What I’m Watching: Longmire

Longmire: Season 3, Episode 6 “Reports of My Death” (B+)

First of all, let’s give this show a hand for its terrific title. It does reference a pretty fantastic scene and some superb dialogue delivery too. The framework of this episode was very strong, featuring the mystery of who killed the missing man worth millions and whether said man was actually who people believed him to be. What this episode did well was it created a viable suspect who ended up being anything but threatening, setting Ferg up for some serious hurt and instead allowing him the opportunity to be complicit in the real Wells’ escape from his terrible family. It’s hard to determine who was really right or wrong in this situation, but this episode presented the question in a very worthwhile and often entertaining way. Vic going with Branch on his stakeout was an important move and an equally unwelcome one, but at least it’s good that she’s proactively looking out for him and trying to help him before he crosses the line again and gets himself into real trouble. Henry seems hell bent on violating his parole, but for good reason. His tracking of Malachi seemed personal and ill-advised, but instead it revealed something much more vital and unsettling. His apparent complicity in the murder of Walt’s wife is sure to set off a domino effect of worrisome developments in the county, and it will provide Cady with an impetus for being more involved and getting more screentime, which is certainly not a bad thing as things intensify over the course of the coming episodes.

What I’m Watching: 24

24: Season 9, Episode 11 “Day 9: 9:00pm-10:00pm” (D-)

It’s hard to believe how we got here, with two presidents on the phone with each other trying to stop a war that’s already begun from starting and Jack doing whatever he feels like in search of some impossible solution that will resolve this whole conflict. It turns out that the Russians ambushing Jack and Kate as they were about to close in on Chloe wasn’t a coincidence, and that Anatol is working directly with Cheng to create world conflict that the two can spin to their advantage. It would seem logical, therefore, for Anatol to have warned Cheng that Jack was in London and so close to tracking him. Instead, it was possible for Jack to immediately uncover another would-be traitor’s identity thanks to his uncovered trail and all of a sudden a fully cooperative Mark was on the way to Anatol’s private residence, an address known to the chief of staff who didn’t realize he was a criminal, even though Jack thought that was completely obvious. Mark, an inconsequential character, came out with barely a scratch, while the potentially useful person, Anatol, ended up dead pretty much at Mark’s hands. Now, Cheng managed to be on the run and keep a close eye on Audrey, enough to take out all her kids and position himself for some terrific revenge on Jack. What was just hours ago a global conflict and might still be one has now transformed into a fully personal vendetta, which, if nothing else, ties this show together by harking back to the great days of season one when an assassination attempt on a presidential candidate and lone CTU agent was all about personal payback. Those were the days…

Round Two: The Leftovers

The Leftovers: Season 1, Episode 2 “Penguin One, Us Zero” (B+)

In its second outing, this show demonstrates that it’s extremely dark, and isn’t going to offer any sort of satisfying, peaceful sentiment anytime soon. The level of detail is impressive, namely the notion of an insurance representative going door-to-door assessing claims of those who disappeared in the rapture. This show has constructed for itself some intense, disturbed characters, and it’s fascinating to see them interact with each other. Jill’s obsession with Nora is an intriguing way to learn about one character, with another tailing her and judging her as she goes about her daily business. Kevin, meanwhile, is having lots of trouble convincing people that his dog-killing friend Dean exists, though that haunting scene near the end confirms that he does seem to be real and that he is going to continue to involve Kevin is his crusade against what he believes are no longer their dogs. Laurie’s newfound role as mentor to Meg is very interesting, and it’s a fantastic way to get to know this particular cult. The final scene with Meg triumphantly swinging at the tree was enormously effective, and this series manages to capture the long-honored tradition of HBO episodes feeling like full movies, ending on a stirring and affecting note. Whatever is going on with Kevin’s son is definitely worrisome, but I do think this show has done well by focusing on a family unit where each parent is in a completely different place and the two children are just as determined and forceful in their chosen perspectives on society and what they plan to do to change it.

