Betsy Brandt, "Breaking Bad"

Nomination Status: Good enough to ride "Breaking Bad" coattails if "Breaking Bad" coattails exist.

In Her Favor: Something of an afterthought within the "Breaking Bad" ensemble, Brandt's Marie got to shine after her husband landed in the hospital mid-season. Her attempts to be strong to buttress Hank's infirmities were impressive and brought her up to the high level of the rest of the "Breaking Bad" cast.

Working Against Her: So far, "Breaking Bad" hasn't proven to be an Emmy juggernaut and Anna Gunn is likely to be the first ship lifted by the rising tide of the Season Three momentum. While Marie had a meaty arc in the second half of the season, she didn't get the kind of focused episode that would make her a more realistic candidate.