Awards season kicks off this Sunday with the much-anticipated Golden Globes where the best of the best in cinema and TV will be celebrated.
We have already gone through our predictions for who we think will pick up what awards in the movie categories, while below is our analysis of who will scoop the accolades in TV.
Best TV Series - Drama
The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)
Stranger Things (Netflix)
This Is Us (NBC)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
The Crown (Netflix)
It's hard to see this going to any other show than The Handmaid's Tale. It cleared up in The Emmys last September, becoming the first show from a streaming service (Hulu) to win the award for Outstanding Drama series. It's got decent competition with Netflix's hugely popular and grandiose original series The Crown, while Stranger Things and This is Us were also big hits this past year. Game of Thrones, we'd imagine, will be nabbing this gong for its final season, but in terms of original, compelling and relevant drama over the past twelve months, it has to be The Handmaid's Tale walking away with this one.
Best Actress in a TV series - Drama
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Caitriona Balfe, Outlander (Starz)
Claire Foy, The Crown (Netflix)
Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Deuce (HBO)
Katherine Langford, 13 Reasons Why (Netflix)
Again, Elizabeth Moss would be the forerunner here for this award. However, Claire Foy did a remarkable job in The Crown, and as we know, she is now handing over the throne to Olivia Colman for season three, so perhaps the Golden Globes will want to acknowledge that - but then, she did win last year, so sorry Claire, it's Elizabeth Moss all the way. However, we should also lend our support to the fantastic Caitriona Balfe, Irish star of Outlander.
Best Actor in a TV series - Drama
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us (NBC)
Freddie Highmore, The Good Doctor (ABC)
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul (AMC)
Jason Bateman, Ozark (Netflix)
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan (Showtime)
This one is less easy to call but if we were to put money on it, we could go with Freddie Highmore as The Good Doctor is going down a storm stateside. Highmore plays a young autistic surgeon in the medical drama and has been winning rave reviews for his performance. Sterling K. Brown is also one to watch for his role in This is Us as he previously won an Emmy in 2017 for his performance. Saying that, who wouldn't be happy to see Saul Goodman nab it?
Best TV series - Musical or Comedy
Will & Grace (NBC)
Master of None (Netflix)
Blackish (ABC)
SMILF (Showtime)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
We haven't had a chance to watch Will & Grace this side of the pond yet, but the revival series seemed to go down well in the US, with fans of the show lapping it for the sheer nostalgia of it all although some critics felt its time has passed. It would be a surprise to see them get this but stranger things have happened. If they do, however, sorry but Master of None will have been robbed. Aziz Ansari's smart, must-watch comedy is definitely the standout winner here if you ask us. However, Blackish has also received much critical acclaim over the course of its four-season run and has yet to win this category while The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is also winning a lot of praise - so it's all to play for here.
Best Actress in a TV series, Musical or Comedy
Issa Rae, Insecure (HBO)
Alison Brie, GLOW (Netflix)
Pamela Adlon, Better Things (FX)
Frankie Shaw, SMILF (Showtime)
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
We really hope Issa Rae bags this one as Insecure is one of the most hilarious, fearless and insightful comedies out there at the moment and it's her baby too, with the series based partially on Issa Rae's widely lauded web series Awkward Black Girl. We loved Alison Brie in Glow and both Frankie Shaw and Rachel Brosnahan have impressed in the opening seasons of their respective shows, but it's Issa all the way for us.
Best Actor in a TV Series, Comedy
Aziz Ansari, Master of None (Netflix)
Anthony Anderson, Blackish (ABC)
Eric McCormack, Will & Grace (NBC)
Kevin Bacon, I Love Dick (Amazon)
William H. Macy, Shameless (Showtime)
We want Kevin Bacon to win purely so whoever is announcing this category has to read out the title of his show (no, you grow up). This is a tricky one - William H. Macy has consistently impressed in Shameless over the years, so perhaps it is his time to shine, but then Anthony Anderson would also be a worthy winner for Blackish. Eric McCormack? We doubt it. If we had to choose? William H. Macy.
Best TV Movie or Limited Series
Big Little Lies (HBO)
Feud: Bette and Joan (FX)
Fargo (FX)
The Sinner (USA)
Top of the Lake: China Girl (Sundance)
It's Big Little Lies - we all know it is. Although, it has fierce competition - The Sinner was one of the most addictive shows of the year (you can catch it on Netflix) while the second season of Top of the Lake was also fantastic. Feud: Bette and Joan could also swing this, and while Fargo is nearly always quality television we're not sure season three will have done enough to compete with one of our top ten shows of the year of 2017, Big Little Lies.
Best Actress in a TV Movie or Limited Series
Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies (HBO)
Reese Witherspoon, Big Little Lies (HBO)
Jessica Lange, Feud: Bette and Joan (FX)
Susan Sarandon, Feud: Bette and Joan (FX)
Jessica Biel, The Sinner (USA)
Nicola Kidman, Nicole Kidman, Nicole Kidman. Her role in Big Little Lies gave the world a much-need reminder of just what a versatile and strong actress Kidman is, and her performance as the victim of domestic abuse was easily one of the most important on television last year. A tip of our hat to Jessica Biel too, who surprised us all in The Sinner. Hopefully the nomination alone will send juicier roles her way in 2018.
Best Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series
Robert De Niro, The Wizard of Lies (HBO)
Ewan McGregor, Fargo (FX)
Kyle MacLachlan, Twin Peaks (Showtime)
Geoffrey Rush, Genius (National Geographic)
Jude Law, The Young Pope (HBO)
Geoffrey Rush was the interpretation of Albert Einstein we never knew we needed in our lives but then Ewan McGregor did give us two for the price of one in Fargo. It was also fantastic to see Kyle MacLachlan reprise his role as Dale Cooper, with the actor earning the Golden Globe for Twin Peaks back in the 1990s - could he manage to do it again 28 years later? We think he just might.
Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Limited Series or TV Movie
Laura Dern, Big Little Lies (HBO)
Chrissy Metz, This Is Us (NBC)
Ann Dowd, The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Shailene Woodley, Big Little Lies (HBO)
Michelle Pfeiffer, Wizard of Lies (HBO)
Ann Dowd clocked in a terrifying performance as Aunt Lydia in The Handmaid's Tale and has already won an Emmy for her role, so despite some great performances from the other nominees, we reckon she will clinch it.
Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Limited Series or TV Movie
Alexander Skarsgard, Big Little Lies (HBO)
David Thewlis, Fargo (FX)
Alfred Molina, Feud: Bette and Joan (FX)
David Harbour, Stranger Things (Netflix)
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot (USA)
This has to go to Alexander Skarsgard, who played the abusive husband to Nicole Kidman's Celeste in Big Little Lies. His towering presence on-screen earned him an Emmy last September whle him and Nicole Kidman were one of TV's best partnerships last year in how they conveyed how destructive and yet nuanced an abusive relationship can be. It's hard to see how any of the others in this category could compete.
You can watch The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Monday night (January 8th) at 9pm on RTE2, while as always, we'll have a full round-up of everything that happens, including the list of winners, analysis and red carpet photos.
