2014 Emmy Nomination Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

2014 Nomination Predictions
Christine Baranski "The Good Wife"
Emilia Clarke "Game of Thrones"
Joanne Froggatt "Downton Abbey"
Anna Gunn "Breaking Bad"
Christina Hendricks "Mad Men"
Maggie Smith "Downton Abbey"

Other Contenders - Michelle Monaghan "True Detective", Bellamy Young "Scandal", Monica Potter "Parenthood", Betsy Brandt "Breaking Bad", Morena Baccarin "Homeland", Archie Panjabi "The Good Wife", Lena Headey "Game of Thrones", Melissa McBride "The Walking Dead", Sandra Oh "Grey's Anatomy", Hayden Panetierre "Nashville", Chandra Wilson "Grey's Anatomy", Maisie Williams "Game of Thrones", Sophie Turner "Game of Thrones", Cailtin Fitzgerald "Masters of Sex", January Jones "Mad Men", Jessica Pare "Mad Men", Kelly MacDonald "Boardwalk Empire"

Commentary - The big question this year in this category is how many past nominees get in again? I feel like Anna Gunn, who won last year, has all the buzz needed to not only get in, but win one last time for Breaking Bad. Christine Baranski finally got a season to really shine on The Good Wife, which has so much renewed goodwill in its favor, she is sure to be a lock for a return nod, and a real threat to Gunn. I also expect Emilia Clarke to return for Game of Thrones, and while she is now a bit shaky due to Mad Men's age, I feel like voters still have a lot of respect for Christina Hendricks. Oh and then there is Maggie Smith. If she doesn't return to this race, I will absolutely be shocked. So that leaves one spot. Is there really only one spot left? I keep thinking that there are several actress who could not only shakeup the final slot, but several slots. Michelle Monaghan could ride in on the wave of True Detective love, but her character really does take a backseat to the intertwining relationship of McConaughey's and Harrelson's characters. Bellamy Young won the Critics Choice Television award, and Scandal did get two acting nods in this year. As the show only gets more popular, it is set to strike gold in a few more categories, most likely here and Joe Morton in guest. Morena Baccarin should not be forgotten. Homeland may have lost the support of critics, and a lot of viewers, but sometimes the Academy is slow to respond to shows losing steam. If they still love Homeland, then Baccarin could reclaim her spot. Lena Heady, Maisie Williams, and Melissa McBride all had stellar seasons, but all either have to overcome in-house competition, or the genre bias that is particularly placed on The Walking Dead. Sandra Oh should get a nomination for her final season, and one final nod to an incredible television character, but voters have clearly moved beyond Grey's Anatomy. Betsy Brandt, Monica Potter, Archie Panjabi, Hayden Panettierre, and Cailtin Fitzgerald are also name fighting their way into the minds of voters. But I actually think a previous nominee, that missed out last year, is going to find her way back into the race. Joanne Froggatt was a shocking nominee two years ago, but this year she had an incredibly emotional story line that I think will bring voters back to her. We know it is hard to get back in after being snubbed, but I think that Froggatt can actually do it.