Welcome to the 2022 SiftPop.com Sifties!
This year, the SiftPop writers came together to nominate five actors for Best Television Performance. Unlike the Emmys and other major awards shows, we didn’t differentiate between lead and supporting performances or between actors and actresses. This is simply a countdown of the five best performances that we collectively saw!
2022 was another year of great TV performances. Between superheroes, drug addicts, lawyers, and hitmen, there was a wide variety to appreciate. The SiftPop crew nominated five performers for Best Television Performance: Rhea Seehorn and Bob Odenkirk in Better Call Saul, Oscar Isaac in Moon Knight, Zendaya in Euphoria, and Bill Hader in Barry. Here’s how the voting played out:
Kim Wexler is one of the greatest characters in the Breaking Bad universe, in large part to Rhea Seehorn’s performance. From the very beginning of the series, Kim is a diligent and no-nonsense lawyer who you were begging to loosen up a little bit. However, by the end of Better Call Saul, your heart breaks for Kim, even if her decisions never really made a lot of sense. Seehorn manages to keep Kim grounded, surrounded by larger-than-life characters who might be more dynamic. Seehorn, though, finds a way to stand out in a series full of amazing performers. It’s a testament to her beautiful portrayal that demands your respect and attention.
There’s a reason Zendaya has a pair of Emmys on her shelf for this role. Building off her performance as Rue in Season One of Euphoria, and the specials, there’s an argument that her Season Two followup is just as good, if not better. Specifically, an argument scene in the middle of this season may just be the premier moment of Zendaya’s acting career so far, thanks to the pure magnitude of emotion she is able to convey. As a troubled protagonist trapped in the throes of addiction, she has a precarious balancing act to pull off. She’s the main character, and we want what’s best for her, despite her penchant for bad decision-making. It’s thanks to Zendaya’s charismatic performance that Rue remains a character we can’t help but root for.
It might be on the small screen, but what Oscar Isaac does in Moon Knight is up there among the best performances that Marvel has to offer. Not only is he tasked with bringing a superhero to life, he essentially has to do it for multiple superheroes simultaneously, as he balances his various personalities and how each of them manifests as the titular hero. The range required to portray both museum worker Steven Grant and mercenary Marc Spector, and to still make it feel like their personalities coexist inside one body, is a hefty challenge. Isaac rises to the occasion admirably. All while having to balance the accent work in addition to the characters.
A far cry from Stefon on SNL, Barry is perhaps the most impressive character of Bill Hader’s career. Hader brings a darkness to Barry (the character and the show) that is frankly unprecedented in his career, and that darkness is taken to a whole new level in Season Three. At this point, Barry has all but gone crazy, and Hader channels that manic, unpredictable energy in a way that only he can. Hader himself has said that he’s never liked the character of Barry, and if there’s anything that comes across this season, it’s that. The silliness is much less frequent; it makes way for a deep darkness and self-loathing instead.
Somehow, Bob Odenkirk levels up each season of Better Call Saul. As Jimmy McGill dissolves into Saul Goodman, Odenkirk finds ways to strip away humanity piece by piece. Watching this performance is like watching a beautiful train wreck. We empathize with Jimmy, but only partially, because you know some of these decisions are self-inflicted. In the final episode alone, Odenkirk proves his value by staying true to who is he: a smart and charismatic lawyer whose moral compass is a tad bit wonky. It’s remarkable to watch his performance, because Odenkirk is so unbelievably perfect for Better Call Saul.
Make sure to check out the previous 2022 Sifties winners! And don’t forget to check back tomorrow for the winner of Best Television Show!