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The Drama Supporting Actor is a category that comes down to the episode submissions, and I wouldn't have it any other way. The race comes down to the three contenders:
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones (“The Laws of Gods and Men”): Peter Dinklage won this category for the show's first season, with an episode that really only had one scene for him to shine. The same somewhat goes for his episode submission this year. As Tyrion stands trial for murder, he must watch as his defense is slowly chipped away until he reaches his breaking point and delivers a passionate speech condemning everyone in the room. It is really the best kind of Emmys speech. He is relentless and there are yells, gasps, and screams as he speaks. There is also a lot of gravitas in the performance. You feel bad for Tyrion. You're on his side. Then, the episode closes on his face. The one drawback is that you have to wait for that scene… a long 50 minutes.
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad (“Confessions”): Aaron Paul has win this category twice. The first time was for the episode “Half Measures.” It was a bit of a watershed episode for Jesse. He must deal with drug dealers who are using children to sell drugs. His second win came from the episode “End Times,” which was one of the strongest episode submissions for a supporting actor in years. “Confessions” is similarly a watershed episode. Every single scene is just Jesse pouring out emotion whether it's sadness, anger, or all out rage. His one hitch is that he doesn't show up until about halfway through the episode. Although, he is on screen the entire time from that point.
Josh Charles, The Good Wife (“Hitting the Fan”): I'm really glad that Josh Charles submitted “Hitting the Fan” opposed to “Dramatics, Your Honor.” While the latter sure is memorable, “Hitting the Fan” offers him a lot of emotion, opposed to his usual stone face. The best part of the episode is that the now iconic desk scene opens the episode. He is complete war mode and he shows it with complete rage. He also has the advantage of having consistent screen time.
My head is telling me to go with Dinklage, my gut says it's Charles, and my heart wants to go with Paul. This is as much of a toss up as categories get. I'm throwing a dart and landing on Aaron Paul here, but very unconfidently. If Dinklage or Charles take it, I will be just as happy.
1. Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)
2. Josh Charles (Game of Thrones)
3. Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)
4. Jon Voight (Ray Donovan)
5. Mandy Patinkin (Homeland)
6. Jim Carter (Downton Abbey)
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.
Aaron Paul won for ‘Problem Dog’ not ‘End Times’ (he switched his submission). And the episode he is submitting for this year’s Emmys is ‘Confessions’, in which he and Hank share a conversation right at the beginning and he’s in most of the episode. You’re thinking of ‘Rabid Dob’ where we don’t see him until midway.
It’s actually the other way around. He submitted “Problem Dog”, then there was a large online uprising that he didn’t submit “End Times” and then he switched. I was talking about confessions. I negated talking about the opening scene because I didn’t find that it had much impact.
Sorry, ‘Dog’.