2015 Emmy preview: Should ‘Better Call Saul,’ ‘House of Cards,’ ‘Game of Thrones’ win Drama Series?

We wanted to wait until around this point in August before we starting to really get our Emmy preview coverage at CarterMatt going again. Why? It just felt far too early to really be discussing it in late July, and there are only so many nominees. From here on out, though, we’re going to be talking about a new category just about every day, and we may even do a final prediction podcast with Jason Prager at the time we make it to the very end.

We’re starting big here with what may be considered by many to be the biggest award of the entire night in Outstanding Drama Series. Are there great nominees here? Pretty much across the board, but there can only be one winner and that is what we’ve got to figure out right now. With that, let’s dive in with a discussion all about who will (and should) win this pivotal category.

The nominees

Better Call Saul (AMC)

Downton Abbey (PBS)

Game of Thrones (HBO)

Homeland (Showtime)

House of Cards (Netflix)

Mad Men (AMC)

Orange is the New Black (Netflix)

Who should win – The discussion here has to begin by removing “Homeland” and “Downton Abbey” from the list, and then replacing them with either “Sons of Anarchy,” “The Americans,” or “Outlander.” All of these shows were to us stronger choices this year. Of the ones nominated, though, shouldn’t it be time for “Game of Thrones”? In the absence of one that we’re feeling incredibly strong about, it feels time for HBO’s marvel after being shut out in this category four years running.

Who will win – Once again, we’re absent of a clear favorite. Therefore, you have to think that “Mad Men” has the final-season factor going for it and should emerge on top. The Emmys probably aren’t hip enough to give “Orange is the New Black” the title, but it is our darkhorse pick of the group since it does have all of the buzz from the younger crowd.

Photo: AMC