Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

I had the chance to dive deep into this category for The Film Experience – head over there to read my analysis!

Next up: Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Anthology Series or Movie

Emmy Nominees: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

My predictions: 5/8

Eight nominees, four shows. The only person not competing against a costar is previous winner Billy Crudup (The Morning Show), who returns as one of the few nominees from his series. Oh Yeong-so (Squid Game), who I had predicted, was join by Park Hae-soo (Squid Game), while another expected nominee, John Turturro (Severance), got joined by another cast member, Christopher Walken (Severance), who was terrific but shouldn’t have gotten in over Zach Cherry and Trammell Tillman. And apparently we needed to save spots for all three men from the top-nominated show again: Kieran Culkin (Succession), Matthew Macfadyen (Succession), and Nicholas Braun (Succession).

Who should win? I need to finish watching “Squid Game,” but otherwise I’d probably choose Turturro or Culkin.
Who will win? I think this could go to Williams but I honestly don’t know.

Emmy Predictions: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, July 12th. As always, chime in below in the comments with any thoughts of your own.

Last year’s nominees: Giancarlo Esposito, O.T. Fagbenele, John Lithgow, Tobias Menzies, Max Minghella, Chris Sullivan, Bradley Whitford, Michael K. Williams

The competition: Only one of last year’s nominees is eligible again, and that’s Chris Sullivan (This Is Us). Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul) is likely to be back for a different role that’s given him multiple nominations before, and he might be joined by a handful of costars, including past nominee Jonathan Banks (Better Call Saul), Michael Mando (Better Call Saul), Tony Dalton (Better Call Saul), and Patrick Fabian (Better Call Saul). A slew of previous nominees are newly eligible, like Billy Crudup (The Morning Show), Mark Duplass (The Morning Show), Steve Carell (The Morning Show) (transplanted from the lead race), Kieran Culkin (Succession), Michael Macfadyen (Succession), and Nicholas Braun (Succession), plus a past nominee who could return this year, David Harbour (Stranger Things). New contenders include John Turturro (Severance), Tramell Tilman (Severance), Zach Cherry (Severance), and Oh Young-Soo (Squid Game). If voters are paying attention and want to reward worthy supporting players from previously well-received shows, Alan Ruck (Succession), Kim Bodnia (Killing Eve), Eric Dane (Euphoria), and Jon Huertas (This Is Us) could net votes. And watch out for Nathan Lane (The Gilded Age) or Owen Wilson (Loki) in case those series perform unexpectedly well.

The predicted nominees: Crudup, Culkin, Esposito, Fabian, Macfadyen, Sullivan, Turturro, Young-Soo

The predicted winner: I think that Young-Soo wins.

Next up: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

I've had the pleasure of covering some of the Emmy races for The Film Experience this year. Click here to read my detailed analysis and predictions for this category.

Emmy Nominees: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

My predictions: 5/8

This was a big day for “The Handmaid’s Tale,” with O-T Fagbenle (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Max Minghella (The Handmaid’s Tale) both joining Bradley Whitford (The Handmaid’s Tale) to demonstrate how much voters loved season four of the show. While I do like Chris Sullivan (This Is Us), his nomination this year should have gone to costar Justin Hartley. Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian) is a returning nominee but for a different show, while Michael K. Williams (Lovecraft Country) and John Lithgow (Perry Mason) are also familiar Emmy faces back for new parts. After he was left off last year, I’m glad to see Tobias Menzies (The Crown) included this time around.

Who should win? All good choices – maybe Williams or Lithgow?
Who will win? I think this could go to Williams but I honestly don’t know.

Emmy Predictions: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, July 13th. As always, chime in below in the comments with any thoughts of your own.

Last year’s nominees: Nicholas Braun, Billy Crudup, Kieran Culkin, Mark Duplass, Giancarlo Esposito, Matthew Macfadyen, Bradley Whitford, Jeffrey Wright

The competition: I wrote about this category for The Film Experience, where you can read my analysis, but there has been one very important change since then, which is that Justin Hartley (This Is Us) is competing in this race instead of the lead one, which could enable him to earn his first-ever nomination. It’s also probably smart to swap Anthony Ramos (In Treatment) in given his high profile. I’ll bump Wyatt Russell (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) and Chris Sullivan (This Is Us) for Ramos and Hartley, though I don’t feel too secure about those choices.

