The nominations are in for the 2014 Primetime Emmy Awards. Over the next few weeks, I'll be going through several of the major categories and offer my predictions on who will win this year. Next up, Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series.
The nominees are: Boardwalk Empire's Tim Van Patten; Breaking Bad's Vince Gilligan; Downton Abbey's David Evans; Game of Thrones' Neil Marshall; House of Cards' Carl Franklin; and True Detective's Cary Joji Fukunaga.
1. CARY JOJI FUKUNAGA - TRUE DETECTIVE (HBO)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "WHO GOES THERE"
While I don't think series creator and sole writer Nic Pizzolatto will win in the writing category, I do feel very confident that the anthology series' sole director Fukunaga will win here. His work on the series is equally as impressive as Pizzolatto's writing. He gave the series a unique look that was able to be sustained over eight weeks because of it being famed from the same person. But what's perhaps most impressive is the sequence at the end of episode - a long tracking shot done in same take. That was stunning.
2. VINCE GILLIGAN - BREAKING BAD (AMC)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "FELINA"
Much like what I said in my writeup of the drama writing race, the voters will have to decide where they want to reward Gilligan for his work on the final episodes of the AMC drama. This episode is the final resting place for what is now a very iconic character. That sentimentality could easily lead to a win here. I'm not predicting it but it's a very tight race.
3. NEIL MARSHALL - GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "THE WATCHERS ON THE WALL"
Marshall's episode this season is one of those rare Game of Thrones episodes where the entire action occurs in the same location. Plus, it's the grand action set piece of the season. Marshall is an excellent director who always brings a unique style to television. I don't know the specifics of his work on the HBO series but I do know it's a great show to look at. Put those two things together and it seems like a winning team.
4. TIM VAN PATTEN - BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "FAREWELL DADDY BLUES"
You can never count out a former winner in this category. The period details on the HBO drama have been so impressive for years now. And his episode happens to be the equally impressive fourth season finale. A definite contender.
5. CARL FRANKLIN - HOUSE OF CARDS (NETFLIX)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "CHAPTER 14"
A year ago, the director nominated for House of Cards was a lock in this race. Of course, that director was David Fincher who helmed the first episode. Carl Franklin is a very competent and impressive TV director. But the race isn't there's to loss this year. In fact, I don't think it's likely he'll win at all. The staging of the big event in the season premiere is sudden and brutal. But other than that, it doesn't feel like he has enough momentum to stage an upset.
6. DAVID EVANS - DOWNTON ABBEY (PBS)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "EPISODE ONE"
I know that Downton Abbey has impressive period details and that's why it keeps getting nominated. However, I just don't see a win happening.
1. CARY JOJI FUKUNAGA - TRUE DETECTIVE (HBO)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "WHO GOES THERE"
While I don't think series creator and sole writer Nic Pizzolatto will win in the writing category, I do feel very confident that the anthology series' sole director Fukunaga will win here. His work on the series is equally as impressive as Pizzolatto's writing. He gave the series a unique look that was able to be sustained over eight weeks because of it being famed from the same person. But what's perhaps most impressive is the sequence at the end of episode - a long tracking shot done in same take. That was stunning.
2. VINCE GILLIGAN - BREAKING BAD (AMC)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "FELINA"
Much like what I said in my writeup of the drama writing race, the voters will have to decide where they want to reward Gilligan for his work on the final episodes of the AMC drama. This episode is the final resting place for what is now a very iconic character. That sentimentality could easily lead to a win here. I'm not predicting it but it's a very tight race.
3. NEIL MARSHALL - GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "THE WATCHERS ON THE WALL"
Marshall's episode this season is one of those rare Game of Thrones episodes where the entire action occurs in the same location. Plus, it's the grand action set piece of the season. Marshall is an excellent director who always brings a unique style to television. I don't know the specifics of his work on the HBO series but I do know it's a great show to look at. Put those two things together and it seems like a winning team.
4. TIM VAN PATTEN - BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "FAREWELL DADDY BLUES"
You can never count out a former winner in this category. The period details on the HBO drama have been so impressive for years now. And his episode happens to be the equally impressive fourth season finale. A definite contender.
5. CARL FRANKLIN - HOUSE OF CARDS (NETFLIX)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "CHAPTER 14"
A year ago, the director nominated for House of Cards was a lock in this race. Of course, that director was David Fincher who helmed the first episode. Carl Franklin is a very competent and impressive TV director. But the race isn't there's to loss this year. In fact, I don't think it's likely he'll win at all. The staging of the big event in the season premiere is sudden and brutal. But other than that, it doesn't feel like he has enough momentum to stage an upset.
6. DAVID EVANS - DOWNTON ABBEY (PBS)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "EPISODE ONE"
I know that Downton Abbey has impressive period details and that's why it keeps getting nominated. However, I just don't see a win happening.
