For all those that read my last article (5 Films To Make A Grown Man Cry) you may be wondering why I appear to be writing such depressing articles lately. I don’t really have an answer to that question because I myself don’t really know for sure. Maybe it’s the fact that the summer is now officially over, and Autumn always makes me just a little sad. It is the season where summer dies, where leaves crisp and fall off trees, so I always associate this season with death. Then again, it could be because I always hated having to go back to school in September, so maybe my reasonings are much less poetic.
Regardless of the reasoning behind me writing these articles, when thinking of the saddest moments from film for my previous post, I kept on coming back to classic TV episodes which made my cry, but as my article was on film, I was unable to include them. This made me sad. I love TV, and there are so many great TV episodes that have made me weep just as much as any film has. In fact, I have to admit, the episodes later on in this list had a huge emotional effect on me, much more than any film I have ever seen.
Maybe you won’t agree with every episode included on this list, and it is likely you haven’t seen them all, but because emotions are naturally a very personal feeling and response to have, what makes me cry won’t necessarily be what makes you cry. I obviously haven’t watched every television series ever made either (no one has), so if I have left off an episode that should be included, please educate me in the comments section.
Without further adieu, here are what I consider to be the 10 saddest TV episodes of all time ranked in order. Have your hankies at the ready…
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195 Comments
Surely at least one of the episodes must be a Lost episode?
After Lost’s terrible final episode, any emotion I may have ever felt for instance when Charlie died is completely gone.
Also, I never remember having felt too sad at any Lost episode… I certainly never cried. I think the closest I came was when Juliet died.
Terrible? It was a perfect, fitting end to the series that gave all the characters closure, which after all was the whole point of the story, the characters.
Like the title “Lost” is called that not because they are lost on an island, because all the characters are Lost in their own ways
Ha Ha… I am sorry but that is the stupidest thing people say when defending that terrible ending.
It was absolutely not about the characters… it was about all the weird goings on with the island. In fact, the creators kept on saying “the answers are coming” obviously to hook people into the show who were watching for the story and the plot, not just the characters. It was a sci-fi show after all, not a family drama.
Also, if it was just about the characters, it did a pretty terrible job at the end. Why would they all want to be together with one another? The island was a terrible place for most of them… but especially Boone who died within about 2 weeks real time, and Shannon also (plus, Siad’s love of his life was not Shannon who he was with for about a month). If I was Jack I’d be pissed off for ever wanting to return to a place that had absolutely no point of existing. He literally died for nothing.
And even if you did just watch for the characters (though that is obviously a lie, why watch something just for characters. Why not watch for plot and story as well. A good show can do both well) there where so many loose ends it never tied up.
Anyone can write a really interesting show if they don;t have to think of an ingenious ending… in fact, if I didn’t have to think of a clever way to end everything and tie things together, I could write many many more thrilling scenes. The worst thing is that the writers kept trying to defend themselves, and lied all the time… telling people they had an ending which recently J J Abrams has even admitted wasn’t really the ending he wanted it to be.
Come on, stop kidding yourself. You can like the ending as much as you like but saying the whole point of the story was the characters is the stupidest thing anyone can ever say about a piece of fiction. Sure, make sure the characters are all interesting, but if there is no real story (at least one that makes sense) then what the hell is the point of watching. There are many other series that have done both much much better than Lost ever did.
It was a great shame, as Lost really was one of my favorite TV series’s of all time. Now, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
Also, I appreciate your opinion but really am done arguing this point. We will just have to both accept that about 50 percent of people loathed the ending as much as I did and 50 percent of people loved it. I wish people could just admit that it hardly wrapped anything up, and left so many plots with loose ends… if you can’t remember, there are a few funny videos ( i think college humor has one) which show the sheer amount of unanswered questions Lost has. Embarrassing really.
Also, the title “Lost” means both being lost on an island and the characters themselves being Lost… however they hardly found themselves at the end.
I agree, the ending was absolutely horrible, but Lost had some great episodes if you ignore the last season. How can you not think “The Constant” is amazing? Or “The Candidate,” where EVERYBODY dies? Or Charlie’s death? Or Juliet’s death?
I’m not going to defend the ending because it is, in fact, complete crap. The show was about the characters, but it also left a stuff unanswered because they basically ignored everything. And are we really supposed to believe that Sayid wound up with Shannon? Really? SHANNON? Lost had the opportunity to be the best sci-fi show of all time with a perfect ending and then crapped all over it.
Nugs… I agree that Lost had some great episodes, however, the reason they were great was because you thought they were leading to something spectacular, not the complete crap we were given. In retrospect, I don’t think you can really say any episode of Lost was really good, because it all ultimately meant nothing. I sooo hoped it would have been amazing though. Believe me, I don’t hate hating a show this much, especially considering I once loved it.
LOST was an amazing show. I have to disagree.
Come on, a lot of Lost episodes should’ve been there.
The episode when Jin and Sun die deserve to be here
I think the list was good, thanks for putting the Futurama episode on here. I would also like to have seen one from Chuck, I can’t think of which one but it was a great show before bloody NBC canned it.
Never ever seen Chuck, so if there was a sad episode I wouldn’t know. Thanks.
The final episode for certain, Vs The Subway maybe, also maybe Vs The Cliffhanger.
How very mature of you. These are just my personal favorites… and I know that many of these (probably at least 5) appear on most peoples top 10 lists of all time.
And yes, I completely think Friends was and is the best sitcom of all time (at least one filmed in front of a live studio audience).
If you disagree with these so much, i’d like to hear what your list would be?
Seinfeld probably is better (best comedy).
How I Met Your Mother is leaps and bounds better than Friends. Painfully smarter writing, funnier actors, smarter/actual interesting story premises. How I Met EERIOUSLY shows how godawfully average Friends is in comparison, its not even a debate if you actually have a brain.
The FUTURAMA episode was probably the saddest thing I ever seen. Being a dog person this was a tear jerker.
Good list..
How I met your mother? I can think of several episodes that ripped off the exact same storyline as in episodes of Friends. Both are moronic and stupid. JUST LIKE YOU! And I’m right because your wrong. So that’s that.
I’d have to say that the two shows, HIMYM and Friends, aren’t given true justice when compared in a “which is better” discussion. I’d like to think that HIMYM is actually using its similarities to Friends as a way to comment on the mechanics of the type of group sitcom that Friends pioneered during its run. Friends’ brilliance lies in great character writing and how they interact with one another; HIMYM’s lies in its abilities to analyze and break down the tropes of the conventional sitcom. With all that said (and I don’t mean to be long winded here), I’d like to point out the HIMYM season 6, episode “Bad News” is an absolutely emotional episode for Marshall and his struggles with bringing one life into this world, as well as saying goodbye to another. It’s painful and uplifting all in one.
Buffy is one of the best television series of all time. Out of 54,000 of the general publics votes it has an average of 8.2 out of 10. Maybe you should grow up and learn to appreciate things that aren’t just sex jokes. Speaking of which: what is better than Friends then? Two and a Half Men? Pathetic.
Thanks for this. And obviously, I completely agree with you.
tbf I love Friends and think it is one of my fave sit-comes ever, but Two and a Half men is brilliant because all it is is sex jokes, that’s what makes it clever and original and really funny. Friends is brilliant but Two and a Half Men is also really good
“The Body” is one of the greatest television episodes of all time. Anyone with family members is likely to agree.