The predicted nominees: Esposito, Hartley, Hickey, Lithgow, Menzies, Ramos, Whitford, Williams

The predicted winner: I really don’t know. Maybe Esposito? It could be anyone.

Next up: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

AFT Awards: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

This is the seventh category of the 14th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2019-2020 season. This year, I’m including a shorter list, with just nominees and a few finalists, if applicable. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Matt Bomer, Bobby Cannavale, Peter Dinklage, Harry Lloyd, Alan Tudyk

Emmy nominees: Nicholas Braun, Billy Crudup, Kieran Culkin, Mark Duplass, Giancarlo Esposito, Matthew Macfadyen, Bradley Whitford, Jeffrey Wright

Finalists: Steve Carell (The Morning Show), Tom Pelphrey (Ozark), Matthew Macfadyen (Succession), Kim Bodnia (Killing Eve), Christian Slater (Mr. Robot), Vincent Cassel (Westworld), Kieran Culkin (Succession)

The nominees:

Luis Guzman (Perpetual Grace, LTD)
Billy Crudup (The Morning Show)
Justin Hartley (This Is Us)
Bradley Whitford (The Handmaid's Tale)

The winner:

Josh O'Connor (The Crown) displayed remarkable humanity and decency as a man whose life was proscribed for him, desperate to show those who misjudged him that his status did not define him.

Next up: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

I've had the pleasure of covering some of the Emmy races for The Film Experience this year. Click here to read my detailed analysis and predictions for this category.

Emmy Nominees: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

My predictions: 4/8

Let’s start with the good. I’m happy that expected nominees Billy Crudup (The Morning Show) and Bradley Whitford (The Handmaid’s Tale) didn’t get snubbed. I’m excited that Mark Duplass (The Morning Show) showed up since he really wasn’t expected and did deliver a very strong performance. After sitting down to watch all of “Succession” this year, I’m okay with the potentially excessive inclusion of three actors from that show: Nicholas Braun (Succession), Kieran Culkin (Succession), and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession). What makes me sad is that, even with lots of buzz for both of their shows, Josh O’Connor (The Crown) and Tom Pelphrey (Ozark) couldn’t score. And I just can’t understand how Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul) and Jeffrey Wright (Westworld) were selected over their costars for their work in this past season – they just weren’t the standouts. I’m also surprised that, even with his show making it in for Best Drama Series, past nominee David Harbour (Stranger Things) wasn’t nominated.

Who should win? Crudup or Whitford
Who will win? I think this goes to Crudup since the “Succession” boys split the vote.

AFT Awards: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

This is the fifth category of the 13th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2018-2019 season. This year, I’m including a shorter list, with just nominees and a few finalists, if applicable. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Bobby Cannavale, Bill Irwin, Caleb McLaughlin, Christian Slater, Matias Varela

Emmy nominees: Alfie Allen, Jonathan Banks, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Peter Dinklage, Giancarlo Esposito, Michael Kelly, Chris Sullivan

Finalists: None

The nominees:

Alan Tudyk (Doom Patrol)
Bobby Cannavale (Homecoming)
Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)
Matt Bomer (Doom Patrol)

The winner:

Harry Lloyd (Counterpart) contended with his world collapsing around him, clinging desperately to what he thought he could control.

Next up: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy, Game of Thrones (The Long Night)
Allen earns his first nomination for the final season of his show. After appearing as a supporting player who wasn’t often tied in to the main plotlines, he got a chance to shine in a key scene at the end of his submitted episode. Theon is definitely a fan favorite, but it would be a stretch to argue that Allen’s performance is stronger than those of his nominated costars. He doesn’t have the same gravitas as Gwendoline Christie, the underdog in the supporting actress race, and therefore I’d give him a very low chance of winning here.

Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut, Better Call Saul (Winner)
This is the fifth nomination for Banks for this role, after three previous bids for this show and one for “Breaking Bad.” He was also nominated in 1989 for “Wiseguy.” Banks has become a default nominee whenever his show is eligible. His episode smartly shows him trying as hard as he can to stop someone set on breaking the rules from sealing his own fate, typically maintaining a stoic front while demonstrating an inner humanity. There’s no reason Banks would win this year, but this is a good submission.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister, Game of Thrones (The Bells)
This is the second nomination for Coster-Waldau, who earned his first bid last year for the seventh season of his show. He’s definitely good in his submitted episode, the penultimate hour of the show that finds him making an important choice about his allegiances, but it’s unlikely that people will vote for him over his onscreen brother, played by three-time winner Peter Dinklage. Jaime’s role as a whole is much more minimal than Tyrion’s, and he doesn’t have the same kind of emphatic scene that Theon does, which I think makes him least likely out of the three costars to win.

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Game of Thrones (The Iron Throne)
This is Dinklage’s eighth straight nomination, officially the only performer from his show to be honored each season. He’s also won three times, for seasons one, five, and seven. A consecutive win to go with last year’s seems very likely, and Dinklage honestly could have submitted any of the episodes of this season and been a frontrunner. The finale is controversial, but obviously Emmy voters don’t mind, and Dinklage is so good as the moral center of the series finale that he shouldn’t have too much trouble taking home this award unless voters really want to reward someone else.

Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo Fring, Better Call Saul (Pinata)
Seven years ago, Esposito was nominated for his final season on “Breaking Bad.” He was eligible for his return to that universe in the previous season of this show two years ago, and now he’s earned another bid for portraying the buttoned-up drug kingpin. His role in the fourth season of the AMC prequel isn’t all that prominent, but he does play a major part in his submitted episode, which shows how powerful he is and also includes a reference to a fan-favorite part of the original show for which he’s well-known. A win for him now would be a makeup for his loss seven years ago, but there’s no reason to suspect he has any support at this moment in time.

Michael Kelly as Doug Stamper, House of Cards (Chapter 73)
This is Kelly’s fourth nomination, following the three consecutive bids he received for the most recent seasons of his now-ended show. Kelly’s inclusion feels like a real afterthought for a show well past its prime that flopped in its final outing, though not much of his performance is any different than it’s ever been. His submission of the series finale is the logical choice, but it’s hard to imagine anyone would want to reward this miserable, uninviting turn even if it does show the talent and focus Kelly brings to the character who is unendingly loyal to a dead man.

Chris Sullivan as Toby Damon, This Is Us (Toby)
This is the first nomination for Sullivan, who joins costars Sterling K. Brown and Milo Ventimiglia, both on their third consecutive bids, and fellow first-timer Mandy Moore, to represent his show. Sullivan, who was the comic relief most of the time earlier on in his show’s run, is featured extensively in an episode that has his name as the title, providing a superb showcase for the affable actor. It does make him sympathetic and tells a contained story that could impress irregular viewers, but its serious tone doesn’t quite capture the lightness of his performance that might otherwise enable him to stand out from the pack.

Who should win (based on entire season): Dinklage
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Dinklage
Who will win: Just like last year, I don’t see anyone besides Dinklage winning.

Next up: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Emmy Nominees: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

My predictions: 4/7, missing Allen, Kelly, and Sullivan

Well, if it wasn’t apparent that “Game of Thrones” was immensely popular, this category was the first serious indicator. Joining expected nominees Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) was fan favorite Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones), who didn’t exactly merit the bid with his screentime or performance, but that’s okay. I’m pleased that I predicted Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul) to earn a nomination alongside Jonathan Banks (Better Call Saul), now the second cast member to be recognized for the same performance on two shows. I guess it makes sense that Chris Sullivan (This Is Us) got nominated for this season of his show, though I don’t know what Justin Hartley has to do in order to earn some love. I don’t have much to say about Michael Kelly (House of Cards) being honored yet again for his performance other than that I’d like to forget all about the final season of that show. I would have included many other performers here, but this is the list we have.

