (Fred Gray) among others.
Update: While I don't care for the rap music in the trailer, the film has been immensely acclaimed and I'd probably move it higher up on the list if I wasn't so lazy.

29. The Gambler

A remake of the 1974 James Caan film, Mark Wahlberg stars as a gambling professor who runs afoul of gangsters.  He reportedly lost 60 pounds for the role. William Monahan (The Departed) wrote the screenplay while Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of The Apes) directs.

28. Into The Woods

Rob Marshall (Chicago) directs Into The Woods, a modern twist on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales in a musical format that follows the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel-all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife, their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch who has put a curse on them. The cast includes Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt.

27. This is where I leave you

Shawn Levy isn't exactly a great director but wow, what a cast. This is Where I Leave You tells the story of a Jewish-American family sitting shiva following the death of the family patriarch. It stars Jason Bateman, Tiny Fey, Corey Stoll, Adam Driver, Jane Fonda, Dax Shepard, Rose Byrne, Timothy Olyphant, Abigail Spencer, Connie Britton, Kathryn Hahn, and Ben Schwarz. Like I said, quite a cast. It's also Shawn Levy's first r-rated film, so I'm cautiously optimistic to see how he handles it. The film currently has a 58% rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an average rating of 5.5/10 based on 12 reviews.

26. The Judge

The Judge stars Robert Downey Jr. as a lawyer who must defend his father, a judge, on a murder charge. Vera Farmiga and Billy Bob Thorton co-star. Reviews have been mixed but I'm very impressed by the cast. It currently has a 56% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 18 reviews and an average rating of 4.8/10.

25. Trash

Stephen Daldry's Trash tells the story of three boys who find themselves on the run from a brutal police force after finding a leather bag while looking through the trash. It co-stars Rooney Mara and Martin Sheen.

24. Fury

David Ayer is best known for his police and crime dramas, so I'm very curious to see how he handles a World War II drama. Fury stars Brad Pitt, Jon Bernthal, Michael Pena, Logan Lehrman and Shia Labeouf as a five-man tank crew in the final days of World War II. WWII dramas aren't new, but tank-focused ones are so I'm curious and optimistic about how this'll turn out.

23. Map to the Stars

Map to the Stars is the newest David Cronenberg film telling the story of a dysfunctional Hollywood family starring Julianne Moore, John Cusack, Robert Pattison, and Mia Wasikowska. Early reviews have been mixed. It has a 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 19 reviews with an average rating of 7.1/10.

22. Pawn Sacrifice

Pawn Sacrifice is the newest film from the underrated Edward Zwick (Glory, Last Samurai, Blood Diamond). It stars Tobey Maguire as chess prodigy Bobby Zwick and Liev Schrieber as fellow prodigy Boris Spassky. Early reviews have called it good, not great. It currently has an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 6 reviews with an average rating of 5.7/10.

21. Tusk

Tusk is the new film by Kevin Smith and continues his path towards darker material after becoming best known for his raunchy comedies. Tusk stars Justin Long as a podcaster who goes to Canada to interview this...Canadian guy (Michael Parks). Basically put, the guy wants to turn him into a human walrus. Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense) co-stars and there's even a big A-lister who's name I won't reveal because...surprises. Reviews have been mixed. It currently has a 42% rating based on Rotten Tomatoes with an average rating of 5.5/10 based on 89 reviews.

20. The Theory of Everything

The Theory of Everything is a Stephen Hawking biopic starring Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones. It currently holds a 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 14 reviews with an average rating of 7/10. Hawking reportedly loved the film and was moved to tears when he watched it.

19. Wild

Reese Witherspoon received her only Oscar nomination and win for Walk The Line nine years ago and hasn't really been in the spotlight since. Wild looks like it could be a return to form for the actress. Wild is based on the true story of Cheryl Strayed who hiked more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail alone, as a way to heal herself, following her divorce, the death of her mother, and years of reckless, destructive behavior. It currently has a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 11 reviews with an average rating of 6.8/10 and is directed by Jean-Marc Vallee, best known for The Dallas Buyers Club.

18. Mr. Turner

Timothy Spall plays eccentric painter J.M.W. Turner and the contrast between his admired art and morally ambiguous sexual exploits. It currently has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 21 reviews with an average rating of 8.5/10, with much praise directed to Spall's performance.

17. Unbroken

Unbroken is directed by Angelina Jolie and tells the true story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic Track Star who later became a captive in a Japanese POW camp. The film looks pretty Oscar baity, but I also think the story has the potential to be truly raw and powerful, especially since the screenplay is written by Joel and Ethan Coen, though this isn't the type of film they're known for making. It stars Jack O'Connell (Skins) as Zamperini and famous Japanese musician Miyavi as his captor.

16. Suffragette

It's kinda surprising that there aren't more movies about this. I mean there's Iron Jawed Angels and that's basically it. Suffragette is about the women's suffrage movement in Great Britain. It stars Meryl Streep, Helena Bonham Carter, Carey Mulligan, and Brendan Gleeson. The historical topic is the type that the Academy Awards are usually attracted to, so if the film ends up successful, it's likely that Oscar buzz could be headed this way.

15. Rosewater

The much hyped directorial debut of Jon Stewart, Rosewater stars Gael Garcia Bernal as real life Iranian-Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari, who was detained in Iran for five months after trying to cover the country's elections in 2009. It currently has a 90% rating on Rotten tomatoes with an average rating of 7.1/10. So far lots of critics seem to be saying that it's good, not great. Indeed, the trailer felt a bit overly sentimental for my tastes, but I'm still intrigued.