Very good list. The last ten minutes of Six Feet Under restored my faith in TV, before Jersey Shore took it away.
Thanks Nugs (if that is in fact your real name)… “Anyone with family members is likely to agree”… so that is everyone apart from non-adopted orphans then?… But I agree, anyone who has watched that episode shouldn’t be able to deny the power it has.
Six Feet Under’s last 10 minutes blew my mind… man I miss watching that show.
What about the episode of House when Amber dies? Not trolling just curious.
One of the few hit shows I haven’t watched (well, apart from a very small number of episodes)… I’m sure it probably was emotional… I just generally don’t watch shows set in hospitals is all.
Thanks for the suggestion though.
Though I mostly loved House, it was way too formulaic at times. What kept me watching was Hugh Laurie. But every finale and special episode was incredible, particularly the two-parter of “House’s Head/Wilson’s Heart,” which is what Chris was talking about, if you would like to just see that.
What about the final episode of blackadder goes fourth? I know it’s a bit older than the other examples, but the final moments of that episode as the bunch of characters we’ve laughed at and with go over the top, disappear in explosions and fade to a field of poppies, just brilliantly sad and poignant.
Great example. I very almost included it in this list too, however I decided to stick to more recent examples. It is definitely a difficult episode to watch.
Thank you.
“The real heartbreaking moment however is when the camera slowly pans around the now empty apartment. A perfect ending.”
Yeah, that’s hardly an orignal ending though, is it?
http://www.collegehumor.com/video/5817687/remix-cliche-sitcom-goodbyes
Ha Ha. Good find. I can’t argue against that… although in my defense Friends did it a little better and I am still glad I included it on the list.
Thanks though
This a great list! I havent seen Six Feet Under but ive been told i would enjoy it. I am so glad you included that Futurama episode. I never expected to cry over that one. Other suggestions were a few “Dead like Me” episodes (awesome show about a girl who becomes a grim reaper) and some moments in the show “Heroes” that ive almost caught up on. anyways thanks for the read!
You would definitely enjoy Six Feet Under. I don’t know you, but it’s difficult to imagine anyone that wouldn’t. It’s one of the greatest, most believable television show of all time… which is kind of strange because occasionally characters talk to dead people and there are abrupt musical numbers… but still, truly brilliant.
I haven’t seen Dead Like Me apart from the pilot episode, but wasn’t too keen on it… I have friends that love it though.
Heroes I am tempted to watch, but have heard that it goes down hill a lot post the second season so I have tried to avoid it.
Thanks for reading.
What about the Scrubs episode “My Lunch”? Yeah the majority of that episode is laughs but the final 5 minutes are very sad. Doctors losing 4 patients almost simultaneously and Dr. Cox just breaking down in front of Carla, all to the depressing music of The Fray.
There are many emotional episodes in Scrubs… but I haven’t seen them all and certainly didn’t want to include more than one on this list because I am not really a fan of the show.
I’m sure you are write about that episode being emotional though.
Thanks for reading
* right (not write). Kind of embarrassing for a so called writer.
You’ve got some great ones here. For me, I would have to add:
SPOILERS!
Fringe: There are so many beautiful and heart-wrenching moments, but the saddest would have to be when young Peter dies in Walter’s arms. There’s also the last episode of season four. And this season’s premiere, while it wouldn’t technically fit this list, I must still mention because not enough people have watched this incredible show. The final scene of “Transilience Thought Unifier Model-11″ shows Walter Bishop (the immensely talented John Noble), one of the greatest characters on TV, walking through a devastated landscape towards a mobile of broken CDs. He finds one that still works and sits in an abandoned taxi, listening to Yaz’s “Only You.” Then, after being tortured and told that nothing grows in scorched earth, he sees a single dandelion growing through a crack in the pavement and tears well up as hopelessness starts to fade. And each fan will rewind and watch that part a thousand times, because even though the entire series has been far beyond anyone’s expectation, combining sci-fi craziness with real relationships and emotion, this simple scene stands out as the most powerful even without any context.
Doctor Who: The saddest loss of a companion up until yesterday was Donna losing her memory. Last night I cried over the loss of Amy and Rory. Everyone played their parts perfectly.
Also, for the first season or two I liked Grey’s Anatomy. Then I realized it was getting stupidly melodramatic and quit watching. But when Denny died I wept like a baby.
I am one of few fans of Fringe also and have watched every episode. I have got to say though that I don’t think any particular scene has been particularly emotional so far… you are right, the closest has to be when young peter dies, but I wasn’t at all a fan of the season 4 closer… i thought it was incredibly badly done if I am being honest.
I also really liked the scene at the end of season 5′s opener… but probably because I really like the song tbh. I am actually rather worried for Fringe… I hope it can end well but much of me is starting to become bored with the series… I will watch to the end but at the moment I wouldn’t say it has been particually great. Seasons 1, 2 and much of 3 were mostly wonderful though… I think I’m just getting bored of it a bit.
I no longer Watch Doctor Who. I assume you are American because you called Yazoo “Yaz”… but Doctor Who got too “British” for me, and as a Brit I prefer shows set in America (escapism and all) and think American TV series are far superior (however, i don’t think Doctor Who is that bad a show). I did watch when Donna lost her memory and remember it being fairly well done though.
Thanks for reading
I agree with you about Doctor Who…I just watched that tonight, and although I don’t often get emotional and teary over TV episodes, that one almost had me bawling! It was so well done, though, that I had no resentment over Amy and Rory’s departure…they still lived their full lives together, happy. If a show can make me cry at the end and yet still want to watch it again, or see more…that is pretty much a miracle, and this one did just that!
Well, you seem to be in the minority with your dislike of where Fringe went. I loved season 1 because it was intriguing and kept me watching. But the later seasons are when everything started coming together, the background story became incredibly important, the writing, and I really loved the characters. So many scenes, especially with John Noble, are very emotional and have always been. Of course, that’s my opinion. I guess it’s good for you that it’s ending before it bores you too much. ;) But I will always be sad that it ended so soon.
I assume every show will make me mad in the end, like Lost, but I think Fringe will do it right. They actually really care about what they’re doing and how fans are receiving the show instead of just teasing and answering nothing.
Yes, I’m American, but I use both Yaz and Yazoo.
As for Doctor Who, I will follow Tennant and Smith anywhere. Like John Noble, they are amazing actors. The imaginative stories coupled with the writing make it a must watch no matter how British or American it is. Again, my opinion.
It was nice to talk. Great article. You made me cry a number of times.
Thank you… it was nice to talk to you to. I still like Fringe enough to watch it, it’s just getting a little too complicated maybe? Still, I am not as worried about how it will end as I was with Lost… i think Fringe will do a much better job. I am happy it is ending this season though… 5 seasons is usually best for any show. I guess there have been a few emotional sections too… not enough for a top 10 in my opinion though.
Thanks again
Not your top ten, but definitely mine. Fringe turned out far superior to what Lost promised and failed to deliver. So sad. Fringe is my top show of all time. It has evolved beautifully and with an incredibly emotional storyline. Complicated? Maybe, but it makes it easier when you get answers. I loved Lost but now will never recommend it to anyone. Everything just seemed so pointless. Though, I still love the performances. I actually was not expecting a bad ending. I thought I would get answers. I was so thoroughly disappointed that if Fringe had started that fall, instead of two season prior, I wouldn’t have watched it.
