Read the original version in French here.

Throughout the year, television creators, actors and craftspeople make us dream, but some nights belong entirely to them. There are evenings when all of Hollywood seems to hold its breath, and Monday, September 14, 2026, in Los Angeles was one of them. Gathered at the Peacock Theater for the 78th Emmy Awards, American television’s biggest night, the industry came together for a celebration unlike any other.

It was an evening of glamour, reunions and surprises, hosted by Mariska Hargitay — a first for the Law & Order: SVU star. And this year, one true phenomenon dominated the awards: Widow’s Bay. The Apple TV horror comedy took home six statuettes during the ceremony, bringing its season total to a record-breaking 14 wins.

Emmy Awards 2026: The biggest moments and surprises of the night

Among the moments that transcended the awards themselves, Michael J. Fox’s will undoubtedly remain one of the most memorable. As he received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for his advocacy in the fight against Parkinson’s disease, the Back to the Future star was greeted with a tremendous standing ovation. He delivered a restrained yet deeply moving speech, speaking about the support of his loved ones and the public, as well as his determination to help advance research.

Then came a moment television fans had been anticipating almost as much as any trophy: Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz reunited to celebrate the (almost) 30th anniversary of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Beyond the nostalgia of seeing Buffy and Angel side by side again, the two actors also paid tribute to members of the Buffy family who have passed away — and couldn’t resist taking a little jab at the sequel project Hulu abandoned a few months earlier.

And amid all these highlights came a well-deserved result, though hardly a surprising one: The Pitt (HBO Max) won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series for the second year in a row. While Season 1 kept us on edge all the way through the mass shooting at the festival, Season 2 broadens its scope, exploring the limitations of artificial intelligence in hospitals, mental health and violence against medical staff.

Why Pluribus deserved to win the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series

So why wish for a winner other than The Pitt? Because Pluribus (Apple TV) offered something far more original. Rhea Seehorn stars as Carol Sturka, one of the few people to retain her free will after a collective intelligence takes over nearly all of humanity. Its apocalypse is not built around the fear of dying, but the fear of no longer being yourself. What remains of us when everyone is happy, but no one can choose, doubt, suffer or even be alone?

The Pitt is brilliant at what it already knows how to do. Pluribus, on the other hand, takes greater risks, transforming a potential alien invasion into a strange fable about our need to be free — even at the risk of being unhappy. The series is willing to take its time, let the mystery linger and turn unease into a genuine narrative weapon. Rhea Seehorn, who carries much of the story almost single-handedly, is mesmerizing in the role and won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance.

In our eyes, perhaps Pluribus was the show that truly deserved to be crowned. After honoring The Pitt once already, the Emmys could have chosen to reward surprise and audacity rather than confirmation.

A.S.