14. Whiplash

Whiplash won the top audience and grand jury awards in the U.S. dramatic competition at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. It stars Miles Teller as a struggling jazz drummer and J.K. Simmons as the ruthless conductor training him. It currently holds a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 18 reviews with an average rating of 8/10. The two lead actors have been getting a fair amount of Oscar buzz. I haven't actually watched the trailer for this because I've heard that it's spoilerly and misleading, but it's here if you wanna see it.

13. The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby

Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy star in this drama about a couple trying to reclaim their failing love life. No relation to the Beatles song. The film is actually three films: Him, Her, and Them. It sounds incredibly ambitious and complicated and I can't wait to see it. It currently has a 71% rating on Rotten tomatoes based on 14 reviews with an average rating of 6.4/10.

12. Mojave

Mojave is written and directed by William Monahan who wrote the Academy Award winning screenplay for The Departed, one of my favorite movies of all time. The plot details remain vague but what's known is that it follows a near-suicidal artist (Garrett Hedlund) who escapes to the desert only to encounter his doppelganger-like antagonist, a homicidal drifter (Oscar Isaac). Mark Wahlberg and Walton Goggins co-star.

11. Big Eyes

I really love Amy Adams, so it's quite disappointing that she hasn't won an Oscar yet after five nominations. It's also disappointing that she has had very few lead roles. In Big Eyes, she plays real-life painter Margaret Keane who's beloved paintings were credited to her husband (Christoph Waltz). And yes, this is a Tim Burton movie without any Johnny Depp or Helena Bonham Carter. It'll be interesting to see how Tim Burton tackles what appears to be a straight drama. Jason Schwartzman co-stars.

10. A Most Violent Year

Directed by J.C. Chandor (Margin Call), A Most Violent Year stars Oscar Issac (Inside Llewyn Davis), Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty), and Albert Brooks (Drive). Set in New York City in 1981 (statistically one of the most violent years in the city's history), the film tells the story of an immigrant and his family as they try to make a living among the rampant violence, decay, and corruption that surrounds them. The director has proven himself twice already and the cast is terrific. Very excited for this one.

9. Interstellar

Perhaps it's just the music subtly manipulating me, but wow that trailer gives me feels. Interstellar is the newest Christopher Nolan film and seems to be continuing the McConaissance. It's about scientists traveling through a wormhole.

8. Kill the Messenger

I love Jeremy Renner. I think he's a phenomenal dramatic actor and I think his performance in The Hurt Locker is one of the best dramatic performances ever. I think he perfectly showed his potential as a dramatic leading man which makes it all the more disappointing that he hasn't had a leading role in a drama since (Of his next seven movies, 4 are action films, 3 are dramas where he has supporting roles). So I'm really excited to see him play the lead role in a drama again. I don't get why it took five years, but I'm glad it's happening. Renner plays Gary Webb, a journalist who attempts to expose the CIA's  role in arming Contra rebels in Nicaragua and importing cocaine into California. The rest of the phenomenal cast includes Ray Liotta, Michael Sheen, Michael K. Williams (The Wire), Barry Pepper, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Andy Garcia, Oliver Platt, Rosemarie DeWitt, Richard Schiff (The West Wing), Robert Patrick, Yul Vazquez...yeah, it's got a lot of people.

7. The Drop

It's still hard to accept that James Gandolfini is gone but at least it looks like he'll be going out on a high note. The Drop is a crime drama written by Dennis Lehane starring Tom Hardy, James Gandolfini, and Noomi Rapace. Hardy and Gandolfini play Brooklyn bartenders who hide dirty money for criminals. Tom Hardy is another favorite of mine so I'm very eager to watch this one. It currently has a 69% rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an average rating of 6.4/10 based off of 13 reviews.
Update: The film is excellent. Amazing performances all around.

6. Nightcrawler

I think Jake Gyllenhaal has been on a real roll lately, although 2010 was arguably the only time when he arguably was in a slump. But with Source Code, Prisoners, End of Watch, and Enemy, he's certainly been reminding a lot of people just how talented he really is. His newest film has him playing an apparently sociopathic LA crime journalist. It currently has a 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 13 reviews with an average rating of 8.6/10. Much praise has gone towards Gyllenhaal's dedicated performance. He's long overdue for another Oscar nomination, especially after his work in Zodiac and Prisoners. We'll see.

5. Inherent Vice

Paul Thomas Anderson remains one of my favorite directors and after his work with Joaquin Phoenix in The Master, I'm very excited to see them work together again. Set in the 1970s, the film tells the story of a private Detective searching for his missing ex-girlfriend as he encounters "a cast of characters that includes surfers, hustlers, dopers and rockers, a murderous loan shark, LAPD Detectives, a tenor sax player working undercover, and a mysterious entity known as the Golden Fang," It's that trippy, complicated style that I love from PTA. Should be terrific.

4. The Imitation Game

The Imitation Game stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, the famous mathematician and cryptologist who helped the British government crack the German Enigma Code during World War II. His life was ruined after he was prosecuted for his homosexuality. Much praise has been given to Benedict Cumberbatch's lead performance and the film currently has an 82%

3. Birdman

Birdman sounds like a film designed for Michael Keaton. Keaton (his first lead role in five years) plays a washed up actor once famous for playing a superhero as he tries to mount a broadway play. The trailer makes it quite clear that the film will be heavily surrealistic in nature which makes me even more intrigued. Alejandro González Iñárritu (Babel, Biutiful) directs the film which is said to be edited to look like it's all done in one take. It co-stars Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Zack Galifinakis, and Amy Ryan. It currently has a 94% on Rotten tomatoes based on 17 reviews with an average rating of 7.8/10. Michael Keaton looks to be an early Oscar contender.