What I’m Watching: True Blood

True Blood: Season 7, Episode 3 “Fire in the Hole” (B)

This episode was a bit more put together, and certainly included its share of monumental developments. It’s exciting to see that Sarah Newlin is back since she’s been one of the show’s more consistent characters, plus it means a chance for the fabulous Anna Camp to play one of her more juicy roles. Unfortunately, her carefully-timed lovemaking was followed by the decapitation of her sexual partner and cult leader, and it seems that his murderers aren’t the only ones after her, since Eric seemed mighty eager to track her down when Pam revealed that she was alive. The flashback to Eric choosing his human over Pam was stirring, though not quite as much as the flashback to Bill’s family being photographed before the war by a Fortenberry. The early rescue of the imprisoned townsfolk by Jessica and Andy was a far too optimistic indicator of things to come, since Sam’s vampire colleague got blown away pretty quickly, and now he’s on the run too. Hoyt’s mom shooting Jessica wasn’t fatal for her target but did produce a surprisingly vengeful response from Violet, who just earlier was part of an entertaining conversation with Jason about adopting a child. James and Lafayette bonding was a treat, and I also find the reverend’s sermon to Willa very moving. The notion of Sookie literally being vampire bait is not surprising, and my favorite part of her time with Bill was their discussion of Six Flags. Alcide getting killed was a shock, and I guess it means that things are serious now and this is going to be one hell of a bloody final season.

What I’m Watching: Orange is the New Black

Orange is the New Black: Season 2, Episode 5 “Low Self Esteem City” (B+)

More and more, this show is utilizing its ensemble to tremendous effect. Starting a war over bathrooms between two of the cultures in the prison is certainly an intense route, and one that’s sure to be full of hijinks. Gloria reducing Vee to tears was a low point, and John going ballistic after Dayanara got tripped was a worrisome moment that won’t be so easy to sweep under the rug. Gloria’s backstory was a powerful one, and watching her abusive husband burn after he tried to take her money was a sign that she is not someone to be messed with. It’s despicable to see how Natalie deals with problems at the prison, reducing everything to a cost figure and mandating showers no longer than thirty seconds for inmates. This episode did manage to make two previously unlikable characters relatively sympathetic, thanks to a chance run-in off-premises between Healy and Caputo. The latter being part of a band called Side Boob was pretty hilarious, and it seems that Healy is the more eager of the two to continue the friendship, mainly because he’s having plenty of trouble at home getting his wife to like him despite the helpful advice he gets from Red. Healy granting furlough to Piper following her all-too-jovial discovery of her grandmother’s impending death was a rare sentimental moment, and maybe it’s indicative of more kindness to come, though I doubt it. Nicky trying to seduce Fischer in her sex battle with Boo is bold, and at the moment at appears to be nowhere near productive.

Emmy Nominees: Best Comedy Series

My predictions: 6/6!

It’s good to get the top two categories 100% right. I’ve most past my fury over “Parks and Recreation” being snubbed two years ago and now I’m content enough with “Girls” being dropped from the list and “Shameless” never having a prayer despite a category switch. What we did get were the expected returns – Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, Louie, and Veep - plus two very different freshmen series, Orange is the New Black and Silicon Valley. Given the realistic options, I’m pretty satisfied.

Who should win? I have to watch the submitted episodes for “The Big Bang Theory” and “Louie,” but otherwise I’d give it to OITNB or “Veep”
Who will win? I think Orange is the New Black could finally dethrone “Modern Family.”

Emmy Nominees: Best Drama Series

My predictions: 6/6!

How exciting, that I got the top two races fully correct! What we have here is actually a pretty big holdover from last year, with Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, and Mad Men all earning the latest in a long chain of nominations and House of Cards netting its second consecutive bid. The winner from two years ago, “Homeland,” is out, and instead we get new series True Detective, which I’ll now have to go back and start watching from episode two. I didn’t think “The Good Wife” as a whole deserved a bid, and the same goes for “Masters of Sex,” so I’m not too disappointed given my expectations.

