HBO submits 'True Detective' to Best Drama category for 2014 Emmys, ignores miniseries categories

HBO's 2014 series True Detective starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson was a runaway hit in its first 8-episode season. The fan-base was intact in week one all the way through to the season's conclusion, leading many to believe that Emmy recognition was on its way. Considering the amount of episodes, many believed that True Detective would have no trouble in the Miniseries category at the 2014 award shows, but HBO has bigger plans. True Detective has been submitted to the Best Drama category and is going up against some stiff competition.

Deadline reports:

The project, created by Nic Pizzolatto and starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, was sold and done as an eight-episode limited series, which easily would've qualified it as a miniseries. FX's anthology series American Horror Story, which airs 13-episode installments, started off in the drama series category at the 2012 Golden Globes before switching to longform for the 2012 Emmy Awards. It has competed as a miniseries ever since and has been dominant in Emmy nominations, landing 17 last year. The drama field is far more competitive and tough as PBS' Downton Abbey found out after switching from miniseries to drama series after Season 1. Still, winning a drama series Emmy has a big cachet to it. Plus, True Detective does employ drama series storytelling techniques. But an entry as a miniseries would've pretty much guaranteed the moody Louisiana series a dominant performance and a slew of trophies.

We shouldn't give up too much hope, though. The series' stars could garner nominations and there is definitely a chance the highly successful show could upset a lot of these acclaimed shows in the Best Drama category.

What do you think of this decision from HBO?