Nominees
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Game of Thrones (Joe Bauer)
This category is not entirely fair, as the fantasy series Game of Thrones easily uses more visual effects than any other show on television. That does not, however, take away from the amazing environments it creates and the awe-inspiring creatures which serve to help fully create the world that this series has built. There is a fascinating vfx reel out which shows some aspects of how the effects were done, which can be found here.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Game of Thrones (Michele Clapton)
This category does very much favor period and fantasy pieces, again leading to an easy Game of Thrones victory. The way that the series uses the different families to have different styles of dress, one can easily tell who is connected to whom simply by the way they are dressed. The clothes let you know about the characters, and that is why they take this victory without much of a problem.
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
True Detective (Alex DiGerlando)
While this category would often seem to go to period pieces, and 1995 is not usually far back enough, the brilliant Production Design on True Detective transcends time in order to immediately give the sense of the world this show takes place in. The sets suggest that the show takes place in a world much like ours, but with something just ever so slightly "off" about it. From sparse apartments to abandoned churches right down to stony mazes, the sets constantly gave a feeling of unease that suited this series oh-so-well.
BEST MUSIC COMPOSITION
Game of Thrones (Ramin Djawadi)
Year after year Ramin Djawadi manages to outdo himself with his work on Game of Thrones. By givin each family its own theme, and constantly varying it up for certain sequences, Djawadi's score has been just as integral as the visuals in creating the world of Game of Thrones.
BEST ACTION SEQUENCE
The Battle for Castle Black-Game of Thrones (The Watchers on the Wall)
Though perhaps not built up as well as the show's other large-scale battle, Blackwater, the Battle for Castle Black was an improvement in most other areas. Featuring improved melee coreography, surprising deaths, and a scale unrivaled in television, the Battle for Castle black was truly impressive on all accounts. Essentially two battles in one, this set a new bar for television action scenes. (Oberyn vs. the Mountain was close, but in the end quite quick and more memorable for its ending than for the action itself.)
From here on out all categories will also feature runners-up. As well, the next category will remain quite vague, due to avoiding spoilers.
BEST DEATH SCENE
Oberyn Martell-Game of Thrones (The Mountain and the Viper)
Runner Up: Hank Schrader-Breaking Bad (Ozymandias)
Possibly the single most brutal death ever put on television, every Game of Thrones fan cringed and covered their eyes when Oberyn's fate pulled a 180* turn. I will not go into more detail, in order to keep those who have not seen it unspoiled, but needless to say this is one moment that will never be forgotten.
BEST SOUND
Game of Thrones-The Watchers on the Wall (Richard Dyer, Ronan Hill, Bradley C. Katona, Tim Kimmel)
Runner up: Breaking Bad-Felina (Mark Cookson, Kurt Nicholas Forshager, Darryl L. Frank)
The entire episode of The Watchers on the Wall was occupied by the battle for Castle Black. As such, the sound design was integral into creating the feeling of the chaos of war. From sword clangs to the sounds of a wildling army and the thud of an arrow piercing a chest, the battle would not have been nearly as powerful were it not for the brilliant sound work.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Hannibal-Mizumono (James Hawkinson)
Runner up: True Detective-Who Goes There (Adam Arkapaw)
Since it first premiered, Hannibal has always been one of the most visually interesting shows on television. It is one of the only shows on today that truly makes an artistic use of its cinematography at almost every turn. Each shot is beautiful, and lends a dreamlike feeling to the show, as if one is watching a nightmare instead of a person's life. There is no other show on television quite like Hannibal and when it comes to creative and beautiful camerawork, no other show even comes close.
BEST EDITING
True Detective-The Secret Fate of All Life (Alex Hall)
Runner up: Breaking Bad-To'hajiillee (Kelley Dixon)
True Detective was a difficult proposition from an editing standpoint. Telling the story from three different time periods, and two different people telling the same story, it could have ended up as nothing more than a mess. Instead, True Detective became a masterful piece of storytelling, and the editing had a lot to do with that. Scenes like the one in this episode, in which Marty and Rust tell the story of what happened in a moment in 2002 and 2012, while the audience sees what actually happened could have been incomprehensible. Instead, it was a marvelous example of unreliable narrators and one of the greatest scenes of the past year, film or television.
BEST WRITING
Breaking Bad-Ozymandias (Moira Walley-Beckett)
Runner up: True Detective-The Secret Fate of All Life (Nic Pizzolatto)
Also known as: the one where s--- went down. This episode truly served as the logical conclusion for the series, with everything that came after an extended epilogue to tie things together. This episode changed everything, and eventually proved to be the hour that the entire series had been building towards. Moira Walley-Beckett's teleplay used only a few lengthy scenes taking place in a couple of hours and made one of the greatest hours of television ever, a monumental feat that likely will not be replicated soon.
BEST DIRECTING
Breaking Bad-Ozymandias (Rian Johnson)
Runner up: Hannibal-Mizumono (David Slade)
Rian Johnson's previous work on Breaking Bad had been nothing if not divisive. Fly and Fifty-One are considered to be, depending on who you talk to, either incredibly artistic masterpieces of television, or wheel-spinning wastes of time. Given more narrative momentum to work with in Ozymandias Johnson's work received universal praise, as he brought his unique instincts to a momentous, game-changing work of storytelling. Keeping a constant, 43-minute state of tension and shock, Johnson allows Moira Walley-Beckett's screenplay to be a truly devastating hour, one which sends the characters, and the audience, to hell, but doesn't allow them the relief of coming back, instead taking their emotions on ride in a way they did not know was possible.
