AFT Awards: Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

This is the ninth category of the 10th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2015-2016 season. Finalists and semi-finalists are included to recognize more of the impressive work done on television today. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Garrett Dillahunt, Sam Elliott, Marc Pickering, Duke David Roberts, Jonathan Tucker

Emmy nominees: Mahershala Ali, Hank Azaria, Reg E. Cathey, Michael J. Fox, Paul Sparks, Max von Sydow

Semi-finalists: Callum Keith Rennie (Longmire), Currie Graham (Longmire), Grant Gustin (Supergirl), Ian McShane (Ray Donovan), Jay Karnes (12 Monkeys), Joel Kinnaman (House of Cards), John Hannah (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Max von Sydow (Game of Thrones), Michael Siberry (Jessica Jones), Rhys Darby (The X-Files), Rob Benedict (Masters of Sex), Robbie Amell (The X-Files), Rus Blackwell (The Walking Dead)

Finalists: Clarke Peters (Jessica Jones) firmly represented what it means to be an enforcer of the law and a believer in good in a truly dark world. Matthew Goode (Downton Abbey) was an affable and uplifting part of the final season of this show, fitting right in with its universe the moment he first appeared. Josh Cooke (Longmire) was a breath of rarely-seen enthusiasm who tried to break up the monotony and grim nature of the sheriff’s office. Jason Butler Harner (Ray Donovan) was never in the spotlight but still served as a foreboding and fascinating element of his particular plotline. Xander Berkeley (The Walking Dead) was typically excellent, even in a small role as a staunch defender of his doomed community.

The nominees:

Josh Charles (Masters of Sex) made a terrific return to television as a suave scent salesman trying to figure out how to bottle the smell of sex. John Carroll Lynch (The Walking Dead) impressed immensely as a man of peace in a world almost entirely devoid of such a concept. Jonathan Pryce (Game of Thrones) embodied staunch, dangerous faith as a quietly commanding presence usurping power. Ian McShane (Game of Thrones) made headlines for just one superb appearance as a memorable man worthy of a much bigger role.

The winner:

Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead) was the talk of the whole season and didn’t appear until its very last scene, making an unforgettable impression as a baseball bat-wielding monster fully in control of the terror he inspires.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series