The 'over-acting' helped to contribute to more awards for the show and much loved by the vast majority.
I think some are misunderstanding his style of acting when it was exactly what Sullivan/Dow will have wanted.
Sorry, I appreciate opinions are what they are but it just doesn't make any sense to critisise an acting style, when that was the part and style was written for.
He no-more "over-acted" than a Boycie/Marlene.