Who should win? Honestly, there’s no real comparing to Dinklage, who’s consistently terrific.
Who will win? I think Dinklage wins his fourth award, and I’m all for it.

Emmy Predictions: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, July 16th. As always, chime in below in the comments with any thoughts of your own.

Last year’s nominees: Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Joseph Fiennes, David Harbour, Mandy Patinkin, Matt Smith

The competition: Count out four of last year’s nominees. Joseph Fiennes and David Harbour will be eligible for their shows, returning this summer, next season. A return date hasn’t yet been announced for Patinkin’s show, and Smith’s time on his series, which also has yet to return, is done. Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) is a sure thing, and his costar Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) seems likely too. Two nominees from two years ago, Jonathan Banks (Better Call Saul) and Michael Kelly (House of Cards), may be back now that their shows have returned. Past nominee Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul) didn’t earn a bid the last time he was eligible for his role on this sequel show, but might benefit from increased positive buzz for the series this year. Golden Globe nominee Kieran Culkin (Succession) could join the lineup, as could Justin Hartley (This Is Us), who remains one of the only core members of his show’s cast not to have been nominated. Other possibilities include Peter Mullan (Ozark), who came close to a guest bid for “Westworld” last year, and Shea Whigham (Homecoming) or Bobby Cannavale (Homecoming), whose chances really depend on how well their show is received by voters. I’m sure there are many more contenders waiting in the wings here to surprise since this category seems so much sparser than the rest.

The predicted nominees: Banks, Cannavale, Coster-Waldau, Dinklage, Esposito, Hartley

The predicted winner: This will all but certainly go to Dinklage again.

Next up: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

AFT Awards: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

This is the fifth category of the 12th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2017-2018 season. This year, I’m including a shorter list, with just nominees and a few finalists, if applicable. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Joel Kinnaman, Gaten Matarazzo, Michael McKean, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jeffrey Wright

Emmy nominees: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Peter Dinklage, Joseph Fiennes, David Harbour, Mandy Patinkin, Matt Smith

Finalists: Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Terry Kinney (Good Behavior)

The nominees:

Bobby Cannavale (Mr. Robot)
Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things)
Christian Slater (Mr. Robot)
Bill Irwin (Legion)

The winner:

Matias Varela (Narcos) was a consistent, magnetic part of a show filled with fascinating characters, defined by his dedication to his work despite its often questionable ethics.

Next up: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister, Game of Thrones (The Spoils of War)
It took him seven seasons, but Coster-Waldau finally earned his first Emmy nomination, joining his onscreen brother after Kit Harington got promoted (unsuccessfully) to the lead category. It’s been hard for a few seasons to peg Jaime as a good guy or a bad guy, and this episode epitomizes that as he nearly strikes a fatal blow to a main character. I’m not sure this is the grandest showcase he could have gotten, and not enough to upset his television sibling. Maybe next year for the final season of the show, but he’s not hot enough right now.

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Game of Thrones (The Dragon and the Wolf)
This is Dinklage’s seventh straight nomination, returning after his show sat out last season and now joined by his onscreen brother in this category. He’s won twice, for the show’s first season and its fifth, making him a solid bet to repeat again given how well-liked he is. He submitted the season finale, in which he has some good moments with his sister wanting to kill him. It’s reasonable to expect that he could prevail again, even if this isn’t his showiest submission.

Joseph Fiennes as Commander Fred Waterford, The Handmaid’s Tale (First Blood)
Fiennes joins his female costars with his first nomination for his portrayal of the commander of the home in which the title handmaid resides. I personally would have chosen “Women’s Work,” which is costar Yvonne Strahovski’s submission, for him since it showcases him in a horrible way, but this hour offers an arguably more complex depiction of a man who may be a monster but also knows what to do to convince the women in his life that he cares about them. If his show sweeps like it did last year, he could easily be carried along with that wave.

