Emmys 2013: The Supporting Drama Actor Race In Review, Including Our 6 Dream Nominees

Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad

Bobby Cannavale, Boardwalk Empire (Supporting Actor)

This 2005 guest actor winner (for Will & Grace) and 2012 nominee (for Nurse Jackie) was so scary good as psychotic Gyp Rosetti, we didn't know whether to applaud or run for cover.

Robert Carlyle, Once Upon a Time

Jim Carter, Downton Abbey

Josh Charles, The Good Wife

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones

Michael Cudlitz, Southland (Supporting Actor)

Not only did this (appallingly!) never-nominated veteran actor take home the Critics' Choice Award for his career-best portrayal of troubled Officer John Cooper, he deserved the hell out of it. If there's any justice in Hollywood, his name's already being engraved on this Emmy.

Alan Cumming, The Good Wife

Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones

Noah Emmerich, The Americans

Walton Goggins, Justified

Larry Hagman, Dallas

Freddie Highmore, Bates Motel (Supporting Actor)

Even if we had no other reason to nominate the JV Norman Bates' portrayer — and we have plenty (kid breaks our hearts weekly!) — we'd still give him a nod just for the scene in which the future Psycho snaps and channels his controlling mother for the first time.

Mads Mikkelsen, Hannibal

David Morrissey, The Walking Dead

John Noble, Fringe

Mandy Patinkin, Homeland (Supporting Actor)

Though he was snubbed last year, he isn't likely to be overlooked again by Emmy: Saul's storyline was so meaty in Season 2 that his portrayer could just as easily have submitted himself as a lead.

Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad

Ron Perlman, Sons of Anarchy

Jeff Perry, Scandal (Supporting Actor)

Besides tearing Cyrus' monologues (and, for that matter, his friends!) to shreds, this powerhouse is the only guy on this list who we still rooted for after his character came thisclose to murdering his own husband.

James Purefoy, The Following

John Slattery, Mad Men

Dan Stevens, Downton Abbey

Corey Stoll, House of Cards (Supporting Actor)

As congressman Peter Russo, Stoll was handed — and superbly handled — an emotionally turbulent arc, unwittingly manipulated to and fro by Kevin Spacey's powerful politico while wrestling with all manner of demons. Amid a cadre of cold, calculating characters, he was the closest to a warm, beating heart, and certainly one of the few you rooted for.

Sam Waterston, The Newsroom