An Examination of True Detective at the Golden Globes

The holidays may be almost here, but even more than that, so is award season. We recently took a look at the SAG award nominations and where True Detective stands. We deemed that True Detective’s chances at a SAG were fairly high even if it was only nominated in a single category in which Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson will have to spar over Best Dramatic Actor.

Unlike the SAG’s, True Detective is nominated in several categories at The Golden Globes. Let’s take a closer look at where those nominations lie and how likely True Detective is to walk away with some gold.

First up is Best TV-Movie or Mini Series:

Olive Kitteridge
Fargo
The Missing
True Detective
The Normal Heart

There’s no messing around this time; True Detective is finally going to go up against Fargo. Both Fargo and True Detective have the most traction here, though it’s worth pointing out that the majority of these nominees are not tv-movies. Fargo, brutal in its own right, is more palatable than True Detective and already has a built-in legacy from the film.

NPR’s recent list of the best shows in 2014 placed Fargo ahead of True Detective and blamed that on True Detective’s ending. That may be worth considering when looking at True Detective’s odds. If there were to be an upset vote, it would go to HBO’s The Normal Heart. But otherwise our gut gives a slight edge to Fargo.

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV-Movie

Martin Freeman, Fargo
Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
Woody Harrelson, True Detective
Billy Bob Thorton, Fargo
Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart

This category is set to be a tight race by all accounts. Both Martin Freeman and Billy Bob Thorton turn in performances that are just as award-worthy as our two True Detective leads. It’s the second category in which Fargo and True Detective will be facing off. But really, the competition will likely be between Matthew McConaughey and Billy Bob Thorton. This one is too close to call, and both deserve the win.

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series, or TV Movie

Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Freak Show
Uzo Abuda, Orange is the New Black
Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
Michelle Monaghan, True Detective
Allison Janney, Mom

This is one of the Golden Globe’s famous wide-open categories. These categories which incorporate a number of different form of entertainment tend to not give enough credit to deserving actors, but we’re very excited to see Michelle Monaghan get some appreciation for her role in True Detective.

Unfortunately it would be something of a surprise if she won. Allison Janney is something of a freight-train at these awards, and Downton Abbey is no slouch either. Even though Monaghan is the underdog here, it doesn’t mean she’s down for the count.

And there you have it. As we see it, these are True Detectives’s chances at the Golden Globes. The ceremony is set to take place live on January 11th.

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