David Harbour as Chief Jim Hopper, Stranger Things (Chapter Four: Will the Wise)
This is the second consecutive nomination for Harbour, who is one of two acting nominees from his show, which dropped from nineteen to twelve overall nominations this year. His submitted episode finds him interacting a lot with fellow nominee Millie Bobby Brown, showing his attempts to be a parent and a lawman at the same time. He seems to be popular, and even though I’d choose one of the kids on the show instead, he’s got a shot.

Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson, Homeland (Species Jump)
This is Patinkin’s fourth nomination for this role and his second in a row. He won an Emmy back in 1995 for “Chicago Hope.” He’s been a dependable player on a show that’s been anything but in the past few years, and now he represents just one of three overall bids for his show. In his submitted episode, he stays calm and cool as he deals with many moving pieces around him. He’s hardly a hot candidate, but he’s a respectable choice who could easily take the win in a year without a definitive frontrunner.

Matt Smith as Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, The Crown (Mystery Man)
Smith earned his first Emmy nomination for portraying the trouble-making, selfish royal spouse who in the second season gets to live his own life away from the crown with frequent reminders that he isn’t free to do as he pleases. Getting called out by his wife on his behavior made for a stellar scene, one that Claire Foy owns but Smith performs strongly in as well. His costar John Lithgow won this award last year, but I think his performance is far showier and more memorable than Smith’s.

Who should win (based on entire season): Dinklage or Fiennes
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Dinklage, Fiennes or Smith
Who will win: I’m really not sure. My gut says that Dinklage takes it again, though it might be Fiennes or Patinkin also.

Next up: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Emmy Nominees: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

My predictions: 4/6, picking Bobby Cannavale and Justin Hartley over Coster-Waldau and Fiennes

Two widely-predicted contenders in this category, Justin Hartley and Noah Schnapp, didn’t make the cut despite their shows doing pretty well elsewhere. I suppose any enthusiasm for “Mr. Robot” was too much to hope for. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) finally earned his first Emmy nomination after many years of only Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) being nominated, and I think it’s a worthwhile inclusion this year. Two other supporting players who didn’t make it last year got their shot this year: Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Matt Smith (The Crown), deserving nominees whose material really was expanded. David Harbour (Stranger Things) is back again for his show, as is Mandy Patinkin (Homeland), a show still hanging on after starting strong years ago.

Who should win? These are all good choices, though I’d probably leave off Patinkin for the portion of his season that I’ve seen. Dinklage would probably get my vote, though any of them would be fine.
Who will win? It’s hard to say. I think Dinklage will probably win ago if Smith doesn’t upset.

Emmy Predictions: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations will be announced on Thursday, July 12th. As always, chime in below in the comments with any thoughts of your own.

Last year’s nominees: Jonathan Banks, David Harbour, Ron Cephas Jones, Michael Kelly, John Lithgow, Mandy Patinkin, Jeffrey Wright

The competition: Expect a huge shakeup in this category since just two of last year’s nominees are in the running. Wright and Jones will compete in other categories, Lithgow didn’t appear on his show, and Banks and Kelly’s series have been on hiatus and will return later this year. David Harbour (Stranger Things) should be a sure thing, whereas Mandy Patinkin (Homeland), who has only been nominated for half of his show’s run, is far from guaranteed. Past nominee Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) will be nominated again now that his show is back, and another past nominee, Jon Voight (Ray Donovan), could return too. Transplanted category nominees could include Anthony Hopkins (Westworld), downgraded from lead, and BD Wong (Mr. Robot), upgraded from guest. Justin Hartley (This Is Us) seems likely to join the list after being left off last year, and previous would-be contenders like Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) and Noah Emmerich (The Americans) could finally be nominated. Matt Smith (The Crown) and Noah Schnapp (Stranger Things) both stand a solid chance of being included, and votes could also go to Asia Kate Dillon (Billions), Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale), Zahn McClarnon (Westworld), and Richard Schiff (The Good Doctor). I’d watch out for an actor who was previously nominated for a show after it had lost support in major categories, and one who was terrific in his role: Bobby Cannavale (Mr. Robot).

