Every time awards season rolls around, I get a little burst of excitement. From critiquing red carpet looks to predicting who will win, awards shows are the fuel to my entertainment obsession. Still, every year, I can’t help feeling something’s missing: some love for TV’s sci-fi and fantasy shows. Awards voters always seem to write off supernatural shows as unworthy of recognition while continuing to nominate the same dramas and comedies over and over. Well, I say it’s time to spice things up and give sci-fi and fantasy television the praise it deserves:
Best Actor: Jensen Ackles
Playing Dean Winchester, one-half of the monster-hunting, brother duo that is Supernatural, is not an easy feat. As Dean, Jensen’s been to hell and back (literally), taking on some of the most ruthless creatures all while trying to protect his little brother Sam. His character’s legacy is not a happy one either, with both parents killed by demons. In the eight seasons Supernatural has been on the air, there’s no denying that Jensen has mastered the art of the single tear. Watch these scenes and tell me this man doesn’t deserve an Emmy! You’d be lying if you said no.
Best Actress: Nina Dobrev
Throughout The Vampire Diaries’ four seasons, Nina Dobrev has brightened the screen as Elena Gilbert, the girl torn between two vampires, the Salvatore brothers. Despite the romance, all her character seems to face is tragedy. Most of her family and friends have either been killed by supernatural forces or turned into vampires. Now that she’s a vampire herself, she’s finding it even harder to love one brother without hurting the other. Nina’s balance of compassion and strength is beyond moving, highlighting the fine line her character travels between her human roots and penchant for vampires.
Best Supporting Actor: Joseph Morgan
Klaus may be The Vampire Diaries’ main villain, but Joseph Morgan’s portrayal of the centuries-old, original vampire reveals something more than just pure evil. Yes, he’s killed Elena’s aunt, terrorized her friends and even staked his entire family (in his defense, they were really just in a deep sleep). But Joe brings life to the character beyond his misdeeds, showing heartbreak through Klaus’ turbulent relationship with his father or the hope of love with the attraction he has to Elena’s friend Caroline. It’s one thing to act evil; it’s another to actually make the villain appear redeemable.
Best Supporting Actress: Emilia Clarke
Emilia Clarke has made Game of Thrones’ Daenerys Targaryen, daughter of the overthrown “Mad King,” one of the most empowering women on television. She starts off timid because of her abusive brother, who forces her to marry a warrior king. But soon she transforms into a fearless queen, rivaling even her husband’s power. Emilia may be an acting newbie, but she’s definitely not lacking in range. Her character can go from sadness to anger in the blink of an eye. That kind of raw emotion is rare of young actresses today, proving Emilia is more than just a one-hit wonder.
Best Series: Once Upon A Time
What makes this ABC hit stand out from other sci-fi and fantasy shows is its seamless fusion of two worlds. In Once Upon A Time, fairy tale characters, like Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood, are brought into the real world by a curse from the Evil Queen. Switching between flashbacks from fairy tale land to modern day life, the show always seems to find the perfect story to tie the characters’ past lives with their present. Unlike fairy tale conventions, the characters also struggle with some flaw, making them far from perfect and the show even more dynamic.