Emmys 2013: Our dream nominees, from 30 Rock to Scandal

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones

It was difficult, if not impossible, to like Jaimie Lannister during the first season of Game of Thrones — with his sneering sarcasm, sister loving, and attempted child-murdering tendencies, he seemed like a textbook case of the evil prettyboy villain. Now, however, it’s almost impossible not to love Jaimie, and it’s not just because of the writing; Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has been knocking it out of the park this season, going from prisoner to murderer to shockingly honorable without losing sight of his glorious sarcasm. All of his scenes with Brienne show increasing depths to his character we could have never predicted, and in perhaps his best moment so far this season – the bathtub scene – Coster-Waldau manages to make Jaimie one of the most human characters on Game of Thrones – no small feat in a cast of dozens.

Guillermo Diaz, Scandal

Guillermo Diaz is flawless as Huck on ABC’s Scandal. This season, the writers gave him so much raw material to play, and he mastered every single one of them. He’s a pleasure to watch onscreen.

Noah Emmerich, The Americans

Plenty of people would have taken the role of unwitting FBI agent and execute it as ignorance. Somehow, Noah Emmerich works wonders with his role on The Americans. As the cast has said: he’s the real deal.

Mandy Patinkin, Homeland

“You’re the smartest and the dumbest f—king person I’ve ever known.” Once again, case closed. Plus that smile when he saw Carrie in the finale? Come on!

Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad

Aaron Paul continues to impress as Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad. In short: Emmys, bitch!

Corey Stoll, House of Cards

The beginning of House of Cards started off slow for Corey Stoll’s character, but somehow along the way Stoll crafted him wonderfully. By the end of it all, we were completely sympathetic, and perhaps shed a tear or two.