Though I hate that Fringe is ending, I wouldn’t want it to fizzle out. I want it to be as strong and affecting in the end as it was at its best. I have faith in the writers, but I admit even the best people do run out of ideas and things can get convoluted, stretched thin, and whatever else can go wrong. Still, the time has passed far too quickly.
As for your top ten, I haven’t seen them all, but it was certainly a great list. My favorites are the Buffy and Angel episodes, and I absolutely love Friends. I’m watching it right now, as a matter of fact. And I was bawling reading about Fry’s dog on Futurama. I kind of blocked that one from my mind. Now I know why. Thanks for that. ;)
I actually just wrote a really long response but it deleted itself. I like Fringe but prefer when it was more “monster of the week” than it is now… I also wish they’d mention Olivia’s super powers a lot more than they do… I hope this is featured heavily in this next season. Still, I am excited to see how it ends, but many other TV shows currently on air make me more excited if I’m honest. I appreciate that it is your favorite show and don’t think you are ridiculous for saying it is (unlike if it had been many others)… You probably know it A LOT better than I do so you can remember all the emotional bits I obviously am forgetting. I hope it ends really strongly and I am glad it doesn’t seem to be suffering from the same problems Lost did. If you couldn’t already guess from the list, my favorite all time show is Buffy.
Forgot to check the comments. Is there no registration on this site, or am I just missing it? It would be great for responses to go to my email.
And I just realized it’s actually your top nine. Not used to odd-numbered lists.
Ooh, sorry you wasted your time. My responses used to delete themselves a lot. For years now I’ve copied them to Word or the notes on my iPad so it never happens again.
I’ve heard some people liked the monster of the week more. I appreciate both and love how it evolved smoothly from procedural with a creepy twist and likeable characters to something so much more, with relationships that feel real, acting that doesn’t seem like acting, and intelligent writing.
I would love if they used Olivia’s power more. I suspect they will have to in this final crazy season. But I also understand that when they don’t do something we might want them to, it’s because they have too much left to tell in a limited time and some things are more important. At least they didn’t save it all until the end, promise big reveals, and then screw us. Damn, I’m still bitter about that.
Oh, wait, I just remembered Olivia lost her powers at the end of last season. But it is sci-fi, so you never know if it will be written in again. Ah, well, it was cool while it lasted.
By the way, I’m not trying to get you to suddenly fall in love with Fringe. I’ve noticed it seems I can be a little short with people when I’m making a point even while not having an ounce of anger in me. Damn my writing style. I respect your opinion, and you’re cool with me since you love Buffy. ;) This is more for anyone else who happens to read it and gets curious…like I wish my brothers would. They refuse to even give Fringe a chance because they didn’t like where Alias went and got bored with Lost by season 3.
Okay, time for me to sign off. Sleep is taking over.
Thanks for replying. I am half in love with Fringe so you don’t have to try and convince me. I completely forgot that Olivia lost her powers… damn, I really like super-powered lead characters. And don’t worry about being bitter about Lost, you have no idea how bitter I still am. Grrrrr, it angers me. I very almost refused to watch Fringe because of it (I started Fringe after I finished Lost). Plus, I totally get being really passionate about your favorite TV program. When someone doesn’t love Buffy I am the same. Thanks again
I definitely feel your pain. I was so mad that I’m certain I wouldn’t have watched Fringe had it premiered after Lost ended. But the thing about Fringe is that to me it’s better than Lost ever was. I was hoping it would end well, but in the mean time I was annoyed regularly with all the questions unanswered and the many deaths. The characters on Lost were great, and deserved more than they got, but Fringe has done everything better…in my opinion. ;)
In Lost all you want is answers answers answers, well I’m guessing you’ve never seen The Prisoner, or if you have hated it then. Because not giving you all the answers allows you to use your brain a little bit which is what most people struggle to do nowadays lol
I think the biggest problem I had with Lost actually was that I was so involved in the show, I remembered every little detail probably actually more than the writers did. In fact, I had come up with an ingenious way to more or less tie most of the loose ends together, that when the show failed to even try to… I was shocked. If I could think of a way for it to more or less make sense, then why couldn’t they. It was the laziest show of all time. I think the writers honestly should have been ashamed, especially because of all the lies they told and the potential the show had to be truly outstanding… and no, I have never seen The Prisoner.
Like I said, I appreciate that Lost is your favorite show, though I wish you’d even admit that the ending wasn’t really the ending the show deserved (not even from a character point of view… but certainly not in terms of plot)
http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6099973/unanswered-lost-questions – if you havn’t seen that video I truly recommend you watch it.
buffy is one of the best tv shows ever and i can’t think of many other shows with such a character-driven story. couldn’t agree more ;)
One of the best… the best for sure.
No, Breaking Bad is the best.
what about the final episode of lost? where jack dies?!?
If you read my previous comments about Lost in this comments board, you will understand why I didn’t include the series. Guess you were one of the 50% that liked the ending then.
Sorry for another Prison Break input in one of your articles, but Episodes 22 & 24 of the 4th Season made me cry as well.
Thanks for the suggestion. I’m sure it was emotional… I never watched the show. I have heard both good and bad things about it.
I would say Lost wasn’t a sad show. Michael, you have to remember, this is “the list according to Daniel”.
As from my point of view, the show would be better off without 3rd Season and I might go even that far, that it would work even without the 2nd. It’s just today’s trend to milk the cow dry, but hey, if the milk is worth it. But sometimes creators milk it too much.
If I knew what show you were talking about I could reply with an interesting answer… but I do not.
Sorry, I forgot to use reply on the above posts about Prison Break. ;)
No worries. Yes, I heard season 1 was good, but apparently it kind of got repetitive and went down hill from there. As I said I never watched the show, and there are probably too many really good shows that I still need to catch up on so it is fairly likely I will never watch it.
I thought the episode of Scrubs where Brendan Frasier has died was incredibly moving.
Yes it was! I completely forgot about that episode… Still, I wouldn’t have included more than one episode of Scrubs on this list- seeing as it is set in a hospital it is kind of cheating- bound to have loads of emotional episodes.
I Will Include the last episode of the second season of buffy, wow when buffy kills angel, was a really powerfull moment in the series and for buffy. is and that moment when she relizeed that she has a duty to save the world in spite of her love.
Yes… I did actually mention that episode on The Body page (it is called Becoming Part 2). I would have included that episode personally if I hadn’t already had two episodes for Buffy (which I think are just a little sadder) already on the list. Great choice though.
I was (and still am) a huge Buffy fan and personally I thought the show had sadder episodes than the ones mentioned; “Hell’s Bells” when Xander leaves Anya at the alter, also the last 3 episodes of season 6 (the final always brings a tear to my eye) and “Help” when Buffy tries to save a girl who knows she is going to die and at the end, after we think Buffy has saved her, she dies of natural causes… And of course the season 2 finale!..
That being said though, its actually a pretty good list, though I also would have included the Simpsons episode “Mother Simpson” which has one of the saddest ending ever. And I know the list was made before this came out, but the episode of Sons of Anarchy “Stolen Huffy” is one of the saddest things that I’ve ever seen!
Thanks for reading. Hells Bells is probably considered Buffy’s weakest episode (behind Beer Bad) hence why it was excluded from this list… plus I didn’t find it all that sad. The last 3 of Season 6, in my opinion are only occasionally sad (the saddest moment came in the episode before where Tara dies). Help is a good choice, although as the sadness isn’t related to any of the scoobies really, it doesn’t have as much of an emotional punch than when Buffy dies, Joyce dies or Angel “dies”.