2. Gone Girl

I've repeatedly called David Fincher my favorite contemporary director. Fight Club is my favorite movie of all time. I'm just as excited for his 10th movie, Gone Girl, as any of his other films. The film stars Ben Affleck as a man searching for his disappeared wife. As it becomes a media sensation, people soon begin to suspect that he's not completely innocent. It co-stars Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry. The decision to case Harris and Perry is a very risky move so I'm curious to see how it will pay off. I trust Harris but I'm more hesitant about Perry. Regardless, I'm hoping for another classic from David Fincher, who's always managed to wow me. It is set to be released on October 3rd and has no reviews yet.

1. Foxcatcher

I posted about this last year but then the date got pushed back to 2014. Well, it looks like it's finally happening this year and I couldn't be more excited. Foxcatcher stars Steve Carrell in what looks like an Oscar worthy turn as John du Pont, a mentally ill multimillionaire ornithologist, conchologist, coach and sports enthusiast. Mark Ruffalo plays Du Pont's friend Dave Schultz, who would be murdered by him while Channing Tatum plays Dave's brother and a protege of Du Pont. Directed by Academy Award Nominee Bennett Miller (Moneyball, Capote), Foxcatcher has all the makings of a classic. The film currently has a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes based off of 23 reviews and an average rating of 8.6/10. Miller and the three stars are getting a lot of Oscar buzz. It is set to be released on November 14th.

The Walking Dead: Can Daryl be gay?

This is a conversation I never thought I would have. There's been a lot of talk recently about the sexuality of the character Daryl Dixon on the popular AMC Drama, The Walking Dead. For those who don't know, Daryl is the show's breakout character. Introduced as an aggressive and anti-social redneck, his character developed into a kindhearted but tough and helpful member of the group. To most fans, he is viewed as a sexy badass.

Dreamy

Now there's been a lot of talk about Daryl Dixon's sexuality. Daryl, despite having so many fangirls screaming about how much they love him, has never had a romantic or sexual relationship on the show. Obviously he's not the only character but I guess due to his popularity, people would have expected something to happen by now. Now there's been speculation as to whether or not Daryl is gay. Ambiguous answers have been given to this question. According to executive producer and creator of the comics, Robert Kirkman, it's "been discussed". Showrunner Scott Gimple said: 

"The fact that there’s still a question as to what Daryl’s orientation is in Season 5 absolutely speaks to Daryl’s character; he is a very guarded, very closed-off individual in a lot of ways. We have been able to see him ever so slowly open up and show the other characters aspect by aspect as to what makes him tick. That’s been a very satisfying journey for all of us on the creative side to portray. [And] he’s still on that journey."

So you interpret that however you want. I first read about this on an article posted by Cinema Blend on their Facebook page. I was shocked by the overwhelmingly negative response to the basic idea that Daryl MIGHT be gay. Let's talk about some of the comments people have been saying.

"Please don't make Daryl a token gay guy. Every show does not have to have a gay guy"

First off, there's already a gay character, Tara, and nobody complained about that, so I don't see why making Daryl gay makes him a token gay character. Secondly, Daryl, gay or not, is NOT a token character. If he was a Token character, he would have no meaningful storylines and if gay, he would exist purely for the sake of having a gay guy on the show. Having a character that belongs to some kind of a minority group does not automatically make them a token character. They CAN be a Token character if the writing is poor but people are acting like it's token by default. T-dog is a token (black) character because his character served no purpose. Daryl being gay would not negate his impact on various storylines in the series and any more to come, so no, Daryl being gay does not turn him into a token gay guy. An example of a token gay guy would be if they randomly introduced a gay character, established that he was gay and then had him serve no purpose on the show...like T-Dog. That's not Daryl.

"Why bring sex into a show that has nothing to do with sex or sexual situations? Leave the show alone!! Why try to change something when it's this awesome?? The only relationship anyone gives a hoot about is Glen and Maggie. Just let him be Daryl!!!"

Oh bullshit. You wouldn't be saying that if he hooked up with Beth or Carol or Michonne. And don't pretend the show isn't about sex. The first sex scene is in the second episode.The show features one of the most messed up love triangles ever with Rick, Shane, and Laurie, obviously Glenn and Maggie, I'm feeling some sexual tension with Bob and Sasha and of course Andrea and The Governor. Don't say that sex isn't part of the show. Your problem is with the idea of him being gay. Admit it. If your problem really is sex and relationships then I'm shocked you've stuck with the show this long.

Dat non-offensive heterosexual sex scene that nobody complained about

A lot of people are saying that they don't care about his sexuality. Like they're really, really emphasizing the fact that they don't care about his sexuality and they just wanna watch zombies get killed. It's the apocalypse so his sexuality doesn't matter. That's great. I don't care about his sexuality either. If you don't care, then why is it a big deal if he's gay. Nobody's sexuality matters because it's the apocalypse? Ok, I'll say it again. Tell that to Rick, Lori, and Shane, Glenn and Maggie, The Governor and Andrea. You care about his sexuality. If you truly didn't, then you wouldn't be so upset about the idea of him being gay.

"Sorry but Darryl isn't anymore gay than John Wayne, Clint Eastwood or Chuck Norris. No one will ever buy it. Not being homophobic. Just telling it like it is."

This is my disappointed face

Just...no. I am so tired of people equating someone's sexuality with their "manliness". Look, some gay men are effeminate. Some aren't. Rock Hudson, Michael Sam (first openly gay NFL player), Darren Young (wrestler), Wentworth Miller. All gay men. All have a reputation for being manly. Still gay. And those are just a few. Ever heard of "bears" in a gay context? In male bisexual and gay culture, a bear is a large, hairy man who projects an image of rugged masculinity. And yes, they're gay. If they can be gay, why can't a badass redneck with a crossbow be gay?