Who should win? I haven’t seen most of “True Detective,” but I think that “Breaking Bad” is probably a good choice even if it’s somewhat overrated.
Who will win? Unless “True Detective” pulls off an upset, Breaking Bad has won this already.

Emmy Nominees: Best Writing for a Comedy Series

My predictions: 2/5, picking only “Episodes” and OITNB and the wrong “Silicon Valley” episode

The nominees: Episode 305 (Episodes), So Did the Fat Lady (Louie), I Wasn’t Ready (Orange is the New Black), Optimal Tip-to-Tip Efficiency (Silicon Valley), Special Relationship (Veep)

I’m pretty happy with this category. It’s great to know that “Episodes” is a default nominee, and so exciting that “Veep” made the cut for a very funny London-set half-hour. I wrote about how the title of the season finale of “Silicon Valley” would make it a shoo-in but predicted the pilot instead, but I’m happy since this was the better episode. The pilot of OITNB made the cut, which is great. I thought that two “Louie” episodes would cancel each other out, but it seems that voters were able to pick. Now, if only “Parks and Recreation” was recognized…

Who should win? Still have to watch “Louie,” but give it to “Silicon Valley” or “Veep”
Who will win? “I Wasn’t Ready”

Emmy Nominees: Best Directing for a Comedy Series

My predictions: 2/6, picking only “Orange is the New Black” and “Louie” and the wrong “Modern Family” episode

The nominees: Episode 309 (Episodes), 100 (Glee), Elevator, Part 6 (Louie), Vegas (Modern Family), Lesbian Request Denied (Orange is the New Black), Minimum Viable Product (Silicon Valley)

We have some expected things and some interesting surprises here. I’m so thrilled to see that “Episodes” is being honored this year in another place in addition to its token acting and writing nods. I’m less excited about “Glee” getting a default nomination, and I picked the wrong “Modern Family” installment. “Louie” is predictably here for its one submission, and I was surprised to see that one of my two predicted OITNB episodes made the cut, but not the pilot. They’re joined by the intriguing pilot of “Silicon Valley,” even if it wasn’t the best episode of the show’s season.

Who should win? I have to watch “Glee” and “Louie,” but I’d say “Episodes” for sure
Who will win? “Minimum Viable Product”

Emmy Nominees: Best Writing for a Drama Series

My predictions: 3/5, missing “Downton Abbey” and “Game of Thrones”

The nominees: Felina (Breaking Bad), Ozymandias (Breaking Bad), The Children (Game of Thrones), Chapter 14 (House of Cards), The Secret Fate of All of Life (True Detective)

It turns out that only two episodes of “Breaking Bad” are here instead of three, while “Downton Abbey” got nominated for directing instead of writing. What we get as a result are the expected “True Detective” installment, the season finale of “Game of Thrones,” and the season premiere of “House of Cards.” There’s not too much to say about this category, other than the fact that, as expected, it contains no trace of “Mad Men.”

Who should win? I still have to watch the “True Detective” episode, but I’d go for “Ozymandias”
Who will win? “Felina”

Emmy Nominees: Best Directing for a Drama Series

My predictions: 3/6

The nominees: Farewell Daddy Blues (Boardwalk Empire), Felina (Breaking Bad), Episode 1 (Downton Abbey), The Watchers on the Wall (Game of Thrones), Chapter 14 (House of Cards), Who Goes There (True Detective)

Something I predicted in the writing category happened here instead, and something I predicted here happened there. The series finale of “Breaking Bad” was honored but the companion episode I chose is up for writing only, while the season premiere of “Downton Abbey” is nominated here but not for writing. It’s never wise to bet against the season finale of “Boardwalk Empire,” which is sure to be here next year for its final season too given the show’s track record, despite it not being nominated in any other major category. I correctly picked the submitted episodes of “Game of Thrones” and “True Detective,” and didn’t realize just how much voters would love the game-changing premiere of “House of Cards.”

