Thursday, July 16, 2015

Just About Write Reacts to the 2015 Emmy Nominations - Drama



So now that we've spent some time perusing the Comedy nominations, let's talk about how we feel regarding the Drama ones. Personally, I realize throughout awards season that I watch infinitely more comedies than I do dramas. I like my dramas a bit lighter -- things like Scorpion or The Flash -- and those deemed "critical" are outside my wheelhouse.

But that's why I've got some great people to help me discuss them, right? Let's take a look at some of our thoughts on this year's Emmy nominees... through GIFs. :)

* LINK TO THE COMEDY NOMINEE REACTIONS

Outstanding Drama – 
Better Call Saul 
Downton Abbey 
Game of Thrones 
Homeland 
House of Cards 
Mad Men
Orange is the New Black 

JENN:










I don’t watch any of these shows, but I’ve heard they’re all great. Literally they’re all exactly the same as last year and years prior (minus Better Call Saul – a first time nominee – and OITNB – a former comedy nominee), so eh. Whatevs. I would have loved to see some variety in here but that’s a pipe dream.

LIZZIE:











This one’s actually simpler for me. I’m happy about Better Call Saul, even if I didn’t include it in my original list, and I’m not surprised about any of the other nominations. But I AM bummed about Outlander, an amazing series that got no love whatsoever.

RAE:















Oh, I'm sorry, were you just telling me about the dramas that were nominated? I got bored and stop listening. Oh wait, did you say Orange Is the New Black got nominated?

I'm very glad OITNB is getting recognition, and the stories it tells are so important. The more people who get turned on to it, the better. Then maybe next year it won't be one of the only drama nominated that focuses on the women in the story, not the men. Outlander and Jane the Virgin are also great shows that fit that description, but they are nowhere to be found. And please don't get me started on the lack of The Americans.

LYNNIE:

















Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to see a predominately all female cast get into this category, and I hope they win, but it’s almost like the voters don’t even watch TV. They just keep voting the same things in, hoping we won’t notice.

And where the heck is Daredevil? It has all the things.

JENNY:














I actually respect the Emmys for ignoring a usual suspect like The Good Wife. Sad to see a solid, reliable series take such a nose dive last season, but it did. The show's absence from this category is deserved.

MEGAN:














I really don’t have much to say as it looks pretty similar to last year. And the year before that. Ugh. I’m looking for variety, not the same stuff every year. Oh! And LOOK! I don’t see Sons of Anarchy anywhere.

Lead Actor: Drama – 
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Kyle Chandler, Bloodline
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom

Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan

LIZZIE:















This is the Emmys, so everything can’t be good news. This category is filled with great actors, so I wasn’t expecting Stephen Amell to get his very-deserved nomination, but James Spader? Gabriel Macht? Macht has been killing it every night this season. And Sam Heughan more than earned his nomination with his work in the last three episodes of the season.  Not that he got it, no. SAME OLD, SAME OLD.

RAE:













I like all these actors individually very much, but this is not a very exciting category for me. Nothing feels new or game-changing in any way. John Hamm is my pick for a winner, but should have won a million times already.

LYNNIE:
















All of these men are wonderful actors and gentlemen, but I just… meh. Seriously, are these the only shows on television right now? In the pantheon of the resurgence of television in the past decade no other show exists? Ever?

CHELSEA:










Remember how I didn't care about this category? Well, Coach Taylor is here so maybe I'll have to give his show a chance.

JEN:













Of all the nominations I watch two. This may be a record. I'm sorry folks. I'm just not edgy. I catch all the cable shows after they go on Netflix. Eventually. In 4 or 5 years. This boils down to Kevin Spacey or Jon Hamm. I am going thorugh a major House of Cards binge which is basically Keysor Soze goes to Washington. FYI - that's a glorious thing. It should clinch it for Spacey. It certainly clinched the Oscar!