Another big comment is that there doesn't need to be a gay person on every show. And I do agree with that. We don't need a gay person on every show. We don't need a white person on every show. We don't need an asian on every show. We don't need a Jew on every show. Two of the most underappreciated shows on tv right now, Hannibal and Rectify, don't have gay characters and that's fine. At the same time, I don't think introducing a gay character would automatically be a deterrent as long as it's still written well. And for that matter, Tara is a gay woman, so The Walking dead has already done it once without complaining. Or is two gay characters just too much? And no, the show doesn't NEED a gay character, but is it so bad to have one? Like it or not, gay people exist. They've existed since the beginning of time and they still exist. With the amount of characters we've met, isn't it possible that a couple of them might not be heterosexual. Season 5 is going to have SEVENTEEN people in the main cast alone. I don't think one or two being gay will end the world.

An argument I've heard to that question is that since Tara was introduced as gay immediately, it's ok. In comparison, Daryl has been around for 4 seasons and this still hasn't been established, so it would "ruin" the character. I get what you're TRYING to say. In fact, some have even argued that the show is just trying to make him gay now in order to seem "hip" and it's a cheap way to develop a character. I actually agree with that to a certain extent. Being gay is not just some fad. But in my opinion, the offensive approach would be if they introduced a new character, established him as gay, patted themselves on the back for being "progressive" and then did nothing with the character. Daryl has always been one of the major parts of the show so unless he dies, he's gonna keep being a major part. And about Daryl being "established", well I just don't understand that logic. There have been numerous shows where an established character is not revealed as gay immediately (Buffy the vampire slayer, Southland, The Sopranos). It never established him as straight, it established him as a human being...unless you think that him being gay would somehow ruin his character as a three-dimensional individual.

Some do argue that he's already been established as straight, citing romantic tension with Beth, Carol, and Michonne. I'll admit I saw it that way with Carol and Michonne (more with Carol), but I always viewed his relationship with Beth as being more brotherly. However, looking back, there was never anything explicit. What we may have seen as romantic tension could really have just been Daryl, you know, being a decent human being and treating women with respect. Crazy concept I know, but it can happen.

Perhaps the biggest fear is that Daryl being gay will turn it into a "gay" show, with many people mentioning Glee to emphasize their fear.

The horror...the horror...

I do understand what they're trying to say. There are shows where it's appropriate to tackle LGBT issues head on and shows where it's not. In my opinion, The Walking Dead does not need to preach gay issues on the show when so many crazier things are happening like those Terminus bastards. However, I still think the fear is irrational. What I mean is that just because he's gay doesn't mean that the show is going to make a huge deal about it. The Walking Dead established Merle as a racist but didn't turn into a lengthy commentary on why racism is wrong, so I doubt The Walking Dead will have lengthy preaching on gay acceptance or whatever. Indeed, Alanna Masterson, the actress who plays Tara, praised the show's non-preachy approach to her character being a lesbian. Now let's compare with another show. Southland. 

Southland is one my favorite shows of all time. It's incredibly character driven and features some of the best writing and character development I've ever seen on television. The show had a gay character, but they didn't reveal he was gay right away. After he was revealed as gay, the show continued to be a gritty character-driven cop drama. There were no drastic changes because, similar to the straight characters on the show, his homosexuality was portrayed as a small part of him and not his defining characteristic. I can imagine The Walking Dead would establish Daryl as gay and then return to business as usual.

Actually, let's compare it to a Norman Reedus movie, The Boondock Saints. In the film, Norman Reedus and the other guy who nobody cares about become vigilantes in Boston. Willem Dafoe plays an FBI agent investigating their crimes.

It's one of my favorite performances from Willem Dafoe. It's both over the top and restrained depending on the scene. I actually preferred his character over the two "protagonists". I loved the way his character developed and changed over the course of the film. Oh and he's gay.

The only time he's explicitly indicated as gay is a scene when he gets a call about some more murders by a co-worker. He's seen in bed, presumably naked, with a man trying to cuddle with him (He doesn't like cuddling). It's not any different from scenes where a man or woman is seen in bed with their wife and husband, or just some stranger they screwed. There is also a scene where he's at a gay bar, but the fact that it's a gay bar isn't portrayed as being a big deal either. I know I'm getting off topic. The point I'm trying to make is that it's possible to have a gay character without making a big deal out of it and without removing the character's badassery. It worked for The Boondock Saints. It can work for The Walking Dead.

To further emphasize this point, here's a fun fact. The comics introduced the characters of Aaron and Eric, a gay couple.

And that's all they did. Aaron and Eric were gay and it wasn't a big deal. Since the creator of the comics, Robert Kirkman, is a producer for the show, I'm sure he'd have them handle Daryl being gay in a similar fashion. They didn't ruin the comics so I don't think a gay guy will ruin the show.

To sum this up, take your own advice. Who cares about his sexuality? I don't. He could hook up with a woman, he could stay single forever, he could hook up with a guy. It doesn't matter to me. As long as the storyline is written well, I'm happy with whatever direction the show takes.

2014 Emmy predictions and picks

The Emmys are coming up again. Lots of big contenders, both new and old. Should be interesting to see what makes the cut.
a "2% rule" has been adopted in the comedy and drama series categories, wherein, a seventh nominee could be added to the respective categories if its total first-round votes are within 2% of the sixth place series. As a result, I'm including a 7th choice with my picks.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

1. Aaron Paul- Breaking Bad
Aaron Paul has already won two Emmys for his work on Breaking Bad, but in the final season he took the series in an interesting direction that will almost definitely get him a nomination and probably emmy win #3.

2. Peter Dinklage- Game of Thrones
Peter Dinklage has 3 Emmy nominations for the 3 previous seasons in Game of Thrones and there's no reason to assume that this season will be different with numerous powerful and memorable scenes to remember.

3. Dean Norris- Breaking Bad
Dean Norris has never been nominated for his role on Breaking Bad, but his performance in the final season took his character to new depths previously unseen and the Emmys have given Breaking Bad two Emmy nominations in this category before.