Yes, Mother Simpson is a sad episode of the Simpsons also with a great ending, although I prefer Lisa’s Sax. Never seen Sons of Anarachy so I am just going to have to take your word on it.
Thanks again.
One I would put up here would be the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode ‘Time’s Orphan.’ If you haven’t seen it, it covers a small child being displaced in time and coming back as an adolescent suffering from privation. It may have just been me studying this kind of thing at college, but it moved me more than most things I’ve seen on TV.
Never seen it but thanks for the suggestion
Not a long time fan of this website but I’d just like to point out how impressed i am with the author interaction with the comments. I’m so glad that futurama episode made this list. I completely agree, i cried for so long after that episode!!!!
It would be mean not to comment back to you wouldn’t it. Thanks for the appreciation… I am probably one of the only writers on this site that tries to comment back to everyone.
The Futurama episode is great. There is also another great Futurama ending… I can’t remember what the episode is called but it is the one where Leela finds out she is a mutant, and the episode ends watching all the times her parents have protected her is secret over the years. A great episode.
Thanks for reading.
Am I the only one who includes the ending of series 2 of Sherlock when he jumps off the hospital building, I know he didn’t technically die but the fact that he had lost everything and everyone had turned against him and in his final moment sacrificed himself for his friends. The tears were down my cheeks when he was making his last phone call to John and then at the grave I was crying like a baby when Watson prays for him to come back.
Don’t watch Sherlock but I am sure you are right. Thanks for reading and thanks for your suggestion.
Agreed . I almost puked when I saw this ridiculous list. Where is Homicide Life On The Streets, China Beach and others. Yes comedies can be sad ( Michael leaving The Office ) but this list is a damn joke.
You should probably go and see a doctor.
And secondly, maybe you should start watching TV series from the last 10 years. Everyone of these episodes was very emotional and I completely stand by my options. I completely appreciate you have different favorites however… I can’t exactly speak for everyone.
Daniel, I like your list. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion which is why I don’t think your list is anywhere near ridiculous. As a matter of fact, although I agree that How I met your mother is funny. Friends was an awesome show for it’s time and I remember how I could never get enough of it when it originally aired.
ok…so i feel the lost episode of charlies death was kina emotional for me. just because he knew what his purpose in life was and that his time had come. like there was no choice about it. he knew that in the long run for all the other characters he needed to die.
also the scrubs episode in which laverne dies. i think. this is one of the episodes which i watched after becoming so disappointed with the series and its direction. but they handled this wonderfully.
extras xmas edition. when ricky apologises to his friend live on fake big brother. the acting was tremendous and definitely one that moved me.
the wire when dee screams at string: what about wallace string? what about wallace. that got me. just a brilliant attack on string and fickle society over the innocent loss of lives.
there are definitely more but these are the ones that come to mind
Of those I’ve seen that you mentioned I agree… they were emotional. Not enough for me to include them on this list personally, but I understand why these are your favorites.
Thanks for reading and giving your suggestions.
How about the “Histories” episode of “House”? Just reading the plot description on Wikipedia makes me weep. So, so sad.
Don’t watch House but thanks for the suggestion. I’ve heard other people mention a couple of House episodes already in the comments so I am sure there were many that could have been included on this list. Thanks for reading.
Peacekeeper Wars, Farscape? Major character death – not the obvious one – and I blubbed more at that than anything else in my life.
Also, Star Trek DS9′s ‘The Visitor’. Even before the opening credits I’m welling up, because I know why we’re seeing what we are.
Thanks for these. Haven’t seen either but I am sure they were really emotional. Thanks for reading.
I’d have put ‘My Lunch’ as the Scrubs entry, far sadder, you see the toughest most resilient character on the show go from what he thought was his highest point, to being devastatingly crushed when it all goes so horribly wrong.
There’s also the episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, where Will’s dad comes back, and they’re about to take a trip together, but then he lets him down again, and Will Smith does some of the best acting of his career, breaking down crying and angry. Fantastic episode.
What about, “Goodbye, Michael,” The Office?
Warehouse 13 season 3 final two episodes, Claudia seeing Steve dead, Helena’s death/willingness to die for the good of the world.
I know this list is your personal opinion but I think you should probably watch Seinfeld before you anonint Friends with such a lofty title.
Secondly, the list is full of Angel and Buffy episodes which I guess show a particular bias towards Whedon but I think you are missing much greater series by far better writers in doing so. Leo’s storyline in The West Wing, Michael leaving the office, Dr Greene’s final episode on ER probably hold more water than teenage shows like Buffy. Btw not anti Whedon in the slightest but I think you are either too young or are simply eschewing higher caliber writers like Sorkin. In the end, your list , your opinions but my opinion is that they are generally what a generation T4 would choose and lacks gravitas
Thanks for reading but there are a few things I’d like to say. Older people like to state that everything from their generation is better than anything new… which is ridiculous. I am sure Seinfeld is great and I think Seinfeld jimslef is pretty funny, but I also think Friends is hilarious. I do not have immature humor in the slightest… I cant stand HIMYM or 2 and a half Men for example, but Friends was superbly written and is at the very least one of the all time greatest sitcoms.
I think it is funny you mentioning Michael leaving the Office which was hardly all that sad, and no one (at least critics) would consider the US Office as better than Buffy- or as good as Friends.
Secondly, Sorkin is very overrated. I am a fan of his screenplays but his TV episodes are always a little off. People think he’s good because he writes non stop constant dialogue and never shuts up- but this isn’t really how you are meant to write screenplays. Screenplays should be equal part dialogue and scene direction, and never really ever have extended scenes of just talking. You are supposed to get to the point quickly but Sorkin hangs around and mostly bores with cliches and unfunny one liners. That said, I half enjoyed Studio 60 and I am currently watching The Newsroom, but neither would I rank close to my top 10 favorite TV series.
It is also funny you said Buffy is a teenage show. Have you actually watched Buffy, because that is something people who don’t watch the show like to think it is. Buffy has dealt with far more mature themes and emotions than any Sorkin thing I have ever watched. You may be surprised, but I bet if you asked most critics what was the better show out of The West Wing or Buffy, they’d probably side with Buffy. Empire Magazine did a 50 Best TV shows of all time list a couple years back and Buffy ranked in 2nd place way in front of The West Wing. I am not saying The West Wing is bad… I haven’t seen it and would probably like it, but maybe you just don’t get Buffy if you are trying to argue it isn’t worthy of a place on this list. Have you seen the episode of Buffy “The Body”? Sorkin couldn’t write something that subtle, brilliant and mature. In fact, most critic opinions I have read regarding The Newsroom state it is actually a pretty badly written television show and that Sorkin’s only real good show he has ever done is The West Wing… the others failed because he failed.
I don’t know how old you are but don’t be snobbish about your generation and learn to grow with it. I can’t stand people who think all black and white films are better than films of this generation just because you have fond memoires of watching them in the past and are more cynical in your older age.
Don’t try to sound more knowledgeable or wiser than me just because I am younger than you are. At the end of the day I am university educated, have watched a lot of films from lots of eras and my opinions are just as good as yours are… but at least I am not trying to come off like I know better.
I appreciate the comment however and I am glad you read the list. I assume by your screen name that you are a Breaking Bad fan… and that is defiantly a show I would rank in my top 10.
