'The Handmaid's Tale' leads speculative fiction on television at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards

I'm going to break a promise I made at the beginning of 'The Shape of Water' and 'Get Out' lead speculative fiction at the movies at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards.

Since I wrote that at the conclusion of A good year for speculative fiction in the AFI top movies and TV shows of 2017, I've decided to mix things up a bit and cover the movie nominees for the Golden Globes first.  I'll still cover the WGA Awards nominees/A> tomorrow.

No, I'm not.  I decided it would be easier to continue with the television nominees for the Golden Globes instead.  I'll see if I have the time and energy for the WGA Awards tomorrow.

Speculative fiction on television had more representatives in fewer categories than in the movies.  Five shows earned a total of eight nominations or six show with nine nominations if "Mr. Robot" counts as speculative fiction.  The leading drama series is "The Handmaid's Tale" with three nominations, Best Television Series — Drama, Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Drama, and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television.  This ties it with the other leading drama series, "This Is Us."  Next is "Stranger Things 2" with two nominations, Best Television Series — Drama and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television.  The last speculative fiction show nominated for Best Television Series — Drama is "Game of Thrones."  Yes, the shows nominated for Best Television Series — Drama are the same three speculative fiction dramas that were named AFI TV shows of 2017 and also nominated for Best Drama Series at the 2018 Critics' Choice Television Awards.  Once again, it's both easy to see which are the best speculative fiction series and recognize that they are also among the best on American television.

Three other series earned one nomination each.  Caitriona Balfe of "Outlander" is competing against Elisabeth Moss of "The Handmaid's Tale" for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Drama.  Kyle MacLachlan of "Twin Peaks" earned a nomination for Best Performance By an Actor in a Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.  Finally, Christian Slater of "Mr. Robot" is competing against David Harbour of "Stranger Things 2" for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television.

Follow over the jump for the Golden Globes television nominations that recognize speculative fiction film from Vox.

Best Television Series — Drama

The Crown, Netflix
Game of Thrones, HBO
The Handmaid’s Tale, Hulu
Stranger Things, Netflix
This Is Us, NBC

Again, I think "The Handmaid's Tale" has the inside track, but the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is an odd electorate.  They might like "The Crown" or "Game of Thrones" better.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Drama

Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
Claire Foy, The Crown
Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Deuce
Katherine Langford, 13 Reasons Why
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale

If the audience were voting instead of journalists, Balfe would likely win; the "Outlander" fans are both passionate and organized.  Instead, I think the contest will be between Claire Foy and Moss.

Best Performance By an Actor in a Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Robert De Niro, The Wizard of Lies
Jude Law, The Young Pope
Kyle MacLachlan, Twin Peaks
Ewan McGregor, Fargo
Geoffrey Rush, Genius

While I think Robert De Niro will win, I'm encouraged to see MacLachlan nominated.  I'm pretty sure he'll be nominated for Best Actor on Television at the Saturn Awards and "Twin Peaks" for either Best Presentation on Television or Best Thriller Series.  I'm never quite sure how the nomination panel will handle things for television shows (recall how annoyed I was at the acting nominations for "Westworld" at the 2017 Saturn Awards).  The other actor I'm rooting for is Geoffrey Rush as Albert Einstein.  Science!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television

David Harbour, Stranger Things
Alfred Molina, Feud: Bette and Joan
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot
Alexander Skarsgaard, Big Little Lies
David Thewlis, Fargo

I think Alexander Skarsgaard has this in the bag, but I'm still rooting for Harbour.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television

Laura Dern, Big Little Lies
Ann Dowd, Handmaid’s Tale
Chrissy Metz, This is Us
Michelle Pfeiffer, Wizard of Lies
Shailene Woodley, Big Little Lies

This is an A-list field.  I'd be rooting for Ann Dowd, but any one of them could win.

That's it for the Golden Globes nominations recognizing speculative fiction on television. Stay tuned for more entertainment tomorrow.