4. Jon Voight- Ray Donovan

With a Golden Globe win already, Jon Voight seems like a probable nominee. The Emmys tend to find at least one slot to appreciate a new show and I think Voight's performance in Ray Donovan will fill the slot in this category. It's still a shame Ann Biderman's previous show, Southland, never garnered any Emmy nominations for its amazing performances, particularly that of Michael Cudlitz.

5. Josh Charles- The Good Wife
Charles has one previous nomination for The Good Wife, but most people here seem to agree that this season was especially notable for his character.

6. Mandy Patinkin- Homeland
Most people seem to agree that season 3 of Homeland was weaker than its predecessors, but the show already has so much Emmy love that I think they'll squeeze nominations in anyways.

7. Jeffrey Wright- Boardwalk Empire
Last year, new cast member Bobby Cannavale won an Emmy on Boardwalk Empire. Could it be Jeffrey Wright this year? Dr. Narcisse is certainly a fascinating character, with complex motivations and a personality far different from basically any character on tv.

8. John Slattery- Mad Men
Slattery received 4 nominations for the first 4 seasons of Mad Men, then was snubbed for seasons 5 and 6. Season 7 seems to be leaning towards being snubbed, but his performance in the episode "The Monolith" could potentially score him a fifth nomination.

9. Noah Emmerich- The Americans
I had predicted Noah Emmerich to get an Emmy nomination last year and was disappointed when I was wrong because its a deserving performance. That said, in spite of the rave reviews The Americans is still receiving, his hype seems to be less than it was last year.

10. Jim Carter- Downton Abbey
He received nominations for the last 2 seasons, but new and emerging contenders might push him out this year.

11. Peter Sarsgaard- The Killing
While the last season of The Killing received mixed reviews, many people agreed that Sarsgaard's performance was a standout.

12. Kit Harrington- Game of Thrones
Kit Harrington has continued to grow as an actor on Game of Thrones, gaining more recognition and showing more strong dramatic scenes. Probably too soon though.

13. Mads Mikkelsen- Hannibal
I'll say it before and I'll say it again. Mads Mikkelsen is the best actor to ever play Hannibal Lecter. If Hopkins can win an Oscar, Mikkelsen should at least get an Emmy nomination.

14. Jack Huston- Boardwalk Empire
Similar to Harrington, Huston has grown a lot on Boardwalk Empire, but he might be too overshadowed by his co-stars.

15. Michael Kelly- House of Cards
Season 2 of House of Cards took Michael Kelly's Doug Stamper in an interesting direction, allowing Kelly to deliver a stunning subtle and dark performance.

16. Charles Dance- Game of Thrones

Dance is one of many in the talented ensemble on Game of Thrones. If he was a guest actor, a nomination would probably be guaranteed.

17. Walton Goggins- Justified

Walton Goggins should have at least 2 Emmy nominations for Justified by now, plus a couple for The Shield as well. Instead he has one. That said, season 5 was not the strongest season so his chances are even less likely than usual.

18. Tony Goldwyn- Scandal
Scandal remains immensely popular and Goldwyn's performance is praised, but the amount of impact he really has on the show will depend on the viewer.

19. Rory McCann- Game of Thrones
One of the most underrated performances on Game of Thrones, but McCann is almost guaranteed to be overlooked. Just the sad truth.

20. Gerald McRaney- House of Cards

McRaney followed up a great performance on Southland with a great performance on House of Cards, but with such a large ensemble, it's hard to know if he'll be noticed.

21. Michael K. Williams- Boardwalk Empire

After 3 seasons of being a supporting player, appearing in just a little over half the episodes, Williams was able to step it up as Chalky White this season, arguably becoming the protagonist of the season and he certainly delivered.

22. Mahershala Ali- House of Cards

Not a performance that gets enough talk. Ali's performance as Remy manages to balance both sliminess and sweetness with ease.

23. Nikolaj Coster Waldau- Game of Thrones
A performance that should have been nominated last year. Coster-Waldau didn't really give anything good enough this year but I still feel obligated to include him.

24. Vincent Kartheiser- Mad Men
Still no nominations on Mad Men after all these years, so I don't expect anything different this year, but he deserves a shoutout.

25. Scott Wilson- The Walking Dead
Being a genre show, its unlikely for Walking Dead to get acting nods, but Scott Wilson gives a powerful performance as the show's moral center.

26. Steven Yeun- The Walking Dead
Yeun is definitely underrated, with several notable scenes and arguably the closest to an "everyman" on the show, but it's still a genre show.

27. Ben Feldman- Mad Men
Ginsberg's character was taken into a...strange direction this season. I won't spoil it but I'll just say that Feldman (who was nominated for Mad Men in 2012) makes the direction his character takes believable and real.

28. Jimmy Smits- Sons of Anarchy
Becoming the show's moral center on a show full of amorality is tough, but Smits definitely pulls it off.

29. Matthew Lillard- The Bridge
Lillard's character was went through some interesting directions on The Bridge, very heavy on character development which ultimately deserves a shoutout.

30. Samuel Roukin- Turn
All I'll say is wow, what a great villain. Turn barely escaped cancellation though so we should just be happy with the renewal.

My Picks
Josh Charles- The Good Wife
Peter Dinklage- Game of Thrones
Dean Norris- Breaking Bad (Winner)
Aaron Paul- Breaking Bad
Mads Mikkelsen- Hannibal
Jon Voight- Ray Donovan (7th place)
Jeffrey Wright- Boardwalk Empire

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

1. Anna Gunn- Breaking Bad

She already won last year, but with the universal praise of Breaking Bad's final season, she could win two in a row.

2. Maggie Smith- Downton Abbey

An obligatory nominee at this point.

3. Christine Baranski-The Good Wife

With the hype around this season of The Good Wife, it could have one nomination in every acting category available, Baranski being the most hyped here.

