Incredible TV series that never won a big award

TV awards are, of course, completely subjective to the judging bodies presenting them. Sometimes there seems to be a bias in favor of certain actors and directors over others, but in other cases, it's unclear why the results are so unfair.

No matter how long they were, there are hundreds of series that have ended without winning a single distinguished award - especially a Golden Globe or an Emmy. Here, we will review some amazing series that never got to snap up an award.

Image: Josh Hartnett in 'Penny Dreadful,' Showtime

'The Leftovers' could easily go down as one of the best series in the history of television. With this in mind, it seems incomprehensible that the show never won a single award.

Image: Justin Theroux and Anne Dowd in 'The Leftovers,' HBO.

The series contains some show-stopping episodes and its soundtrack is overwhelming. Not to mention, Justin Theroux is magnificent. But above all, it is almost blasphemous that Carrie Coon was not recognized for her performance.

David Fincher's awards record is certainly worth noting... in the negative sense. He won nothing for 'Seven' and 'Zodiac,' two cinematic masterpieces. And now he is leaving empty-handed with 'Mindhunter,' a gripping story that boasts two excellent and disturbing seasons.

Image: Anna Torv in 'Mindhunter,' Netflix

This journey of FBI agents studying serial killers in the 1970s won the hearts of audiences and critics alike. Yet, the only award it got was a Satellite Award for Best Actor for Jonathan Groff, the young and ambitious agent of the investigative unit. What's worst of all, however, is that the show was canceled even before its storylines could come to conclusion.

Image: Netflix

Could this be the greatest injustice in TV awards history? A groundbreaking, shocking science fiction series with an enormous fan base, and no big awards.

Image: Joshua Jackson in 'Fringe,' Fox

The series had John Noble at his finest, as well as an imposing Anna Torv and a devastating Joshua Jackson. In fact, it was a cast of main and supporting actors who brought serious quality and class to the show. But no Globes or Emmys were given.

Image: Joshua Jackson, Anna Torv, and John Noble in 'Fringe,' Fox

It began as a spinoff of one of the best series in history, 'Breaking Bad', and ended up being one of the best series in history itself. Despite this amazing feat, it never got the praise that the first series did. A lot of nominations for Golden Globes and Emmys, yes; that, they got, but nothing to hold in his hands for lead actor Bob Odenkirk.

The fact that Bob Odenkirk doesn't have at least one award on his mantlepiece at home is shocking. But that Jonathan Banks, Giancarlo Esposito, and Rhea Seehorn didn't get any Globe or Emmy either, that's just criminal.

Recovering a classic like 'Psycho,' adapting it to television for five seasons, and making it run like clockwork is something that even Alfred Hitchcock would have struggled to do. And despite this, 'Bates Motel' never got the recognition and the awards it deserved.

The unsettling relationship between Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore, as Norma and Norman Bates, gave us some breathtaking moments. Some of them were beyond shocking. But no big prizes were given for it.

In the golden age of AMC, 'Halt and Catch Fire' shone at the top of the channel's catalog. It did so for four years, crowned with a final season that verged on perfection.

Not only did the 1980s-type drama deserve better in the awards race, but each and every one of its four main characters should have been in the running for an award. Kerry Bishé and Mackenzie Davis are especially good.

Making a series about one of the best villains in the history of cinema was a tremendous challenge, but Bryan Fuller met it with exquisite quality, taste, and class. All without detracting one iota of crudeness from the character of Hannibal Lecter.

Image: 'Hannibal' lead actor Hugh Dancy

The two brilliant leads were Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy Their on-screen chemistry was explosive and the game of seduction and pursuit they created over three seasons was hypnotic for millions of people. Obviously, however, it was not for those who hand out the TV awards.

No one knows which was more painful, ABC's unexpected cancellation after three seasons or the big awards ignoring this glorious sitcom for the duration of those three years.

The updated and millennial version of 'Friends' was well-liked by the public and its cast was great. Of course, a spotlight shines on the wonderful Casey Wilson, whose Penny was said to be the Phoebe of the 21st century. But no Emmy or Globe.