However, this is Hamm's year. He made me cry buckets during the Mad Men finale. I'm talking Oliver Queen crying over Thea's in the hospital bed level tears. Or Barry Allen crying over his dying mother level tears. (... HOW ARE THESE MEN NOT NOMINATED? Yup. Still bitter.)

Sorry John. This is about you. Anyone who can sum up an eight year exitensial crisis in one look and process said existential crisis with a hug deserves an Emmy.

Lead Actress: Drama – 
Taraji P. Henson, Empire
Claire Danes, Homeland
Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men

Robin Wright, House of Cards

JENN:














I really don't have many opinions on any of the other nominees in the Drama category to vocalize, except here is how I feel ABOUT TATIANA GETTING A NOMINATION FOR LEAD ACTRESS FOR HER AMAZING PERFORMANCES IN ORPHAN BLACK.

LIZZIE:












I’ve never seen Orphan Black and even I’m happy with Tatiana Maslany’s nomination. But, oh, how my heart cries when they include the same people year after year. The Lead Actor and Actresses categories are always the worst offenders in this respect. We get it, they’re good… but they’re not the only one doing great things!

RAE:
















TARAJI! TATIANA! This was the category I struggled with the most because there are so many stellar performances to consider for lead actress. I definitely wish that Caitriona Balfe was nominated for Outlander or Keri Russell for The Americans, but I am BEYOND thrilled that Taraji and Tatiana were recognized for their amazing performances on Empire and Orphan Black. Their performances are both so unique and different from the boring straight-laced, stressed out women from Emmys past. And any recognition for genre or crazy dramas is A+.

Having said all that, the fact that Eva Green isn't on this is list is going to be so embarrassing when people finally catch on to how amazing her performance is on Penny Dreadful. It's genre too, though, so maybe they can only handle so much genre at once.

LYNNIE:


















I have to admit to loving almost everything about this category, and I’m really happy that Tatiana Maslany is getting recognition for the crazy endeavor of portraying so many different people so perfectly.

CHELSEA:












TATIANA DID IT YOU GUYS! MIRACLES HAPPEN AND I'M STARTING TO BELIEVE IN A HIGHER POWER! WE CAN HAVE NICE THINGS!

MEGAN:














FINALLY! FINALLY! TATIANA MASLANY WAS NOMINATED FOR HER EXTRAORDINARY WORK ON ORPHAN BLACK! I don’t think I have ever been this excited. Except maybe when Katey Sagal won the Golden Globe a few years back. This is one of the most well deserved nominations ever. Tatiana plays multiple people, half of the time in the same scene, and does each of them so well and so differently. She’s remarkable in this series and if you haven’t been watching Orphan Black, you’re missing out. Ah! I can’t even contain my excitement!

I’m also really stoked about Viola Davis, Robin Wright and Elisabeth Moss, but like… Tatiana is just so incredible that I can’t focus on anyone else. Even though they’re all really great on their respective shows.

JEN:












If the Academy doesn't give Taraji P. Henson the Emmy I will riot.

Supporting Actor: Drama – 
Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
Peter Dinklage, Game Of Thrones
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife

Michael Kelly, House Of Cards

LIZZIE:












Peter Dinklage owns this category, and I’m not even mad about that. I’m happy for Jonathan Banks, who I think is terrific as Mike. And the rest was just me building castles in the air The dream is gone now. (Hey, Colin O’Donoghue … I think you’re wonderful. Let me give you a hug.)

CHELSEA:










Glad Alan is here but I don't watch enough of the other shows to care about this category. Meh.

MEGAN:
















I’m beyond thrilled that Michael Kelly was nominated for his best supporting actor turn on House of Cards. Doug is already a formidable force on the political drama, but he really stood out on this last season.

