Thursday, August 16, 2012

AFT Awards: Best Writing for a Drama Series

This is the fourteenth category of the 6th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2011-2012 season. For the directing and writing categories, I’ve included only honorable mentions rather than semi-finalists and finalists. Nominees are listed in alphabetical order.

Best Writing for a Drama Series


Last year’s nominees: The Chicago Code (Pilot), Game of Thrones (Fire and Blood), The Good Wife (VIP Treatment), Justified (Brother’s Keeper), Mad Men (Blowing Smoke)

Emmy nominees: Episode 7 (Downton Abbey), Pilot (Homeland), Commissions and Fees (Mad Men), Far Away Places (Mad Men), The Other Woman (Mad Men)

Semi-finalists: Boardwalk Empire (Georgia Peaches), Boss (Stasis), Breaking Bad (Crawl Space), Breaking Bad (Face Off), Breaking Bad (Salud), Damages (The War Will Go On Forever), Dexter (A Horse of a Different Color), Hell on Wheels (Immoral Mathematics), Homeland (Blind Spot), Homeland (Marine One), Homeland (The Vest), Justified (The Devil You Know), Justified (The Gunfighter), Justified (Slaughterhouse), Mad Men (At the Codfish Ball), Mad Men (Faraway Places), Mad Men (The Phantom), Outcasts (Episode 7), Outcasts (Episode 8), Sons of Anarchy (Burnt and Purged Away), Sons of Anarchy (Hands), Terra Nova (Pilot)

Finalists: Mad Men (Mystery Date), Outcasts (Pilot), Mad Men (A Little Kiss), Breaking Bad (End Times), Boardwalk Empire (To the Lost)

The nominees:

Homeland (The Weekend)
Alcatraz (Pilot)
Justified (Guy Walks into a Bar)
Game of Thrones (Blackwater)


Things took an entirely unexpected turn with a stunning story development in one of the standout episodes of Showtime’s thriller that showcased its two central characters together. FOX got off to a great start with its newest entry, creating a sci-fi-tinged universe with plenty of potential. After a season of superb writing, FX’s crime drama hit its high point with a duel of wits between Raylan and Quarles. HBO’s fantasy drama emphasized character and combat in its most superb installment of the season.

The winner:

Homeland (Pilot) crafted an enormously compelling premise with rich characters and a magnificently enticing pace.

Next up: Best Directing for a Comedy Serie

Next up: Best Directing for a Comedy Series

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