4. Christina Hendricks- Mad Men
Hendricks is obligatory at this point as well, but it's well deserved because...well Joan Holloway is amazing.

5. Emilia Clarke- Game of Thrones
With a previous nomination under her belt (but ultimately stolen from another GOT actor in my opinion), she seems to be on her way to recognition once more.

6. Michelle Monaghan- True Detective
The obligatory slot for the new show nominee will likely go to Monaghan in True Detective, even though it's arguably a miniseries, the show is representing itself as a drama series, making Monaghan's performance a contender.

7. Archie Panjabi- The Good Wife
She'll probably be overshadowed by her co-star but there's always a chance with The Good Wife.

8. Joanne Froggatt- Downton Abbey
Also will probably be overshadowed by her co-star, but there's always a chance for two nominees from the same show.

9. Hayden Panitierre- Nashville
Following a Golden Globe nomination, it seems possible, but Nashville seems to have less hype this season.

10. Monica Potter- Parenthood
Many say she was snubbed last season, so I guess time will tell if she'll get a second chance.

11. Betsy Brandt- Breaking Bad
Not really the show's standout, but with Breaking Bad's hype in general, anything is possible.

12. Annet Mahendru- The Americans
She really stepped it up this season as Nadia, which is why its so unfortunate that the show's hype has lessened.

13. Lena Heady- Game of Thrones
Love her or hate her, Heady's performance is fantastic.

14. Molly Parker- House of Cards
Bringing this new character into a well established cast was risky, but Parker pulled it off well, successfully integrating herself into the rest of the cast.

15. Maisie Williams- Game of Thrones
Williams is by far one of the best child actors in the history of television. Enough said.

16. Bellamy Young- Scandal
Obligatory Scandal actor.

17. Sandra Oh- Grey's Anatomy

The show has been off of Emmy radars for awhile, but the amount of hype involving Oh's character could bring it back.

18. Jessica Pare- Mad Men

Nobody's favorite character on Mad Men, but I think it'd be wrong to deny numerous strong scenes from Pare this season.

19. Rachel Brosnahan- House of Cards
One of those actors nobody is talking about, Brosnahan gives a really emotional and dark performance on House of Cards, taking a character who shouldn't have been necessary to the story and making her fit in perfectly.

20. Gretchen Mol- Boardwalk Empire

She seriously should have gotten it for season 2, but Mol's work on Boardwalk Empire continues to be a reason to keep watching.

21. Melissa McBride- The Walking Dead

Watching the development of Carol on Walking Dead is by far one of the show's best elements and McBride deserves a shoutout, but it's still a genre show.

22. Danai Gurira- The Walking Dead
Basically my praise is identical to McBride. Great character development.

23. Maggie Siff-Sons of Anarchy

Season 6 was not the best season of Sons of Anarchy, but it definitely took things in an interesting direction for Tara and we truly emphasized with her even when we didn't always agree thanks to Maggie Siff's performance.

24. Jennifer Carpenter- Dexter
A really horrible season of television that is still MILDLY elevated by Jennifer Carpenter's strong performance.

My Picks
Christine Baranski- The Good Wife
Anna Gunn- Breaking Bad (Winner)
Christina Hendricks- Mad Men
Annet Mahendru- The Americans
Michelle Monaghan- True Detective (7th choice)
Maggie Siff- Sons of Anarchy
Maisie Williams- Game of Thrones

Outstanding Lead Actress

1. Robin Wright- House of Cards

.Bringing a controversial storyline into the mix, Wright's performance in season 2 of House of Cards truly blew me away in the best ways possible and she deserves to win.

2. Julianna Marguilies- The Good Wife
A fan favorite of the Emmys. Snubbed last year, but with the hype of season 5, she'll almost certainly get a nomination this year.

3. Elisabeth Moss- Mad Men
Another favorite of the Emmys. She's been nominated five times in a row and there's no reason to assume this year will be different.

4. Kerry Washington- Scandal
She's fresh off a previous nomination with one of the highest rated shows on tv. Very, very likely.

5. Claire Danes- Homeland
Homeland season 3 sucked and I'm not the only one who thinks that. She won't win this year, that's for sure, but I don't think it sucked enough for the Emmys to write her off completely, then again it sucked enough for the golden globes to do just that.

6. Tatiana Maslany- Orphan Black
An acclaimed performance that has gradually built up in hype, Maslany getting nominated isn't a guarantee but would show that the Emmys care about more than just the mainstream.

7. Keri Russell- The Americans
Unexpectedly snubbed last year, she still has a chance this year, but her hype has SLIGHTLY died down.

8. Vera Farmiga- Bates Motel
In my opinion, she should have won last year. This year...maybe not, but she'd be lucky to have a nomination.

9. Lizzy Caplan- Masters of Sex
It's common for somebody on a new show to be nominated, so Caplan could be the one to take that slot because she's the only real contender from a first season show.

10. Connie Britton- Nashville
She surprised me by getting a nomination last year, making her fourth Emmy nomination in a row (for 3 different shows), but I think the streak is coming to an end.

11. Michelle Dockery- Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey has simply died down in its hype this season, so in spite of her nominations in the last 2 years, I don't think third time will be the charge.

12. Mireille Enos- The Killing
An acclaimed performance on a no longer acclaimed show that deserves a shoutout anyways.

13. Katey Sagal- Sons of Anarchy
Even if this season wasn't the best, Katey Sagal just deserves a nomination. she's phenomenal on the show and its a crime she still has been ignored. She even won a Golden Globe.

14. Diane Kruger- The Bridge
This is a new show as well, but The Bridge lacks the hype Masters of Sex has. Kruger is strong but not strong enough.

15. Mariska Hargitay- Law & Order: SVU
In its fifteenth season, SVU took some surprising risks, but Hargitay's Emmy streak has come to an end.