I am 26 years old and my objection of Friends being given that title stems from your own argument regarding subtelty. What made Seinfeld great was not because Seinfeld himself wa funny but because it was entirely fresh and was scripted amazingly by the great Larry David. It wasoriginal and the jokes were certainly more subtle than weren’t simple like Friends. I can understand that it is neither from your generation or culture (I am from California) but I can safely say I love shows ranging from Cheers all the way to Community. Friends was a populist sitcom that never pushed any comedic envelope or taken any artistic risks. It was disposable light entertainment hence its wild popularity and rewatchability. I can always watch an episode of friends but never because it was clever.
I also note that in almost all your responses you mention ‘other critics’ I think this is where your looking at it from a wrong angle. I personally couldnt care less what other critics feel about Buffy or Sorkin for that matter and more importantly neither should. You should stand by your list based on your own justifications not the validations of other critics. Neither the newsroom or studio 60 are Sorkin’s best work but I still enjoyed them. His best work is the west wing and sports night, it is fictionalised manner of dialogue but so is almost every scripted show created. He may be slightly more stylised about it but what matters to me(I’ll accept being called a snob here) is a degree of cerebral engagement that Sorkin always expects from his audience , something I admire. I could write a thesis on what is wrong with Sorkin but he has more right than wrong about him. The greatest writer in TV history is David Simon and there are a handful of episodes from Him I would but I digress and after all this your list.
I think you misconstrue my criticism of your comment that friends is the greatest sitcom of all time as an attempt to sound like I know better. There is no such thing, in the end it’s all subjective. However to answer your criticisms of my points. The Us Office received a lot of critical acclaim and is widely considered one of the better adaptations at least with us here in the states (although I live in London now) not to mention the number of emmys it received(ironically a nomination for the Michael leaving episode, something I suspect ‘the body’ didn’t get) not saying the Emmys determine quality necessarily not least by them not giving Giancarlo Esposito the award this year but it has received a lot of acclaim but I am only answering your ‘ other critics’ claim. In addition, any list that puts Buffy at number 2 , even if it is empire , can’t be credible in my eyes. Because it means that somehow the wire , sopranos , breaking bad are below it…. Which is quite simply ridiculous.
For me it’s quality not era that determines what is good or what is bad. I wrote for various publications when I was back home on films but alway maintained a love for daring , quality , bold entertainment. I am not saying buffy was a bad show or that Whedon isn’t good but it’s simply can’t be placed among the breaking bads, the wires and the sopranos of this world. Which are all recent shows btw and one is current. Some of my all time favourite shows are on air now like Louie or Community in comedy and breaking bad and boardwalk empire in drama.
I know that was a long response but I wanted to answer your Claims that I’m simply a nostalgic. Again, like I keep saying.. The friends claim caught my eye and I commented. But this is your list and ultimately your opinion and my opinion isn’t any more or less valid but simply fundamentally different
Except on breaking bad. Awesome. Just awesome
Thanks for the reply. I have to say that I respect you and your opinions much more now I know you aren’t just a bitter old man, and you are obviously intelligent and know how to construct effective sentences and make solid arguments. Honestly, I am impressed by the reply just on that level.
This said, there are many things I need to point out to you. First of all, I would absolutely never take a critics opinion over my own, but just when the critics agree with me, then it is handy to use in an argument. So I love Buffy and couldn’t care less who thinks it is a show aimed at teenage girls… it isn’t. I don’t know whether or not you’ve seen the show from start to finish but if you havn’t I guarantee you should and you would have much different opinions than you do now I am sure. Even if you did watch it but haven’t for a long time… it is much more adult and mature than you probably remember.
No, The Body didn’t get nominated for an Emmy but this is because science fiction fantasy shows are always overlooked. If you Wikipedia the episode however you will see that critics regard it as one of the best episodes of television ever to air.
I am sensing from you response however that you fall into a category which I hate (not you, the category). People, especially these days automatically think dark drama’s are automatically better than light hearted often comedic things. I will tell you as a “trained screenwriter” dark and moody dramas are SO much easier to write than mixed genre shows like Buffy. As much as Breaking Bad is probably my favorite show on air at the moment, I would argue to the death that Buffy is a far superior show.
Breaking Bad is great, but in reality not that much happens, we have only seen about a years worth of time, there is very very little humor (i get that it’s a tragedy) and it only really works on one level within one genre. I am not trying to argue that it is bad at all… I love it- but Buffy is the braver, risky, and ultimately much more rewarding show. It may hide behind a mask of “blonde cheerleader” but it has more levels than anyone could possibly understand. When it wants to be it is darker than Breaking Bad, and when it wants to be it is funnier than Friends, and when it wants to be it is the most intelligent science fiction fantasy show ever to air. (I wouldn’t make the same argument about Angel though).
Let’s not forget that Buffy was taking so called heroes and making them morally ambiguous and turning them into villain (though villains we love) YEARS before Breaking Bad ever did. Buffy is never trying to be Breaking Bad… it knows what it is and it knows what it isn’t- it’s comfortable in it’s sub genre (which it kind of created).
As much as Breaking Bad is brilliant, it does occasionally drag and it is far more repetitive than people give it credit for being. Walter cooks meth, then you doesn’t, then you starts up again, then he doesn’t. Breaking Bad is the easier show because it only works within the drama genre. It is FANTASTIC but it is no where near as original or challenging as Buffy was. I know that I could fairly easily write a Breaking Bad episode, but with Buffy I would struggle.
I also have to disagree with you again for basically the same reasons you think the wire, and breaking bad are better shows than Buffy. Giancarlo Esposito did not deserve to win the Emmy- Aaron Paul’s character is a much more complex character who shows the whole spectrum of human emotions. It isn’t that difficult to play dead faced all the time. I still think he was a great actor, but Aaron Paul was definitely the right choice.
It is funny that you suggested that I take too many of my opinions for critics when you appear to have obvious opinions that people who don’t do their research and only watch award shows would have. Aaron Sorkin hasn’t been great in TV for a long time- although everyone keeps on signing his praises. And personally, I found Moneyball watchable but fairly boring. The Wire, Breaking Bad and Sopranos are the three obvious shows people mention when they talk about great TV shows, but I find these people generally have only really seen those three shows anyway. If you allow yourself to open up to different genres then you’d probably be surprised. And sometimes you have to look past rubbishy special effects etc. and realize that Breaking Bad is fantastic but it was made on cable is a fairly new show. Buffy started in 1997 and is one of few shows that old that still hold up very well today.
I hope what I am saying isn’t coming across rude at all, because I generally respect your opinion because you are clearly intelligent and know what you are talking about to some level. I fear though I don’t know you that you are too afraid to love shows that maybe your friends tell you are terrible because they have a bad reputation.
I will say this last point however, and this may rubbish all my opinions from your perspective, but it goes to show that I simply don’t care what other people think, or what ignorant people say about TV shows they love to hate. My two favorite TV shows currently are Breaking Bad and Glee…
I know Glee isn’t considered critically good anymore but I honestly think this is more about people bad mouthing it than anything. Yes the characters are ridiculous and the script can occasionally be poor… but it’s not trying to be a serious drama or a comedy. It is a hybrid and it succeeds in this respect. But honestly, I just get a hell of a lot more enjoyment out of the show than really any other on TV. I don’t care that it’s camp, and I am not a music snob at all. I am just open and honest, and Glee is fun. You may be thinking “why has he suddenly started talking about Glee”… but my point is that you seem to only love one or two genres, and those are usually shows that people tell people to like. I like every genre, because I am aware that not all shows have to be “The Wire” in order for them to be as good as “The Wire”. A large part of judging a show should be about how much you actually enjoy watching each episode. I love Breaking Bad and appreciate it is well written, well directed, well acted etc… but I do generally find the middle parts of the seasons drag and if I am being entirely honest the middle episodes of Breaking Bad actually aren’t all that good.