If a series has been on the air for 15 seasons, then surely it is for a reason. It's comedy of the highest level. So how is possible that in 15 years there hasn't been any big award, aside from a Satellite in 2011 and a People's Choice Award in 2016? It's very strange.

The sitcom, created by Rob McElhenney, with an Irish pub at the center of it all, is a delight. It has, among others, not only Danny DeVito at his finest but also Charlie Day demonstrating that he has a real talent for comedy.

For 7 seasons, Jessica Day was the most lovable character on television. Quite the opposite to Daenerys Targaryen - who premiered the same year and had basically the opposite storyline in 'Game of Thrones.'

Zooey Deschanel and her four co-stars were a wonderful cast and understood each other with just a glance. A special mention must go to Max Greenfield and his Schmidt. Despite all this, they were unable to win a single one of the five Emmys for which they were nominated.

'Oz' was not just a quality series; it also broke down many gender and race barriers with its characters. It had a real HBO stamp and was, in fact, the prelude to HBO's wonder years that were to come.

Image: 'Oz,' HBO

You only have to look at the cast and wonder how it didn't win any awards: J.K. Simmons, Christopher Meloni, Rita Moreno, Harold Perrineau, Luke Perry, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.

In the image, 'Oz' creator Tom Fontana.

It's hard to believe that one of this century's landmark sitcoms, which ran for seven seasons, didn't win a single major television award.

Chris Pratt, Nick Offerman, Rashida Jones, Aubrey Plaza, Amy Poehler, Aziz Ansari... Did any of them deserve to get ignored for an award? If only for the memes they've given us, they should have gotten an award. The time for that is over, we fear, as P&R was canceled years ago.

Rory Kinnear, Billie Piper, Josh Hartnet, Harry Treadaway, Helen McCrory, and Timothy Dalton; all in the same cast, and no one picked up a Globe or Emmy. The series depicted mythological monsters from classical literature in an original story that intermingled them masterfully.

The most inexplicable thing is that Eva Green was snubbed for her majestic role as Vanessa Ives. Each episode with her was a masterclass in acting.

Image: Eva Green and Rory Kinnear in 'Penny Dreadful,' Showtime

This reunion of David Simon and HBO wasn't as well received as one would expect. The subject matter of 'The Deuce' was gripping -  the birth and rise of adult cinema in 1970s New York - and the staging was perfect.

Image: Maggie Gyllenhaal in 'The Deuce,' HBO

On the one hand, there is James Franco. You can like him or not, but playing twin brothers the way he did, was an achievement that deserved a decent award. Then, on the other hand, and far above Franco, was Maggie Gyllenhaal, the real star of the series who, also, never got a big award. Thankfully, at least she'll have the eternal affection of the audience.

Image: Maggie Gyllenhaal in 'The Deuce,' HBO

One of the most original, endearing, funny, and stimulating sitcoms of the 21st century said goodbye after four seasons. It never got the recognition it clearly deserved. Incidentally, 'The Good Place' also has one of the most beautiful endings ever on television.

Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, and even the series itself were up for several Emmys and Golden Globes during the four years it was on the air. Yet, they never won. The fact that Ted Danson's depiction of Michael never got him a Globe or Emmy should be a crime in several states.

As we have seen, there are bad decisions in TV land. But then there are also Really Bad Decisions. Like not having given an Emmy or a Golden Globe to 'The Wire.' Not a single one for a series that belongs at the top in TV history.

For six years and five seasons the crime drama, critical about real-life political problems in the city of Baltimore, fascinated, educated, and thrilled viewers. There was plenty of time to crown the series. But it never happened.

Not many series can say they have aged well, but 'Veronica Mars' can. Over the years, this show progressed and developed into a memorable series.

As a contemporary tribute to Agatha Christie, the series was wonderful in every episode. The scripts were sublime, the plots were addictive, and the actors owned the screen. Kristen Bell in this series is nothing short of fabulous.

Image: Jessica Chastain and Kristen Bell in 'Veronica Mars,' The CW