When I was first writing the nomination predictions for this category, I said that this is one of the most competitive categories of the year. However, with all the episode submissions in it has turned into one of the weakest. Early frontrunner Robin Wright (House of Cards) seemed like a no brainer, until she submitted the season finale instead of the much buzzed about “Chapter 17.” Although she has a small crying scene in the episode, her actual active screen time only clocks in around 4 1/2 minutes.
In a very last minute switch, I am throwing my support behind Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife), who submitted the post Will Gardner death episode. She has a crying scene early in the episode, but the rest is spent with Alicia trying to find out what a Will was trying to tell her in his last call. Although it isn't as impressive as other possible tapes, she definitely has the buzz behind her to push her through.
The spoiler right now is current two-time champ Claire Danes (Homeland) who has another screaming, ugly cry episode to submit. However, to make the episode even stronger for her, Carrie is actually sympathetic for once.
In all, the race is fairly open. You can make an argument for every contender except for Dockery, but I think Margulies takes it by a hair.
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1. Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife (“The Last Call”)
2. Claire Danes, Homeland (“The Star”)
3. Robin Wright, House of Cards (“Chapter 26”)
4. Kerry Washington, Scandal (“The Fluffer”)
5. Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex (“Pilot”)
6. Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey (“Episode 4.1”)
Hey, I'm Karl, founder and film critic at Smash Cut. I started Smash Cut in 2014 to share my love of movies and give a perspective I haven't yet seen represented. I'm also an editor at The New York Times, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and a member of the Online Film Critics Society.