2016 Golden Globes: Christopher Eccleston, Tobias Menzies, Vincent D’Onofrio deserve Supporting nods

There are no categories at the Golden Globes more competitive than the Supporting fields, and there are many clear reasons for that. For starters, we begin here with the fact that there were so many astounding performances on the air over the course of the past several weeks. Also, the Globes do categories a disservice by lumping comedies, dramas, and miniseries / TV movies into a single category. Therefore, there are so many snubs that are going to be made.

In the latest edition of our nomination preview series, we are taking a look at our five worthy candidates for Best Supporting Actor, and we welcome your votes in the poll below! We will announce our winners in an article on December 9, one day before the nominations are officially announced.

Jonathan Banks, “Better Call Saul” (AMC) – “Five-0” is one of the best episodes of any show in 2015, and Banks’ performance is one of the sole reasons why. There are very few reasons why at times you should want to root for Mike (the man is far from a great person), and yet Banks makes him relatable and human enough that you sympathize at times with his plight, and the part of him that wants to be a good man caring for those he loves.

Tituss Burgess, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (Netflix) – We’re happy at least one comedy actor made our top five here! The reality is just that,as mentioned, this is an insanely competitive category, one where you have a variety of fantastic people competing for just a few spots. Burgess brought so much energy and life to his Titus character, a man perpetually obsessed with stardom but completely oblivious as to how to get there.

Vincent D’Onofrio, “Daredevil” (Netflix) – One of the best villains we’ve seen on any comic-book adaptation in some time. What makes D’Onofrio stand out above the field? Think everything from body carriage to dialogue to simply his strong presence. The test of a good villain in this genre is you want to miss them when they’re gone, even if you know that they are terrible for the characters you are rooting for. We don’t know what Fisk’s future holds on the show, but we’re excited to find out.

Christopher Eccleston, “The Leftovers” (HBO) – The episode “No Room at the Inn” is up there with “Five-0” as one of the year’s best, and Eccleston dominated as the optimistic-but-repentant Matt. He is someone who relishes relieving overs of their pain, even if that means taking so much of it on himself. There’s just enough that is unnerving about him to make you question his actions, and then he wins you back time and time again. It’s pretty phenomenal that way.

Tobias Menzies, “Outlander” (Starz) – Probably the most terrifying, hardened, and shocking performance of the year. We’ve said it before, but it takes something astounding to inspire hatred for a character. Black Jack Randall was a character who qualified for that and then some, and in the hands of a lesser actor we’re not sure that his scenes with Sam Heughan would’ve had the same impact. From Menzies’ approach to his delivery, the final episodes of season 1 in particular were so chilling that they will be impossible to forget.

Honorable mentions – Alan Cumming, “The Good Wife” (CBS), Ted Danson, “Fargo” (FX), Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones” (HBO), Hugh Laurie, “Veep” (HBO), Jussie Smollett, “Empire” (Fox).