BEST GUEST ACTRESS
Gaby Hoffman-Girls (Caroline Sackler)
Runner up: Gillian Anderson-Hannibal (Dr. Beverly Du Maurier)
Playing the sister of Hannah's boyfriend Adam, Gaby Hoffman comes into Girls early in its third season and immediately changes the status quo of the show. While Adam is weird, Hoffman's Caroline is so much weirder that she becomes funny, and then immediately skips right past that stage to become unsettling. Though she wasn't in many episodes, she certainly made an impression with her time onscreen.
BEST GUEST ACTOR
Pedro Pascal-Game of Thrones (Oberyn Martell)
Runner up: Michael Pitt-Hannibal (Mason Verger)
Oberyn entered the world of Game of Thrones like a whirlwind, immediately capturing the attention of viewers. With his free-spirited sexuality, justified anger, and mostly a nation's worth of charisma, former unknown Pedro Pascal instantly became a star, and many people's favorite character of the series. Pascal represents the reason why I make these awards, when he was snubbed by the Emmy Awards for his performance. While they may not have seen his brilliance, he will always have a place in the hearts and minds of Game of Thrones fans everywhere.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Maisie Williams-Game of Thrones (Arya Stark)
Runner up: Stephanie Beatriz-Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Detective Rosa Diaz)
It's telling of Maisie William's growth as an actress that her best season is the one in which she had the least screen time. While Arya wasn't as omnipresent as she has been in the past, Maisie Williams made the most of every scene, showing that the Arya we all met in the premiere three years ago is more and more rapidly fading away, being replaced with a human embodiment of rage and revenge. The young actors on Game of Thrones are all impressive, but Williams has perhaps the toughest job, leading her to the darkest places, and yet she still makes the audience root for her at every turn, an impressive feat for any actress, much less one still in her teens.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Aaron Paul-Breaking Bad (Jesse Pinkman)
Runner up: Peter Dinklage-Game of Thrones (Tyrion Lannister)
Though less prominent than he has been in previous seasons, Aaron Paul makes the most out of every moment of screen time his character is getting. Though his outburst in Rabid Dog is his most memorable moment, every episode this season showed a new side and level to Paul's acting. Many people's favorite character, Paul proves himself to be a consummate actor, disappearing into the character entirely, and remaining on people's minds, even if he only appears in a scene or two of an episode.
BEST ACTRESS
Allison Tolman-Fargo (Molly Solverson)
Runner up: Anna Gunn-Breaking Bad (Skyler White)
Frances McDormand won an Oscar for playing Marge Gunderson in the Coen's masterpiece Fargo. Though not playing the same exact character, Allison Tolman's Molly Solverson is clearly meant to be a spiritual successor to the character, and Tolman entirely lives up to it. Keeping the strength of McDormand's character, but ultimately making it her own, Tolman is a revelation, and hopefully somebody who will continue to make their mark on the industry.
BEST ACTOR
Bryan Cranston-Breaking Bad (Walter White)
Runner up: Matthew McConaughey-True Detective (Detective Rust Cohle)
Saying that Bryan Cranston deserves an award for his work on Breaking Bad is like saying that it gets wet outside when it rains. Cranston has consistently given what is possibly the greatest performance of all time, and does not fall at all in the final season. With Ozymandias proving to be one of his best episodes, Cranston finishes his run as Walter White with a bang. While he probably won't ever find a character quite like Walte White (It's doubtful we'll see a character of this caliber in the foreseeable future) Cranston has nonetheless proved himself as one of the greatest and most versatile actors of all time, and I cannot wait to see what he does in the future.
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST
Game of Thrones
Runner up: Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Not only does Game of Thrones feature probably the largest cast on television, it is also the best cast. featuring nearly 30 regular cast members this season, and likely featuring speaking roles nearing 100, Thrones has yet to find a casting misstep. This season was the best for several characters and though it did not introduce as many new characters as last season, it made the most of everybody at its disposal, and remains a great example to get future roles for its actors (Which is good because quite a lot of them found themselves out of a job after this season).
BEST EPISODE
Ozymandias-Breaking Bad
Runner up: Mizumono-Hannibal
This is probably not much of a surprise, considering it already won directing and writing, but there is a reason many people consider Ozymandias to be the greatest hour of television ever. There is little more to say than I have already said, except that not only does this episode feature amazing writing and directing, but also series best performances from Bryan Cranston, RJ Mitte and Anna Gunn. Ozymandias is the best episode of the best season of the best show I've yet to see.
BEST SERIES
Breaking Bad
Runner up: True Detective
Breaking Bad did something in its final season that few shows have been able to do: made the greatest season of its run. Featuring nonstop excellence, with each episode among the upper level of the show's run, Breaking Bad had possibly the greatest final season of all time. It is a shame that this show is over, but in the end it is much better that it ended on its own terms, at the top of its game, and cemented itself in the annals of television history as one of the greatest shows ever, if not THE greatest.
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