16. Gabrielle Union- Being Mary Jane
A small show with a notable lead performance that could get a nomination someday with enough hype built up.

My Picks
Vera Farmiga- Bates Motel (7th Choice)
Juliana Margulies- The Good Wife
Tatiana Maslaney- Orphan Black
Elisabeth Moss- Mad Men
Keri Russell- The Americans
Katey Sagal- Sons of Anarchy
Robin Wright- House of Cards (Winner)

Outstanding Lead Actor

1. Bryan Cranston- Breaking Bad
He's already won 3 times and been nominated for every season so it's no surprise that this will be similar. With the praise of the final season, it could even be a win, but he does have strong competition.

2. Matthew McConaughey- True Detective
It's an anthology show, so typically this would be in the miniseries category, but its being promoted as a drama series so whatever. McConaughey, fresh off of his Oscar nomination (and later win), blew me away as Rust Cohle, now America's favorite nihilist.

3. Jon Hamm- Mad Men
He'll probably end up like Martin Sheen. Hamm has 6 nominations and 0 wins, so this year will probably be 7 nominations and 0 wins.

4. Kevin Spacey- House of Cards
Spacey continues to engage audiences effectively on House of Cards. A second nomination will probably be headed his way.

5. James Spader- The Blacklist
In my opinion, Spader doesn't deserve it. It's a show with good ideas that never takes advantage of his potential, instead wasting time on annoying subplots that go nowhere. Even so, Spader is by far the best part of the show, completely overshadowing his dull co-stars

6. Woody Harrelson- True Detective
Harrelson did a great job at playing a fairly unlikable cop and family man, while squeezing in hints of sympathy throughout. He and McConaughey ultimately complete each other, so it would seem unfair to not nominate both.

7. Jeff Daniels- The Newsroom
He won an Emmy last year that he DID NOT DESERVE. He didn't even deserve to be nominated. Good performance? Sure. Best performance. NO!

8. Michael Sheen- Masters of Sex
A new actor to the race who got honored with a Golden Globe nomination, but with so many established contenders and new people to the mix, it's hard to say if he'll squeeze himself in. It's possible.

9. Matthew Rhys- The Americans

He was surprisingly snubbed last year, but could still get a chance this year for his work that I actually think was better this season, particularly the episode "Marital Eagle" (2x09). I think he would be a worthy nominee, but the show's hype has sadly died down.

10. Steve Buscemi- Boardwalk Empire
A heavy contender in the early seasons of Boardwalk Empire. The show is still strong, but Nucky isn't quite the focus he once was, so a nomination seems less likely.

11. Hugh Dancy- Hannibal
A really amazing performance that's only improved in season 2. Dancy perfectly balances torment, anxiety, sympathy, and even creepiness in creating the perfect Will Graham.

12. Timothy Olyphant- Justified
Olyphant's performance as Justified has been regularly overlooked except when he was nominated for season 2. That said, this season would be understandable. It's still really entertaining, but it's not the strongest season.

13. Damian Lewis- Homeland
Damian Lewis has always been my favorite part of Homeland, so I was one of many fans disappointed by his reduced role in season 3. That said, he made his scenes count, but I'm not convinced it was good enough for a 3rd nom, in spite of him winning 2 years ago.

14. Liev Schrieber-Ray Donovan
A new show shoutout. Schrieber got a Golden Globe nomination, but so much Emmy hype is focused on his co-star Jon Voight.

15. Andrew Lincoln- The Walking Dead
A popular performance that remains watched by millions, but Lincoln is still in a genre show.

16. Charlie Hunnam- Sons of Anarchy
Hunnam has given a lot of terrific work on Sons of Anarchy, season 6 included, but he's been snubbed five times. No signs it'll change now, especially in a weaker season.

17. Freddie Highmore- Bates Motel
Highmore has given phenomenal work in Bates Motel, but there's just not enough hype.

18. Joel Kinnaman- The Killing
An acclaimed performance on a no longer acclaimed show that deserves a shoutout anyways.

19. Demian Bichir- The Bridge
New show shoutout again. Bichir is phenomenal on The Bridge, focusing heavily on mixing subtly with raw emotion, but its too new and too unknown.

20. Michael C. Hall- Dexter
Season 8 of Dexter was an insult to the entire series, but Michael C. Hall still slightly elevates the material.

.

21. Jamie Bell- Turn
A new show featuring strong work from Jamie Bell, but it's too new and just barely escaped cancellation, so I'm not expecting any nominations.

My Picks
Bryan Cranston- Breaking Bad (winner)
Hugh Darcy- Hannibal
Jon Hamm- Mad Men
Woody Harrelson- True Detective (7th Choice)
Matthew McConaughey- True Detective
Matthew Rhys- The Americans
Kevin Spacey- House of Cards

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

1. Robert Morse- Mad Men
Without spoiling anything, Robert Morse gives some of his best work on this season of Mad Men. He's been nominated for Mad Men four times before. In spite of its acclaim, Mad Men has never won an acting Emmy and its about time in my opinion.

2. Beau Bridges- Masters of Sex
Beau Bridges is a favorite with the Emmys. He's been nominated 14 times, winning 3 times. His work on Masters of Sex is as impressive as ever and it would be a shame for him to be snubbed.

3. Dan Bucatinsky- Scandal
Fresh off a win last year, it seems likely that Bucatinsky will get a second nomination.

4. Nathan Lane- The Good Wife
The Good Wife is notably for its strong guest actors and tends to gather at least one nomination. Lane seems to be the likely candidate for this year.

5. Pedro Pascal- Game of Thrones
Pascal gave some mind blowing work in this season of Game of Thrones. Bringing in a new character into an already established ensemble at this point in a series is definitely a risky move, but Pascal does an amazing job at integrating his character into the series.