Supporting Actress: Drama – 
Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
Lena Headey, Game Of Thrones
Emilia Clarke, Game Of Thrones
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men

Uzo Aduba, Orange Is The New Black

LIZZIE:












Good for Uzo Aduba, and Lena Headey. Not sure Emilia Clarke has enough wow moments this year to earn that nomination, but she’s consistently good, so it’s not like I’m complaining. But oh, Sarah Rafferty, Emily Bett Rickards… one day. ONE DAY.

JENNY:













Guess green-screen scenes don't count?

CHELSEA:













Willing to bet a lot of the OITNB actresses cancelled each other out but I'm glad Uzo made it through amd I'm hoping for a repeat of the SAG Awards for her. Joanne Froggatt is the only reason to watch Downton these days so I won't complain and it's always a pleasure to see every other lady. No shade to these Game of Thrones ladies from wife.

JEN:

   









Where Christine Boranski goes, so goes my nation.

Writing: Drama – 
“Do Mail Robots Dream Of Electric Sheep?” (The Americans)
“Five-O” (Better Call Saul)
“Mother’s Mercy” (Game of Thrones)
“Lost Horizon” (Mad Men)
“Person To Person” (Mad Men)

LIZZIE:














I did say “Mother’s Mercy” was like, my ONLY pick, and I really, really hope it wins. Best hour of television I’ve been subjected to in quite a while. (Funny way to describe it, I know, but when your TV shows cause you to cry, yell and throw stuff at the TV, but still tune in, that’s the only description that applies)

JEN:



THE AMERICANS! I'm cheering like my state's sports team is going to the Super Bowl (by the way that will never happen). If you did not watch "Do Mail Robots Dream of Electric Sheep?" you are missing one of the best hours on television all year. Start to finish it was emotional, tense and chilling. EVERYTHING The Americans is and everything drama should be.

DA SNUBS – 













JENN: I’m REALLY mad that there was no Parenthood love for its final season. Craig T. Nelson and Mae Whitman, especially, deserved awards. And shows on The CW (The 100, Arrow, The Flash) deserve to be recognized for the achievements they are. At least give Arrow a stunt nomination, guys. The stunts are what drew me to this show.

RAE: The rest of The CW was mostly ignored, even though shows like The FlashArrow, and The 100 have received praise from regular audiences and critics alike. (The Flash was nominated for special visual effects, but that's it.) Genre, teen shows, and straight up fun shows are just as important and good as sad, boring (primarily white) shows that get held up as the ~most important~ television. The tide is starting to turn a little bit, and I'm glad shows like Empire and Orphan Black are beginning to get their due, but I will forever fight for less serious shows to be taken just as seriously.

LYNNIE: Really with the stunt nominations? Come on, Emmy voters. You can do better! Have you seen anything on The CW or Netflix? Here, that’ll help. You’re welcome.

MEGAN: For my favorite show of all time to be snubbed season after season and now for their final eligibility is just annoying. Sons of Anarchy deserves so many accolades and it got thrown under the bus year after year. It had compelling storytelling and some of the best acting on television during its seven season run that Kurt Sutter should have a room full of shiny trophies. Yet he doesn’t. Zero acting nominations, zero writing. Certainly not a nomination for best series. This is why the Emmys disappoint me year after year. Please, Emmys. Continue overlooking some of the greatest work on television for some not that great series or acting. You know how it thrills me.

JEN: The Emmys refused to nominate any cast member from Buffy The Vampire Slayer during their SEVEN YEAR run. Then they nominated the BTVS writers for Hush. Hush was the only episode where there was NO DIALOGUE. It was sort of like tossing Whedon a bone and flipping him the bird at the same time. Ever since, my relationship with the Academy and the nominations has boiled down to one consistent reaction. No Arrow writing/The Flash writing, Stephen Amell, Emily Bett Rickards or Grant Gustin nominations. COME ON. And no Outlander nominations. Seriously - what is THAT madness?

AND THUS ENDS OUR NOMINATION REACTION GIF-A-PALOOZA. Hit up the comments below with YOUR thoughts on the nominees. Until then! :)

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