The 76th Golden Globe Awards are just around the corner.
The term 'Peak TV' has become part of literature since a couple of years ago. It cannot become more evident when we look at the Television categories of this year's Golden Globe Awards.
Distinct categories for comedy and drama still have it easy, but the combined categories for supporting actor and actress are experiencing one of the toughest fights to win the prize. How do you choose between Thandie Newton's Maeve in Westworld Season 2 and Alex Bornstein's Susie Myerson in The Marvelous Mrs Maisel?
I have tried my best to use the time spent being a couch potato, devouring episodes after episodes and researching Hollywood Foreign Press Associations trends in past years to bring you the possible winners in this tough race.
We shall keep fingers crossed for your favourite when the trophies will be handed out on January 7 early morning (IST).
1. Best TV Series - Comedy
)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a shoo-in. A beautiful story of stand-up comic, who is a Jew, female, and a single mother, trying to make her mark in the industry has its charm. Plus the brilliant writing and motor-mouth dialogues -- a trait of all Sherman-Palladino shows -- hold the short attention span of viewers. It also helps that the show swept the Emmys.
Possible upset - The Good Place or Barry. Both are not your run-of-the-mill stories. First one has a stupefying take on philosophy and afterlife, while the latter is a brilliant black humour offering.
2. Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Limited-Series, or TV Movie
)
Thadie Newton in Westworld's second season was the force to reckon with. Her Maeve Millay provided the balance to otherwise chaotic timelines, different playgrounds, and unrest among the bots. Newton has already bagged the Emmys for this year. But so has Alex Bornstein for her role in The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. She will be a tough contender.
Possible upset - Penelope Cruz for The Assassination of Gianni Versace, because star power.
3. Best Supporting Actor in a Limited-Series or TV Movie
)
Another clear shoo-in is Henry Winkler as Gene Cousineau. Winkler is phenomenal as an actor-turned-acting coach in Bill Hader's dark comedy Barry. His comic timing is unparalleled and it helps that he picked up an Emmy for the same role. A gap of 41 years between two Golden Globe wins shall help too.
Possible upset - Alan Arkin in The Kominsky Method. His acidic, aged casting agent Norman Newlander is a masterclass in dark humour.
4. Best Actress - Comedy
)
It's a direct tussle between Kristen Bell for The Good Place and Rachel Brosnahan for The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. HFPA doesn't repeat winners in this category, so the scales might have been tipped in the favour of Bell and her imperfect Elenor Shellstrop. Alison Brie is part of an ensemble, therefore it's hard to single out her performance as the prominence others show in their shows.
Possible upset - Debra Messing for Will and Grace.
5. Best Actor - Comedy
)
Wish it was Donald Glover for Atlanta one more time. But this time the competition is tough. Bill Hader's first solo project, Barry, makes him a frontrunner. Michael Douglas is not far behind with his washed up actor-turned-acting-coach gig in The Kominsky Method.
Possible upset - Jim Carrey with Kidding. Same reason as Julia Roberts for Homecoming.
6. Best Television Series - Drama
)
HFPA has a penchant for rewarding shows that finish their runs in the year leading up to the awards night. The Americans has already shone at the Emmys, it shall not be a surprise that just like Mad Men, this period drama wins the trophy come Monday. Apart from the tradition, the show's series finale was something everyone was raving about. A worthy win.
Possible upset - It could be BBC-Netflix's Bodyguard or Ryan Murphy's Pose.
7. Best Actress – Drama
)
I want Sandra Oh to pick this one up for Killing Eve. Her detective Eve Polastri is amazing. The character is definitely better on the paper (thanks to Phoebe Waller-Bridge) but it's Sandra Oh that makes it likeable and act as an anchor as opposed to the unpredictable Villanelle played by Jodie Comer. But from the looks of it, it is one of the closely contested categories. It could go to Keri Russell for The Americans or Elisabeth Moss could pick it up for The Handmaid's Tale.
Possible upset - Julia Roberts for Homecoming. Because a movie star's television debut.
8. Best Actor - Drama
)
Matthew Rhys shall win for his portrayal of Philip Jennings on The Americans. Rhys' acting chops were brilliant throughout the complete run of the series. After Jon Hamm, it is Rhys' time to bow out with a trophy.
Possible upset - Billy Porter for Pose.
9. Best Limited Series or TV Movie
)
This shall be a close call between Sharp Objects and The Assassination of Gianni Versace. If trends of the past year are to be considered, HBO has always dominated this category. The show in itself has been a powerful story to stand out among the chaos of peak TV. On the other hand, showrunner for ...Versace, Ryan Murphy, is HFPA darling.
Possible upset - A Very English Scandal could lift the trophy for telling a crisp story.
10. Best Actress - Limited Series
)
This looks to be a clear category. Amy Adams shall win for her role in HBO's Sharp Objects. She has done a phenomenal job as Camille Preaker -- a reporter trying to investigate a series of murders in her town all the while dealing with her own demons. Adams flexes every acting muscle in her body to show the pain of systematic abuse.
Possible upset - Patricia Arquette for Escape at Dannemora. Her thoroughly bad character of Tilly Mitchell shines despite the layers of fatsuit.
11. Best Actor - Limited Series
)
In my heart, I want Benedict Cumberbatch to pick this one up. It's not easy balancing grief, addiction, abuse, and comedy at the same time. Cumberbatch does it flawlessly in Patrick Melrose. It's the arrangements of episodes, the built up of the story that could go against him. Darren Criss is a clear favourite after picking up Emmys for his role of serial killer Andrew Cunanan in ...Versace.
Possible upset - Hugh Grant in A Very English Scandal.
