EWwy Awards 2015: Your drama nominees are...

How many times do people have to hear about “the best drama you’re not watching” before they pay attention? The third season should have been the charm for FX’s Cold War spy thriller, which was devastatingly ignored despite delivering its best episodes to date, rife with heartbreaking twists and mega-sized revelations that threw fans for a throbbing spin. If there’s any justice, the bump of momentum resulting from the outcry over the snub should lead to more folks discovering the magic of Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg’s certifiably genius drama by season 4. —Marc Snetiker

Arguably the biggest show of the year — did you see those ratings? — Empire didn’t only deliver when it came to ratings numbers. Between the show’s phenomenal performances, delicious characters, and constant plot twists, everything about it made it a creative smash too. (And we haven’t even mentioned the music…) —Samantha Highfill

As painful as it is to admit, Will Gardner’s (Josh Charles) death rocketed this series in the right direction. Between Alicia’s (Julianna Margulies) run for State’s Attorney, Cary’s (Matt Czuchry) arrest, and all things related to Lemond Bishop (Mike Colter) and Kalinda (Archie Panjabi), the drama was rich, the stories were compelling, and the characters jumped off the screen. —Samantha Highfill

Flying cheerleaders! Dramatic chalkboard writing! Wig removal! Shondaland’s newest hit was a delight for critics and fans, mashing up a nail-biting season-long mystery with procedural wit and sleek style, all capped off by a divine performance from headliner Viola Davis (who was recognized by Emmy and could very well win). High art, this is not, but great drama, this is. —Marc Snetiker

Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling series Outlander was brought to life this year by veteran TV producer Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica fame). The Starz series follows Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe), a WWII-era army nurse mysteriously swept back in time to 1700s Scotland. Over the course of 16 episodes, Claire adapted to the new world around her, as she quickly realized how important it was to blend in with her surroundings in order to make it home — or at least to stay alive. The series never failed to deliver the romance, suspense, and heart-wrenching moments that fans craved, making the wait between the first half and second half of the season incredibly challenging (it wasn’t called a “Droughtlander” for nothing). —Megan Daley

The final season of Sons of Anarchy went out the only way fans expected it to: with a bang (or, rather a collision). Regardless, its last ride was more emotional and action-packed than fans had ever seen, leading to the sort of finale that only Kurt Sutter could pull off. —Samantha Highfill

I never thought I’d cry because of The Flash, but then Grant Gustin brought me to tears in the season 1 finale, “Fast Enough.” Gustin was turning in great performances weekly since the series premiere, though, crafting a heroic persona who is as much a figure to look up to as he is a best friend you want to have. Coupled with an ensemble cast that only elevated his performance, Gustin quickly became the heart and soul of the show, making it difficult to imagine someone else in the scarlet speedster’s shoes. —Jonathon Dornbush

Outlander’s resident Scottish hunk, Jamie Fraser, is more than just a pretty face. Fiercely loyal, Jamie takes Claire (Caitriona Balfe) under his wing, showing her unparalleled kindness even though she was a complete stranger to him. Their blossoming relationship was fulfilling to watch, as Heughan fearlessly put Jamie’s vulnerability on display — especially in a challenging season finale performance that was gut-wrenching and unforgettable. —Megan Daley

Although it’s often hard to see past the acting beast that is Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard was the steady, beating heart of Empire’s first season. As patriarch Lucious Lyon, he created a character as lovable as he was loathable, but more than anything, he was powerful. —Samantha Highfill

Rick Grimes has been to crazy town and back so many times that he’s got a permanent round-trip ticket, but The Walking Dead’s fearless and fearsome leader showed his softer side in season 5’s 10th episode. The group is tired, hungry, and two survivors short, so the man in charge gives a pep talk that, thanks to Lincoln’s quiet humanity, manages to avoid coming off as corny, even after the line “We are the walking dead” is spoken. We’ve seen Lincoln pull off cuckoo Rick, frantic Rick, and bite-a-man’s-throat-out Rick, but it’s even better to see him deliver as down-but-not-out leader Rick. —Nia Howe-Smith

In Justified‘s final season, Olyphant balanced his portrayal of Raylan Givens with just a hint more gunpowder and a longer fuse. The slow burn culminated in a moral showdown that’s become a hallmark of the show — and the character. Raylan Givens is a lawless lawmaker with an unloveable streak and smooth bourbon charm, and his moral compass has a prominent crack down the center of it. But Olyphant plays him with such ease and drawl that it seems like he’s not acting — he’s actually living the role. Perhaps that’s why Emmy voters have largely ignored his deeply nuanced performance year after year? —Danielle Nussbaum