The predicted nominees: Cannavale, Dinklage, Harbour, Hartley, Patinkin, Smith

The predicted winner: I think that Cannavale takes it if he’s nominated.

Next up: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

AFT Awards: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

This is the fifth category of the 11th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2016-2017 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 Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Liam Cunningham, Peter Dinklage, Michael McKean, Rufus Sewell, David Tennant

Emmy nominees: Jonathan Banks, David Harbour, Ron Cephas Jones, Michael Kelly, John Lithgow, Mandy Patinkin, Jeffrey Wright

Semi-finalists: Alex Mallari Jr. (Dark Matter), Anthony Lemke (Dark Matter), Asia Kate Dillon (Billions), Bill Irwin (Legion), Bryan Cranston (Sneaky Pete), Campbell Scott (House of Cards), Christopher Eccleston (The Leftovers), Clayne Crawford (Rectify), Eddie Marsan (Ray Donovan), Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul), Iain De Caestecker (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Jason Isaacs (The OA), Jeremie Harris (Legion), Jonathan Banks (Better Call Saul), Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid's Tale), Juan Diego Botto (Good Behavior), Lou Diamond Phillips (Longmire), Mahershala Ali (Luke Cage), Nick Zano (Legends of Tomorrow), Ron Cephas Jones (This Is Us), Rufus Sewell (The Man in the High Castle), Terry Kinney (Good Behavior), Tom Cavanagh (The Flash)

Finalists: Jimmi Simpson (Westworld) represented a sense of innocence and wonder in his obsession with a fantasy world, while Ed Harris (Westworld) was a bitter, disgruntled man made evil by his own misery. Jeremy Strong (Masters of Sex) was a devoted scientist whose own happiness took a backseat to his work and the illusion of his marriage. Jason O'Mara (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) was an emblem of strength and hope, driven by a commitment to serve others. Iain De Caestecker (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) was transformed into a completely unrecognizable person and was a true force for terror.

The nominees:

Michael McKean (Better Call Saul) set out to take charge of his life and punish those who had wronged him, painfully pushing through his condition, be it real or imagined. Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things) was a wondrous representation of youthful energy and positivity, keeping the gang together when disputes threatened to tear them apart. Joel Kinnaman (House of Cards) charged forward as a candidate with the knowledge that he was best for the job, and his fury when faced with opposition was hard to shake. Jeffrey Wright (Westworld) treated his role as a programmer as that of a pioneering scientist, and the way in which he digested new information gleaned was mesmerizing.

The winner:

Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead) was a villain for the ages, one fully aware of just how horrible he was and that no one had any power to stop him.

Next up: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut, Better Call Saul (Witness)
This is Banks’ fourth nomination for this role, with nods the past two years for this series and in 2013 for “Breaking Bad.” He was also nominated in 1989 for “Wiseguy.” Banks being recognized is yet another instance of questionable watching by viewers of the show, since costar Michael McKean should have had this spot this year. In Banks’ submitted episode, former fellow nominee Giancarlo Esposito is the one who has a more prominent showcase thanks to his long-anticipated return, so I don’t imagine this will be the year that Banks takes home the gold.

David Harbour as Chief Hopper, Stranger Things (The Upside Down)
This is the first Emmy nomination for Harbour, an actor who has appeared in a number of projects throughout the years. I remember him best from “The Newsroom” and “Black Mass.” He’s one of just two cast members from his show nominated, and his performance as Chief Hopper is one that’s mostly comical but also full of deadly seriousness, as demonstrated in his very strong choice of the season finale, which humanizes him by flashing back to an impactful loss in his life while chronicling an attempt to save another in the present. He’ll get some votes, and he could theoretically win, but he’s not nearly as popular as his younger female costar.

Michael Kelly as Doug Stamper, House of Cards (Chapter 64)
This is Kelly’s third consecutive nomination. I’ve argued that he is far from the most deserving member from his cast to be recognized these days, but he does still turn in a fine, focused performance as a man called upon to move mountains and sacrifice himself so that others can remain in power. His submitted episode is the ultimate example of that, and Kelly still makes him a complex character who may well have known the whole time that this is where he was headed. I don’t see him winning in any scenario, but he’ll get some votes.