6. Paul Giamatti- Downton Abbey
An established hollywood actor giving acclaimed work on a show beloved by the Emmys? I can see it happening.

7. Lee Tergesen- The Americans
Tergesen has constantly been popping up on tv shows since appearing on Oz and his role on The Americans is definitely one of his best in years. I'm not convinced he'll get the nomination, but he certainly deserves it.

8. Ray Romano- Parenthood
Parenthood hasn't had tons of hype and recognition, but Romano's dramatic work has gotten its fair amount of attention that a nomination could happen with enough luck.

9. Costa Ronin- The Americans
Another really impressive actor on The Americans with a performance that's not getting as much recognition as it deserves.

10. Walton Goggins- Sons of Anarchy
Goggins appeared as a transgendered prostitute on last season of Sons of Anarchy, but it was primarily played for laughs. This time, his character was greatly humanized, creating one of the most progressive portrayals of a transgendered character in recent memory and Goggins sells it perfectly.

11. James Woods- Ray Donovan
Great work as usual from James Woods, successfully creating a believable and morally grey crook.

12. Eddie Izzard- Hannibal
Izzard has received strong reviews for his creepy work on Hannibal, but the show itself still might not be hyped enough.

13. Michael Bowen- Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad is sure to get a lot of Emmy nominations. Bowen is very strong here, though his character lacks the dimensions of many others so its hard to say if his evilness will be good enough.

14. Hamish Linklater- The Newsroom
His character kinda comes out of nowhere, but Linklater does a great job at showing his character's reasoning behind morally grey choices.

15. Pablo Schreiber- Law & Order: SVU
Schreiber plays SVU's longest lasting villain and his sheer scariness makes me forget about all of his other work, such as The Wire and Orange is the New Black. Definitely breathed new life into a series that was getting redundant.

16. Reg E. Cathey- House of Cards
Cathey played a simple role on House of Cards initially, but season 2 successfully took a risk and developed his character, showing his moral convictions and the tough position he's in.

17. Jeremy Davies- Justified
Davies has been nominated twice for Justified, winning once. Perhaps his role this season wasn't mindblowing, but it's always worth a shoutout.

18. Louis Gossett Jr.- Boardwalk Empire
A one episode performance from a hollywood legend, Gossett may not be the name he once was, but his performance made me want to see his other work again.

19. Michael Rapaport- Justified
His hick accent was criticized, but I enjoyed Rapaport's performance on Justified. He brought a strong physical presence and had good chemistry with his family.

20. Michael Pitt- Hannibal
One word: CREEPY!

21. Eric Lange- The Bridge
An engaging performance to put it simply

My Picks
Beau Bridges- Masters of Sex
Dan Bucatinsky- Scandal (7th Choice)
Walton Goggins- Sons of Anarchy
Robert Morse- Mad Men (Winner)
Pedro Pascal- Game of Thrones
Michael Pitt- Hannibal
Lee Tergesen- The Americans

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

1. Alison Janney- Masters of Sex
Already a favorite with the Emmys for her work on The West Wing, Janney gives her best performance in years on Masters of Sex.

2. Diana Rigg- Game of Thrones
Fresh off a nomination last year, Rigg continues to deliver in season 4.

3. Carrie Preston- The Good Wife
Fresh off of a win last year on a show as award popular as The Good Wife? You can count on it.

4. Lisa Kudrow- Scandal
Kudrow's already a fan favorite with the Emmys, so getting notice for her dramatic work on Scandal seems like a safe bet.

5. Jane Fonda- The Newsroom
She's fresh off a nomination last year, although The Newsroom isn't exactly the most acclaimed show on television.

6. Diane Wiest- The Blacklist
The Blacklist had a nice little role for Diane Wiest that was only one episode due to its procedural format, but with the hype The Blacklist has, it could happen.

7. Katharine Isabelle- Hannibal
I'd love to see this one. Isabelle does a great job at balancing anger and vulnerability.

8. Gillian Anderson- Hannibal
It comes off as a bit unnatural at times, but I think that's why it works because of the introverted personality of the character. Anderson is already noted by the Emmys for her work on The X-files but with a show as overlooked as Hannibal, it's hard to say.

9. CCH Pounder- Sons of Anarchy
CCH Pounder received one nomination for her outstanding work on The Shield. Her character on Sons of Anarchy perhaps has a few too many similarities, but she played a great antagonist to the titular biker club.

10. Margo Martindale- The Americans
She was nominated last year but her role this season lacked any truly memorable scenes. Strong work? Yes, but that alone might not be enough.

11. Charlotte Rampling- Dexter
One of the only things on season 8 of Dexter that didn't suck, even if her character comes out of nowhere.

12. Mary Steenburgen- Justified
Another character who jumps in rather unexpectedly, but Steenburgen successfully integrates herself into the show and makes viewers want to see more.

My Picks
Katharine Isabelle- Hannibal
Alison Janney- Masters of Sex
Lisa Kudrow- Scandal
CCH Pounder- Sons of Anarchy (7th Choice)
Carrie Preston- The Good Wife
Diana Rigg- Game of Thrones
Mary Steenburgen- Justified



Outstanding Drama Series
1. Breaking Bad
2. True Detective
3. House of Cards
4. Game of Thrones
5. The Good Wife
6. Mad Men
7. Downton Abbey
8. Homeland
9. Masters of Sex
10. The Americans
11. Boardwalk Empire
12. Scandal
13. Ray Donovan
14. Hannibal
15. Dexter
16. The Blacklist
17. Orphan Black
18. Justified
19. Sons of Anarchy
20. The Walking Dead
21. The Newsroom
22. Bates Motel
23. The Bridge

My Picks
Breaking Bad (Winner)
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife (7th Choice)
Hannibal
House of Cards
Mad Men
True Detective