Mad Men was on a roll coming out of the 2011 Emmy Awards. For four consecutive years, the period drama had beat out, among others, the final season of Lost, the final season of Friday Night Lights and the debut season of HBO phenomenon Game of Thrones and walked away with top honors, Outstanding Drama Series.
And then ... it all stopped. Homeland scored the 2012 trophy, Breaking Bad won in 2013 and 2014, and all the while, Mad Men failed to pick up a single award on Emmys night.
What's with the drought? There are theories.
One sentiment is while the show remains at the top of many critics' lists, Emmys -- especially in the individual acting categories -- have in recent years gone to actors with material that allows for standout moments. Mad Men's legacy is the show's use of controlled, self-aware pacing -- meaning you'll never see an actor have a giant, over-the-top monologue or moment. Or as Salon put it, "there’s never been a moment when it felt like Hamm or Hendricks or Moss had to be rewarded."
This is not bad for the show's overall identity -- because, as we know, Emmy statues are not on the mantels of every amazing show out in the ether -- but it's certainly bad for any performer looking to take home a trophy while up against the likes of Bryan Cranston.
It's also not bad to be competing for big awards in your final season: just ask the Breaking Bad crew after their five wins on Monday night.
If Mad Men is to have an Emmys resurgence, it'll be next year -- or never.
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