Sorry if I have gone off point or failed to make a real point. And obviously, opinions are opinions- as long as you have seen a good proportion of TV and Film which you clearly have than you opinions are just as valid as mine and I do respect them. I just wish people would stop giving so much credit to shows which are really just over dramatic and dark and let yourself enjoy shows, especially drama hybrids that allow for a little but of fun.
There’s no denying that Breaking Bad is a brilliant tv series, I’m not quite certain if it’s my favourite show on air – It’s a toss up between BB & Game of Thrones. But regarding Buffy, if you haven’t watched the series, then you truly have no idea what you’re talking about when talking about the show.
For years I thought Buffy was a lame & crappy show for teenagers. When I finally decided to give it a shot after much hesitation (despite it almost always being near the top of most tv critic’s favourite tv shows of all time) it didn’t take long for the show to sweep me off my feet. The first season isn’t strong, and it’s by far the weakest but it still manages to really captivate with VERY strong characters. The show really takes off in the second season onwards (every weak aspect of the first season improves greatly), with most episodes being brilliant.
If you’re willing to get past the title of the series, some dated vfx, and a seemingly cheesy premise, you will be blown away. I can’t take anyone’s opinion of Buffy/Angel seriously, when they haven’t actually seen the show.
“The Body”, like already mentioned, is one of the best hours of television EVER. Just thinking about it makes some man-tears begin to develop in my eyes. I still haven’t seen the last season of Six Feet Under, but currently, “The Body” is the most powerful television episodes I’ve ever watched. There isn’t a second in the episode that doesn’t have power.
The thing that’s so great about Buffy is that it has something of everything, and it almost always nails it completely. With Breaking Bad, you always know what you’re going to get: A gripping hour of a crime drama (which isn’t a bad thing), but with Buffy, you don’t really have much of an idea of what the episode will be like because it can shift and change throughout a season, or even an episode – Hell, Buffy can take you from tears of sadness, to tears of laughter within the space of a scene seamlessly. It’s one of the most brilliantly written tv series, and it gets such a bad rep from people who haven’t seen it because of the name & premise. I’m a MASSIVE movie & tv geek, but I’ve never totally geeked out on a show.. Until I watched Buffy. It’s the show I feel most passionate about.
BTW, I’d recommend checking out the trailer link below, from someone on YT made for the first season. The trailer convinced me to give the show a chance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1v_q6TWAL4
Also, as for sitcoms. I love Seinfeld & Friends a hell of a lot, though, I’d probably have to give edge to Friends, mostly because it’s what I’ve grown up on. But, if you ask me, neither are the best sitcom. I’d probably give that credit to Community, but that’s just my own personal preference. Though, if you consider Freaks & Geeks a sitcom, then I’d give the ‘best sitcom’ credit to that show, instead – It’s easily the best thing Judd Apatow has ever done.
Thanks Christian. I know this comment wasn’t directly addressed to me seeing as you already know I am one of the biggest Buffy fans there are, but I thought I’d comment back basically to say that I pretty much agree with everything you said, and so you’d know that your comment didn’t go unread.
Thanks for reading. You are obviously a very very smart man if Buffy is your favorite show.
Your arguments regarding Breaking Bad not being the best are invalid. I know that it’s your opinion, but still. Very little humor? One of the most praised aspects of the show is exactly that, its ability to be funny, because it’s a very dark show. Not much happens? Ridiculous, 2 frickin planes collided in the air with over 150 casualties (and the show pulled it off), a whole cartel poisoned at once, etc. Also, your claim that it’s repetitive is also ridiculous. “Walter cooks, then he doesn’t, then he does”? As I seem to recall, this was all for a reason, he stopped cooking in Over because he got the money he needed and wanted his family back, he resumed the cooking in Mas because Gus talked him into it, etc. It all happened for a reason. Your claim that “it only works within the drama genre” is also false, given that there’s a very big amount of comedy mixed with the drama, and in its first season some episodes could be refered to as “comedy drama”. If you want specific examples, I can give them to you. I also believe your statement that Breaking Bad is not as challenging is untrue, due to the fact that Vince Gilligan set out to turn Walt (a good guy) into a bad guy from the very beggining and has already achieved it with the fifth season (new developments – ending of Say My Name – in regards to this include that Walt may be turning back into his former self, which I have no doubt – if he wants to – he can also achieve). This is only one example, and I could give you many more (it’s also more innovative in the way that, as I already mentioned the show can generate laughs out of situations that aren’t funny and are actually incredibly dark, such as dead body disposing, murder, etc). Also, you dismissing Giancarlo Esposito’s performance is also unfounded, since while Gus is clearly cold, he can show different sides of himself, such as weakness (flashback scene in Hermanos) and complete ruthlessness (ending of Salud), although I do however think Paul and Esposito were equally good this season). I also think that, judging by your responses of the comments, you seem to have a sort of agressive (I obviously don’t mean that you insult people or something, but rather that you dismiss their opinions, for example: “You should probably go and see a doctor.”; “Ha Ha… I am sorry but that is the stupidest thing people say when defending that terrible ending.”; “You can like the ending as much as you like but saying the whole point of the story was the characters is the stupidest thing anyone can ever say about a piece of fiction.”) reaction when people disagree with you, instead of giving a more proffesional response. Next, there’s a reason why most people who talk about the best shows mention Breaking Bad, The Wire and The Sopranos. Those are all better and far superior than the show you mention. I would also advice you check your punctuation and read again what you’ve wrote before you write an article, as they don’t always make sense. Anyways, Breaking Bad is not only the best drama show of all time, but best show of all time.
Thanks I guess. I still stick by all the things I said about Breaking Bad though. Though it is probably my favorite show (favorite drama at least) on air at the moment, and it is certainly the best written on air for sure, it isn’t as great as Buffy.
Regardless of whether or not there is reason for it being repetitive, it doesn’t take away from the fact that it is occasionally repetitive. Also, if you compare where Buffy was in the middle of season 5 to where Breaking Bad is you will realize that actually not that much happens in Breaking Bad compared to other shows. I understand that this is because only a year has past where as in Buffy by the same time about 5 years had passed, but it is still a fair criticism to make.
I love Breaking Bad and hope it is not coming across that I do not… but wait 10 years and lets see how we both feel about it then. I know that though it is 10 years since Buffy I like it at least as much as I did then. I can’t imagine ever not liking braking bad but I think it is far to early to call it the greatest show of all time.
You obviously are clearly a fan of LOST so I unfortunately judge your ability to criticize based just on this fact… though you are obviously entitled to your opinions I am also obviously entitled to find your opinions stupid. I don’t find you stupid however, you are clearly not based just on your response.
As for the remark about spelling and grammar I know I get a lot of this wrong in the article and if you a referring to my responses in the comments I simply do not have the time to make sure my spelling makes sense here.
Thanks for reading any way. I am glad my comments evoked a passionate response from you and I don’t want to criticize you too much because I respect any fan of Breaking Bad. However, I hope your taste isn’t just limited to drama’s. As much as Breaking Bad had the occasional funny moment it could never be described as a comedy/drama where as this is exactly what a show like Buffy is.