First of all, let’s give this man a round of applause for perfecting his American accent. (When he was in The Wire, his native Irish brogue would slip in now and then.) But that’s not what makes him a compelling contender for Best Actor in a Drama as Noah Solloway, the married father of four who falls in love with another woman in Showtime’s steamy thriller. It’s his ability to wordlessly emote what you’d expect from someone having a torrid affair: Guilt. Fear. Obsession. Joy. Desire. Self-loathing. Confusion. Love. He could come off as a scumbag, but West plays Noah so humanly that viewers can’t help rooting for him even though he’s going down such a self-destructive path. (And you know, cheating on his wife.) Throw in a little murder case, drug dealing, tragic backstories, and amazing supporting players and you’ve got a show that’s impossible to turn away from, with Dominic West in the starring role.  —Gillian Telling  

Gillian Anderson holds court over The Fall in much the same way that her character conducts an investigation: Even in stillness, there’s a sense that no one could ever catch up with her. As Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson, Anderson is as cool as a silk shirt, softening Gibson’s tough edges with compassion and projecting control that fractures, but does not break, as she circles serial killer Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan). From the series’ first press conference to that final, gripping interrogation scene, Anderson crafts TV’s most feminist character out of red nail polish and a hotel bed. —Kelly Connolly

Caitriona Balfe’s Claire is torn between two completely different worlds — a life with Frank or a life with Jamie. But even in the face of unimaginable challenges, Claire forges onward proving she is a force to be reckoned with by demonstrating strength, courage, and plenty of sass. But Claire is nothing without Balfe, who breathes life into every aspect of this complex, lovable character. Not to mention that Balfe’s chemistry with fellow EWwy nominee Sam Heughan (especially that wedding scene!) made them the couple to watch this year. —Megan Daley

Julianna Margulies has always been the best part of The Good Wife, but in a season packed with more State’s Attorney race-ness than viewers wanted, Margulies was the saving grace. Whether Alicia was talking to her son about his girlfriend’s secret abortion, being taken down in the press by an opponent’s campaign smear, or simply debating one of her (few and far between) regular cases, Margulies breathed life into the show while exploring the character we’ve come to know even more deeply. —Dalene Rovenstine

Some episodes, Katey Sagal made you wish that Gemma Teller Morrow was your best friend. Other times, she had you diving under the covers. But every single week, Sagal served up a sobering, if not heartbreaking, reminder that Emmy voters don’t always recognize the best talent on TV. —Lynette Rice

A two-time Emmy nominee for her work on Scandal, Washington’s turn in season 4 was one of her best. From Olivia’s kidnapping to the much talked about Ferguson-inspired episode, there’s no one who can deliver an emotional, super-speed speech like Washington. —Samantha Highfill

The rising British star won the Golden Globe but was inexplicably left out of the top acting category. As a grieving mother who finds herself caught up in a messy romance with a summer visitor, Wilson spent the first season of The Affair on the cusp of tears, playing a character whose delicate shell betrays a wannabe-tough spirit beneath. It’s an incredibly nuanced performance that deserved inclusion in the competitive category — and we could have told you that from multiple perspectives. —Marc Snetiker

If Tatiana Maslany — who has played at least 10 different characters in Orphan Black — is the brains and muscle of the series, then Jordan Gavaris’ Felix may be the show’s beating heart. The sole male member of the so-called Clone Club, Felix is the steady (if smart-mouthed) adopted brother to Maslany’s Sarah Manning and her Leda sisters. Gavaris’ tender and nuanced performance ties the show’s disparate narratives together and offers depth and dimension to a character — the struggling gay artist — who could become a caricature in less proficient hands. —Noelene Clark

Daredevil addressed the common complaint that Marvel films and shows have a villain problem by allowing Vincent D’Onofrio to fully immerse himself in the role of Wilson Fisk. Fisk’s plight is as important to the success of Daredevil’s first season as was its title character’s story. D’Onofrio rose to the occasion, creating a villain you not only understood, but one you could sympathize with. D’Onofrio’s performance is layered, deftly turning from enraged to vulnerable and back again without ever not feeling true to the character. D’Onofrio’s stellar turn has raised the bar for all comic book movie and TV villains to come. —Jonathon Dornbush