Who should win? I have to watch the episode of “True Detective,” but I think that it’s probably “Felina”
Who will win? “Who Goes There”

Emmy Nominees: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

My predictions: 3/6, missing Cusack, Fey, and Lyonne

Let’s chalk up my omission of Tina Fey (Saturday Night Live) as skimming over her name too quickly when I looked through the ballot. Though her last nomination was in 2011, it makes perfect sense that the Emmy favorite would earn her fourth nomination this year for this part. She’s joined by double nominee Melissa McCarthy (Saturday Night Live), scoring her third consecutive bid. Dot-Marie Jones didn’t make the cut for the first time in four years, but Joan Cusack (Shameless), eligible here for the first time after three consecutive nominations in the corresponding drama category, took her place. I’m excited to report a fantastic figure, which is that half of these nominees are deservedly from “Orange is the New Black,” a show with great female characters: Uzo Aduba, a.k.a. Crazy Eyes, Laverne Cox, the transgender actress who portrays Sophia, and Natasha Lyonne, better known as the promiscuous Nicky.

Who should win? I have to watch both SNL episodes, but I’d be happy with any of the ladies from OINTB.
Who will win? They could split the votes, but I think it has to be either Aduba or Cox.

Emmy Nominees: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

My predictions: 5/6, picking Andy Samberg over Buscemi

This category contains for me the best nomination of all this year. I predicted it but didn’t honestly expect it to happen, and I’m so thrilled that Gary Cole (Veep) is finally being recognized for his terrific talent. Variety hosts Louis C.K. (Saturday Night Live) and Jimmy Fallon (Saturday Night Live) are back for their second nominations, while Nathan Lane (Modern Family) returns for his fourth nomination for this role while he deserved to be recognized much more for “The Good Wife” again, which didn’t happen. Last year’s winner, Bob Newhart (The Big Bang Theory), is back, and he’s joined by a truly intriguing but cool nominee: Steve Buscemi (Portlandia). I have to check out his episode since that’s not a show I’ve watched since its pilot. Too bad for Andy Samberg, who, despite six previous nods for music and lyrics, was set to earn two acting nominations this morning and missed out on both fronts.

Who should win? I’ve only seen Cole and Lane to this point, so more on that come winner predictions time!
Who will win? It would be amazing if it was Cole, but I think Fallon or Newhart is likelier.

Emmy Nominees: Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

My predictions: 2/6, but three of the other four were my alternates!

I bet correctly on one nominee from last year to repeat, Margo Martindale (The Americans), but then chose winner Carrie Preston over two veterans who are back, Jane Fonda (The Newsroom) and Diana Rigg (Game of Thrones). Seeing Allison Janney (Masters of Sex) here is no surprise, and the same is true of Kate Burton (Scandal), who is no stranger to this category but who I didn’t see coming since I don’t watch her show. It’s nice to see Kate Mara (House of Cards) recognized as a consolation prize for being snubbed for a more extended performance last season. Too bad for Julianne Nicholson, who will hopefully one day get the recognition she deserves.

Who should win? I need to watch Martindale and Burton, but at this point Janney or Mara
Who will win? Historical trends aren’t helpful here since I think that Janney will take it.

Emmy Nominees: Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

My predictions: 3/6, missing Baker, Cathey, and Morton

I thought that four of last year’s nominees in this race would repeat, but it turns out only Robert Morse (Mad Men) did, earning his fourth mention for this role. Dylan Baker (The Good Wife) continues his trend of being nominated every two years for the same part, knocking out Nathan Lane (and Michael J. Fox, who wasn’t submitted). Joining them we have some fresh faces, including Emmy favorites Beau Bridges (Masters of Sex) and Paul Giamatti (Downton Abbey). I didn’t see Joe Morton (Scandal) coming, and I don’t watch the show, but good for him. The best true surprise is Reg E. Cathey (House of Cards), a great actor who delivered a heartfelt performance that could easily have gone unnoticed but very fortunately didn’t.

Who should win? I have to watch Morton’s episode, but now I’d go with Cathey or Bridges. Who will win? It could be Bridges, but I think Morse will dance away with it.