Thank you again.
I agree it may be too early to proclaim it best show of all time, although only because it hasn’t ended yet. I still think that, as it is now, it’s already the best. And yes, Lost is great. While it may be extremely irritating and obviously inconsistent writing that they dropped about a hundred mysteries seemingly crucial to the story and solved only about 10 percent of them, it doesn’t take away the fact that it was a spectacular show, and doesn’t simply dismiss anything they did by the end of the show, I think. As for the punctuation part, I still believe that if these articles are supposed to be proffessional, they should be written accordingly. Thanks for the reply.
Where the hell was The Reichenbach Fall from Sherlock? I am a bit dissapointed.
My opinions are obviously not everyones. If you think that episode is valid, pretend this list is a top 10 and include it. I don’t watch Sherlock hence its exclusion… had I watched the episode maybe it would be featured here. Nothing against the show or the episode though because I am simply unfamiliar with it.
Thanks for reading
I do love the Futurama episode with Fry’s dog but I always seem to be more affected by The Luck of the Fryish episode, where Fry thinks his brother stole his lucky clover and had the life he should have had but it turns out that his Nephew, born after he was frozen, was named for him, to continue his spirit. That ending gets me every time.
Also the episode of The Simpsons where Homer tells the story of Maggie’s birth, and how he had to give up his dream job of working in a bowling alley to go back to the soul crushing work at the power plant. The last scene shows that while there are no pictures of Maggie in the family photo album, Homer keeps them all at work, turning a demoralising sign into a way to get through work with the messgae ‘Do it for her’ in the midst of all the pictures.
I agree totally with most on this list. I was devastated when Fred died because it was such a cruel way to kill such a beloved character.
‘Six Feet Under’ and its final moments hit you like a ton of bricks, i certainly was not expecting to be so emotional. I watch a lot of television series’ but I have told anyone who will listen that that was honestly the best 10-15 minutes of TV I have EVER seen.
I can honestly say the last episode of Prison Break bought a tear to my eye lol
I’m not going to write a long ass bitchy comment about how this and that weren’t included as generally this is a good article and raises some classic tv moments. The futurama and Simpsons episodes are particular highlights, although as you point out the Simpsons episode is more a heart warming tale than a sad story, but seriously the final episode of black adder goes forth isn’t on here! If you haven’t already watched it then I would highly recommend it. After watching the full series and coming to know and understand all the characters, seeing them inevitably go over the top is a chilling moment brilliantly portrayed by the bbc. Genuinely the only tv show to bring a real tear to my eye.
Thanks, and I have seen the episode numerous times and have seen the entire series. Maybe I did overlook this episode and arguably it is sadder than other episodes I have included I didn’t include it for various reasons. Firstly, as any older TV program, it doesn’t hold up so well today as it did in the past. Had this list been written 20 years ago it could have possibly topped this list. The second reason is that it is kind of a strange moment in an otherwise humorous show… it is a great moment but just a little out of place.
This all said, I fully accept why you think it deserves to be in this list and although I don’t think I would include it if I could write this list again, I appreciate your point of view and can see it would feature in many other peoples personal favorites. Still, even though I am not really a fan of the TV series, even I will admit that it is a great TV moment and it did at least make my eyes water.
Thanks for reading and thanks for the suggestion.
How is the 8 Simple Rules episode(s) “Goodbye” not on this list? Watch a few episodes of the first series of it then watch “Goodbye”: you will have never wept at a sitcom before this.
That Alias episode, “The Two” is one of the saddest episodes. Well actually the confrontation scene between Sydney and Vaughn… It just gets me every time. Got the dialogue from YT. Hahaha…
Vaughn: I came by to see how you are.
Sydney: Are you kidding me?
Vaughn: No, I just wanted to make sure that you’re…
Sydney: You didn’t come here to see how I am. You came to see how you are, because you know what you did. You wana make sure you’re okay.
Vaughn: I buried you. Consider that for one second.
Sydney: Don’t use rational thought as a defence with me. Not after all you and I have seen. Vaughn, you and I live and breathe madness. Every day on the job there is no rational thought. I can’t even pretend to have a conversation about anything else with you. What it comes down to is faith. What I was hoping you would say is, ‘Sydney, I gave up on us. I lost faith.’ But what you came here for was closure and there is not a chance that you are getting that from me. I’m not gonna say, ‘I understand,’ I’m not gonna sympathise with you and tell you how hard it must be for you. But you want to know how I am? I am horrible! Vaughn, I am ripped apart! And not because I lost you… but because… if it had been me… I would have waited… I would have found the truth… I wouldn’t have given up on you! And now I realize… what an absolute waste that would have been!
I love Alias (I have all the box sets) but struggle to remember the episodes individually. I do remember this episode though and it was a great one. I don’t know if it is all that sad, but certainly emotional and certainly powerful. Man, I miss that show.
What about the episode of Mad Men from last season where Lane hangs himself? I’m still trying to get over that.
Also, Rita’s killing on Dexter was really heartbreaking.
I don’t watch Mad Med yet (i know… shoot me. I have the box sets, will watch it when it is over) so can’t comment.
As for Rita and Dexter… I was never a fan AT ALL of Rita (though I love Buffy and like her as Darla) so her death had zero effect on me.
No problem… I have friends who watch it so knew any way. The amount of time I spend online on Film and TV sites doesn’t help either.
Great list! “Jurassic Bark” was certainly a great episode. I suggest you watch Hachi: A Dog’s Tale. I was stunned by how much I liked this movie as well as how much it affected me.
I am a huge fan of Angel, and even just reading the couple paragraphs under the episode in this list made me tear up. It’s a heart-wrenching episode. I’m not sure if you ever watched Criminal Minds, but the episode “100″ always makes me bawl like a baby. The acting is phenomenal, and it’s just a generally ‘why on earth did this have to happen’ episode. A lot of Grey’s Anatomy episodes come to mind also, especially the one where George dies at the end of season 4 (maybe) and when the guy comes and shoots up the hospital at the end of season 7 I think. I’ve also cried numerous times at season endings of Supernatural, cause someone important always dies. I find it hard to believe comedies like Futurama and the Simpsons could have sad episodes, but everyone has different tastes. I think some people who have commented on this need to realize that.
Buffy episode: The becoming part 2. The last 5 minutes… The spell taking 2 minutes too long… the kiss… the hug… the blase and the “I love you. I’m sorry”… break my heart… in so many pieces… I think it’ll never heal compleatly again.
And Doomsday by Doctor Who… The doctor burning a sun just to say goodbye to rose with whom never talk about love… who never ever kiss and not be willing to say I love u due to the paralel world gas was closed… Another hole in my heart.
You forgot “The End of Time” episode of Doctor Who, aka the end of the Tennent era of the show. I started watching the show with Matt Smith, but I can’t help but tear up at the end when the Doctor goes to see all his friends before his regeneration, then I just go on the verge of full on crying when he utters probably the five most memorable words in the entire series “I don’t want to go”. It’s made more sad by the fact that in the previous episode(part 1 of the 2 parter) in a conversation with Wilfred Mott, The Doctor admits, that even though he can’t exactly die, that when he regenerates it feels as if he does die. It is even sadder than when The Doctor lost Rose. Like I said I became a Whovian after the Tennant years but I still start to tear up completely after that moment when he sees Rose for the last time(the first time she sees him technically) right up to when Smith makes his debut, and even then I have trouble ceasing with the tears.