Ron Cephas Jones as William Hill, This Is Us (Memphis)
This is the first awards nomination of any kind for Jones, who has appeared on a handful of other TV shows in less prominent supporting roles over the past two years. Jones is an easy pick for the most sentimental of all the roles on an already excessively sentimental show, and submitting the episode in which he goes on a final road trip with his son is almost a guaranteed way for him to win. Consider him pretty likely.

John Lithgow as Winston Churchill, The Crown (Assassins)
Lithgow, who I prefered this season for his turn in NBC’s comedy “Trial and Error,” is an Emmy juggernaut. This is his twelfth nomination. He has won five times, including three trophies for “3rd Rock from the Sun” and one for guest-starring on “Dexter.” Now, he’s playing a famous historical figure, who in his submitted episode must confront the fact that he is aging when he sits for a painting. It’s a superb showcase and no one will deny that Lithgow is excellent in the role.

Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson, Homeland (America First)
This is Patinkin’s third nomination for his role and his first since 2014, the only other year when his show also wasn’t up for Best Drama Series. He won an Emmy back in 195 for “Chicago Hope.” He represents just one of two nods for his current show, which is also up for directing for his submitted episode. The season finale finds Saul choosing the right side after walking the line for a while and getting penalized for it. I think this show is way past its prime, and just because Patinkin is still a good actor doesn’t mean the show or his character should be winning awards these days.

Jeffrey Wright as Bernard Lowe, Westworld (The Well-Tempered Clavier)
Wright won an Emmy in 2004 for his supporting work in the miniseries “Angels of America,” beating out three costars from the same project. Now, Wright is the only member of his cast nominated in this category, despite an expected fellow nominee and another who would have been deserving too, for his portrayal of a man who treats his work as a Westworld programmer as that of a scientist. His selected episode, the penultimate installment of the season, is a superb showcase of Bernard as he learns much more about his origins, and makes a phenomenal argument for the respected actor, who many thought would be nominated for “Boardwalk Empire” a few years back, to take home the award again this year.

Who should win (based on entire season): Wright
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Wright, Lithgow, or Jones
Who will win: This is a two-person competition between Jones and Lithgow. I’m inclined to go with the former since I think that his show will be recognized for some of its acting, giving Jones and his onscreen son twin trophies. Don’t be surprised at all if Lithgow wins though - he’s the more distinguished choice, mainly because of the classical quality of his show.

Next up: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Emmy Nominees: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

My predictions: 4/7, missing Patinkin, Harbour, and Wright

This is one of a number of categories this season where there are seven nominees and still some important people left off. Ed Harris’ snub is the most surprising, though I’m glad that Jeffrey Wright (Westworld), who for some reason I didn’t predict, did make the cut. Jonathan Banks (Better Call Saul) is a solid choice, but it’s still so puzzling to me that anyone who watches the show would pick him over Michael McKean this season, though that was a similar problem that happened when Aaron Paul kept getting nominated for “Breaking Bad.” All the actors on that show are terrific; it’s just a matter of picking the right standout each season. I think David Harbour (Stranger Things) counts as a surprise, though I’m clueless since I haven’t yet seen the show, which I plan to watch this summer. Mandy Patinkin (Homeland) is a bizarre choice since the show has gone very far downhill and for the first time neither Claire Danes nor the show are nominated. Ron Cephas Jones (This Is Us) is a good pick for his show, while Michael Kelly (House of Cards) hardly seems to me, halfway through the season at this point, to be the right pick from his show (I’d go with Joel Kinnaman). Rounding out the list is John Lithgow (The Crown), whose show I’ll also be watching this summer.

Who should win? Out of those I’ve seen, definitely Wright. More once I’ve watched the rest.
Who will win? I’ll pick Jones for sentimentality reasons, though I think Lithgow could just as easily win.