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BENJAMONSTER AWARDS 2021: Outstanding Directing of a Limited/Anthology Series

Today's award is Outstanding Directing of a Limited/Anthology Series!

Check out the nominees and winner from 2020!

This year's nominees are...

SCOTT FRANK, The Queen's Gambit "Adjournment" (Netflix)











LIAM GAVIN, The Haunting of Bly Manor "The Way It Came" (Netflix)











BARRY JENKINS, The Underground Railroad "Chapter 9: Indiana Winter" (Amazon)













SAM MILLER, I May Destroy You "Someone is Lying" (HBO)











MATT SHAKMAN, WandaVision "Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience" (Disney+)













CRAIG ZOBEL, Mare of Easttown "Illusions" (HBO)













And the Winner Is...
SCOTT FRANK
The Queen's Gambit "Adjournment" (Netflix)
The "Adjournment' episode of The Queen's Gambit featured the meltdown of the main character (Anya Taylor-Joy's Beth Harmon) as she descended into alcohol and drugs. It was highlighted by a beautifully directed sequence with "Venus" playing in the background. The scene was only one small part of a well directed episode and the episode was only one of a well directed series (all by Scott Frank). But it highlights all the great choices Frank made as a director. With unique camera shots and unique angles, the show wasn't content to just play it safe all the time. Scott Frank knew how to capture scenes where Beth was fully in control and how to capture scenes where she was spiraling out of control. He knew how to capture scenes of pure joy and utter sadness. We felt the journey Beth was on through the entire run of The Queen's Gambit and Scott Frank's direction is part of the reason.

Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
Scott Frank really owned this category especially because he directed the entire series of The Queen's Gambit, but he wasn't the only one to direct an entire limited series. Barry Jenkins did so for The Underground Railroad and was responsible for some really harrowing scenes that were tough to watch, especially in "Indiana Winter." Sam Miller captured the confusion that reigned in I May Destroy You as memories of a rape was being pieced together. The series of The Haunting of Bly Manor hit a high point with "The Way It Came" directed by Liam Gavin and the way it started to turn the show from a horror show into a love story. Craig Zobel kept the surprises coming during a very intense final sequence in the "Illusions" episode of Mare of Easttown. And finally, Matt Shakman had a very unique task of directing an episode of WandaVision so that it resembled The Dick Van Dyke Show more than anything currently on TV and he did so very effectively.

Tomorrow: Outstanding Directing of a Comedy Series!
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