Tobias Menzies balanced the portrayal of two drastically different characters — kind Frank Randall and menacing Black Jack Randall — but it was his Black Jack that truly emerged as the standout. Brutally harsh and unyielding, Black Jack ruled the Highlands by instilling fear into pretty much everyone he met. The shocking season finale cemented Menzies’ Black Jack as a formidable villain for his willingness to inflict the most horrific punishment on poor Jamie. —Megan Daley

As the patriarch of the Braverman clan, Craig T. Nelson spent years as the quiet anchor of the cast. But in the show’s final season, with his character’s crumbling health, he took center stage, delivering some of the show’s most memorable moments — and causing viewers to cry more tears than they ever thought possible. —Samantha Highfill

Patinkin’s Saul Berenson got put through the physical and emotional ringer in Homeland’s fourth season — he was kidnapped by the Taliban, held captive, escaped, nearly killed himself to avoid getting recaptured, got enraged (and unleashed a killer string of expletives) when Carrie lied to keep him alive but deliberately led him back to their enemies, and nearly derailed a subsequent high-stakes prisoner swap for his freedom. All those edge-of-your-seat moments, and no nomination?! Blasphemy. —Jessica Derschowitz

As Lucious Lyon’s middle son, Jamal, a musical prodigy and semi-closeted gay man (out to his family, but not the public), Jussie Smollett gave his sensitive character so much heart that audiences swooned under his spell. But underneath that sweetness, Jamal was hiding a fierce strength — which not only helped him stand up to his homophobic father, but also [SPOILER ALERT] become heir to the Empire. Smollett gave Jamal’s internal tug-of-war nuance, and made him sympathetic even in his cruel moments. Oh and also: The dude can sing. —Isabella Biedenharn

For some, The Leftovers was a difficult show to watch, and for others it was a cathartically emotional experience. Wherever you lie in its viewership, though, there’s little doubt that Carrie Coon delivered one of the most heartbreaking and powerful performances of 2014. Anchored by her tour de force showcase episode “Guest,” Coon played the story of Nora grappling with the loss of her family to hauntingly impressive heights. In a sea of tremendous roles, Coon, in her first regular TV role, transformed a secondary character into one of the series’ most empathetic. —Jonathon Dornbush

Carol’s transformation from meek battered woman to certified badass is one of the high points of The Walking Dead as a series, which is due in no small part to Melissa McBride’s stellar performance. Over the course of five seasons we’ve seen Carol rise up the ranks of the group and start to carve out a place for herself in the zombie-laden hellscape as one of the group’s fiercest protectors. In season 5’s finale, “Conquer,” Carol pulls a knife on wife beater Pete and threatens to kill him. Despite McBride’s slight frame, she effortlessly towers over Pete and earns the moniker “Scarol.” —Nia Howe-Smith

Spacek’s Sally Rayburn had her fair share of family drama to deal with, between her husband’s death, her son’s return, and well, her son’s return. But Spacek beautifully portrayed a mother who was willing to forgive her son for just about anything, up until the moment when said son completely shattered her heart. —Samantha Highfill

Lorraine Toussaint played Vee, a master manipulator who, for most of her time at Litchfield, kept up an innocent facade to mask any darker predatory intentions. In her penultimate episode, Toussaint put the full range of Vee’s emotions on display in flashbacks to her years as a drug dealer desperately trying to stay on top of the game, as she readily switched between being a benevolent mother figure and a chilling vengeful businesswoman at the drop of a hat. Toussaint’s performance left a mark, and it is almost impossible to think of Orange’s second season as revolving around anything other than Vee and her intricate schemes. —Diana Pawell

For five seasons, Sophie Turner has portrayed a girl utterly without agency, shuttled from the care of one man to another. However, throughout everything that has happened to her — including The Scene About Which We Do Not Speak — Turner has created a character whose strength shines through the constantly terrible things that happen to her. Turner’s shining moment as Sansa Stark came in Game of Thrones‘ season 5 finale, when she made one last grab at independence: “If I’m going to die, let it happen while there’s still some of me left.” —Amanda Michelle Steiner

Arya Stark has probably been your favorite character since the very beginning of Game of Thrones, the punky kid reacting to the cruel world around her with the anger it demands. To mirror the character’s aging into young adulthood, this season saw Arya leave Westeros behind in search of a new identity in the sea city Braavos. Williams, in turn, matured beyond her usual spunk to fit all of Arya’s new guises — fishwife, undercover prostitute, assassin-in-training. It all led up to the finale, where Williams delivered a violent, dramatic reminder that she is Arya Stark, and she won’t rest until her enemies pay for their crimes. —Christian Holub