Golden Globes 2019: Outlander, Vikings, Mayans MC, The Good Doctor, & Criminal Minds top Drama Series wishlist
The 2019 Golden Globes are going to be airing on NBC come Sunday, January 6 on NBC, but campaign season is already underway! From now until early December, expect a wide array of campaigns from various networks and studios about specific shows and performers across a number of categories.
Here at CarterMatt, we’re getting back into the swing of things again with our own annual Golden Globes Preview Series! Our team has huddled together and come up with our own list of personal picks across some important categories, and over the next couple of weeks we’ll be sharing many of them alongside polls for you to vote for to show your support. We want this to be a fun, interactive way to help campaign for shows during this process and have some fun discussion along the way about some of the best that TV has to offer.
Just a reminder – These are not the actual Golden Globe nominees. These are just our personal picks that we hope will bring attention to these shows during campaign season, starting today with the all-important category of Drama Series.
Voting Rules – Vote however often you’d like! (If you are having trouble, there are instructions at the bottom of the page.) Voting will remain open until Friday, November 30 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific time. This allows the debate to continue for most of the campaign period. The actual nominations will be announced come December 6.
Our Drama Series picks
Criminal Minds (CBS) – It may not be the subject of many headlines at the moment, but the creative renaissance of Criminal Minds in season 14 is something to behold. The series has long been about UnSubs, cases, terrifying murders, and the heroes who do their best to make the world a little safer. Yet, in season 14 it’s struck a wonderful balance of telling some of these case of the week stories while also allowing you to dive into the past and the psyche of their main characters. In “The Tall Man,” for example, you saw a powerful account of JJ’s past as she confronted a local urban legend within a small town. Meanwhile, in the “Luke” episode Adam Rodriguez received some of his meatiest material since joining the show as he went rogue amidst a revenge plot while also delivering an incredibly vulnerable performance. This series has always been strongest when its focus lies on the characters, and in season 14, this show is taking it to new heights.
The Good Doctor (ABC) – The entry point for many with The Good Doctor was getting House creator David Shore on board alongside Freddie Highmore of Bates Motel. Now in its second season, the ABC drama has clearly established itself as so much more than that. This is a gripping yet personal look at doctors taking on some of the most innovative procedures in medicine; they struggle within those, but then also struggle with the world around them. Highmore is sensational as Shaun Murphy, a doctor working to balance his skill and his autism on a daily basis, but you also cannot overlook Richard Schiff’s completely stunning portrait of Dr. Aaron Glassman and the heartbreaking cancer battle that he’s taken on for the majority of the second season to date. This is a show that raises the bar for every other medical show on TV, and not just because the cases are outstanding.
Mayans MC (FX) – The Sons of Anarchy successor began with an incredible challenge of trying to follow the greatness of the original. Yet, throughout the first season, the Kurt Sutter / Elgin James series persevered and build a powerful, winding narrative about people living in a disparate society where they hoped to find their place and find some stability in their hearts and minds. What started, in part, as a story of family and duty for one EZ Reyes (JD Pardo) eventually became about his own search for identity and understanding about what this world is and his place in it. Anchored by an incredible cast and some violent spectacles, the first season concluded with an incredible reveal that reshapes EZ’s motives and will likely appeal to Sons fans in turn, If you are looking for a strong, morally-complicated story about families in multiple forms, you will find none better.
Outlander (Starz) – What Outlander has done technically has long been the subject of envy — whether you are talking about the costumes, the score, the set decorations, or the scenery itself, it has long remained among TV’s best. Yet, in season 4 the series was forced to pivot in having to utilize Scotland in a different role: A performer in its own right. Yet, they’ve been able to pass the location off as North Carolina without missing a beat, and continuing to deliver stories that test Claire and Jamie Fraser as they embark on their quest for a fresh start in the New World. The acting remains top-notch as the writing takes a sophisticated look at the social politics in time travel and also what it means to be an immigrant and finding a new start in a place where not all are clearly created equal.
Vikings (History) – Without giving anything away for the start of season 5B (we have already watched some of the episode in advance), the History drama remains as strong and as gritty as ever. There’s political intrigue and strategy here unlike almost any you see elsewhere, and that’s without even giving Alex Høgh Andersen and Katheryn Winnick their proper due as two of televisions most-recognized actors. This is a series that creates incredible challenges for these characters every time creator Michael Hirst puts pen to paper: He has to find ways to make it historically accurate (with at least the information that is out there) while also balancing intricate character stories and fantastic battles. There has to be a balance to everything and whether it be visually or emotionally, it always works. Five seasons in, and Vikings still has kept itself strong and prepared for TV battle.
Other critical favorites
Keep watch for The Handmaid’s Tale, Better Call Saul, This Is Us, Westworld, and The Americans throughout the campaign.