Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama


The competition:
Jason Bateman (Ozark) plays Marty Byrde, a reluctant money launderer trying to save his family in the second season of the Netflix crime series. After picking up Emmy bids for acting and directing in season one, Bateman was joined by two female co-stars and his ensemble on this year’s SAG nominee list. This is his second consecutive Globe bid for this role, once again as the sole representative of his series. He was twice nominated for his starring role in “Arrested Development,” taking home the comedy actor trophy in 2004.

Stephan James (Homecoming) plays Walter Cruz, a soldier returning home to participate in a privately-funded study in the first season of the Amazon drama series. His show and costar Julia Roberts are also nominated. This is James’ first nomination, and he also stars in Best Motion Picture – Drama nominee “If Beale Street Could Talk.”

Richard Madden (Bodyguard) plays David Budd, a police sergeant serving as head of security for the British Home Secretary in the first season of the BBC-Netflix series. His show is up for Best TV Series – Drama. This is the first Golden Globe nomination for the Scottish star most well-known for his portrayal of Robb Stark on “Game of Thrones.”

Billy Porter (Pose) plays Pray Tell, a ball emcee in the first season of the popular FX series set in the late 1980s. His show is up for Best TV Series – Drama. This is the first Golden Globe nomination for Porter.

Matthew Rhys (The Americans) plays Philip Jennings, a Russian sleeper agent posing as an American father in the sixth and final season of the acclaimed FX drama. Rhys was nominated two years ago for a Golden Globe, and took home an Emmy earlier this year on his third nomination. His series contends for Best TV Series – Drama, and costar Keri Russell is also nominated.

Additional notes: The past two winners, Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us) and Billy Bob Thornton (Goliath) aren’t in contention despite their shows still being on, which means that we’re looking at new champion this year. While other categories tend to favor freshman series, this one doesn’t always do that. Jon Hamm (Mad Men) winning for the final season of his show in 2015 is the likeliest indicator that Rhys has an advantage, even though Hamm did win for the first season also, unlike Rhys.
Who should win? I’m halfway through James’ show, haven’t seen any of season two of Bateman’s, and didn’t watch past the pilot of Porter’s. I watched a good deal of Rhys’ impressive work in the final season of his show, but Madden is the one who really wowed me this year.
Who will win? It will very likely be Rhys, but I’m going to go ahead and predict freshman fever with Madden taking it.

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