I’m 18, and to this day, jurassic bark still makes me cry. I bought it just to get emotional every once in a while. And the song! Even sadder!
No Doctor Who? There are so many heartbreaking episodes to choose from!
I agree totally, Rose Tylers and Amy Ponds farewells were probably the saddest things I have seen on television.
I’d go with Donna’s as the saddest. Whilst she got a happy ending in the end, taking her memories is easily the most heartbreaking scene of Doctor Who.
I’ll admit I didn’t read every comment above, and I do agree with the commentary on Jurassic Bark being one of the best episodes of Futurama and certainly heartbreaking, and Futurama has done so many episodes well, but of the lot Luck of the Fryish has always stuck out the most to me.
Also the series finale for Chuck with the final scene of Chuck retelling the love story to a memory-wiped Sarah, leaving the ending of the series partially unresolved was pretty high up there for me too. But I can’t argue with most of the list.
Maybe this is a crazy fangirl talking, but I think you shoul add them extremely sad and disapointing season 2 finale to BBC’s Sherlock. It was really sad and pretty much had English and american fans weeping. But hey that’s my opinion :)
The Angels Take Manhattan, Doctor Who – Season 7 Episode 5 (new episodes), is the only thing on tv that has ever made me cry, I bawled for ages after that ending, it was bittersweet, knowing that Amy and Rory are happy together but at the expense that they can never see the Doctor again. Amy’s last words to the Doctor ‘Raggedy man, goodbye!’ broke me emotionally. That should definitely be on this list.
Hi, great list. I’m a fan of a lot of the shows you’ve referenced here, and may just give 6 feet under a watch due to your description.
One series that’s been missed totally here though, full of really sad and heartbreaking episodes is The Walking Dead. I mean, only 2 1/2 seasons in, and there’s been more shocking exits than probably all of the other series here combined?
What about the episode in Series 2 when they find out what happened to Sophia? Or even a more recent one where Lori’s baby is delivered? These are just a couple of examples, but there’s tons more….
Anyway, as I said, loved your list!
I know I’m late commenting but I thought batman tas episode heart of ice and smallville season 3 episode memoria were pretty sad and emotional for me
in no way is Friends the greatest sitcom of all time
Sherlock – Reichenbach Fall
Doctor Who – The End of Time and Doomsday
Supernatural – Swan Song, The Born-Again Identity and No Rest For the Wicked
And, yes, I am a fangirl.
My most upsetting episode I have ever watched is either
Doctor who ( End of time part 2 or Angels have manhattan)
I hate to go way back, but what about the episode of M*A*SH where they find out Henry Blake died? What about Edgar dying on 24?
No worries. Thanks for these, I am sure they are all great. Didn’t watch M*A*S*H and didn’t watch 24, but had I done I am sure they possibly would have been included here. Perhaps “of all time” was a bit of an exaggeration tbh, but all these types of lists generally are.
Oh yes, Henry was on his way home & the, almost casual, announcement of his death right at the end of the episode was like being punched in the stomach.
See also the final episode of M*A*S*H where the woman on the bus killed the chicken* to keep it quiet, so that they wouldn’t be discovered by the enemy.
*her baby
“Why did you make me remember that?!”
:’(
Oh man I scrolled all through the comments just for this. I watched MASH (reruns, I’m not that old) from Season 5 to the end. I’ve spent hundreds of hours with these rich, well developed characters, to the point that them being fictional has no significance to how much they matter on a personal level. To see the lot of them leave the conflict in atleast someway damaged wasn’t just sad, it was heart breaking
Sheesh, I was reading through these to see if someone mentioned this. I still think that’ a pretty emotional scene. I’d add Bobby’s dying in NYPD Blue.
“Mr Hooper isn’t coming back Big Bird …… Mr Hoper is dead.”
An amazingly bold descision for a pre-school childrens programme & even though I was a teenager when I saw it, it had me in floods of tears – it still does :’(
That was just devastating as a kid. And do yourself a favor. Not only don’t look it up on YouTube, also don’t look up Jim Henson’s memorial service. It will put you on the floor.
mine wold have included:
last episode of quantum leap
friday night lights the son season 4 episode 5
that episode of fresh prince of bel air when will reunites with his father but gets rejected in the end
THAT FUTURAMA EPISODE MAKES ME WANNA CRY EVERYTIME I SEE IT! i never knew a comedy cartoon television show could make feel that way…and i thought i was the only one! glad to know im not just a big softy
Have you ever watched torchwood or doctor who because day four from children of earth and the series 2 finale of torchwood were very emotional and I suggest you watch them. For doctor who David tennants last episode and Vincent and the doctor were very emotional as well.
Decent enough list, but No. 1 for me is Warehouse 13′s Emily Lake/Stand two part Season 3 finale. For what was a reasonably light hearted series, that finale completely sucker punched me in the emotional centre.
Chuck’s finale isn’t far off [Especially taking the last two episodes as one episode, as aired, like above too].
Wouldn’t be surprised in seeing Fringe added to this list once its finale rolls around.
The futarama entry I 100% agree upon, I havent even viewed the episode in question, but your very description of the ending has me wanting to openly weep. I was questioning the rest of the list but once Everyone’s Waiting was number one I agreed. However, All Alone should have been number, although I understand why you couldnt list 2 sfu episodes as your top 2. Anyway off to go watch that futurama episode
Really, you lost all credibility when you referred to Friends as the greatest sitcom of all time.
WHY IS THE EPISODE OF FRESH PRINCE WHERE HIS DAD LEFT HIM AGAIN NOT #1?!
I know people yell out Doctor Who at every available chance, but it is always a companion death or end. The Family of Blood story arc, where the Doctor makes himself human, has a hugely powerful ending where his human counterpart has to sacrifice love and life for the world. David Tennant portrays this in such a harrowing and haunting way, and the layers of complexity to be found with such a performance are mind-boggling. On Doctor Who, Tennant was a brilliant doctor, but I will remember him fondly as a brilliant human too.
I’m not even sure if you’re watching it, but the current run of Parenthood on NBC is breaking my heart on a weekly basis. Last weeks episode had me in tears by the end. Each family branch is going through some very, VERY rough times and just all this heartache heaped into one episode was just too much for me to take. I really recommend it if you’re not currently watching it.
Thanks. I’m not watching it but have only heard good things, so I may start sometime in the future. That said, I am currently watching so much and it doesn’t exactly seem to be the genre I usually go for. Thanks for recommending it anyway… I recently read somewhere else on line that it every episode is currently very sad so had I watched the show and episode would likely be on this list. Thanks again :)
The last episode of OZ should be number one
Get some Doctor Who up in there! Angels Take Manhattan, Doomsday and Journey’s End where the saddest. I watched that episode Lisa’s Sax only few days ago. Never cried but I like the song The Jazz Man.
I have to change the channel whenever the “Jurassic Bark” episode of Futurama comes on. Its probably the saddest cartoon of all time.
Oh the damn dog… It gets me every time.
Whilst My Philosophy was indeed a great episode of Scrubs, there were many more sadder episodes. For example, ‘My Fallen Idol’, in which Dr. Cox is returning to alcohol after his actions accidentally cause the death of 3 patients.
Then ‘My Cabbage’ in series 5 is one of the best episodes of the show and has an incredibly sad ending. An elderly woman named Mrs Wilk is everyones favourite patient at the hospital and has finally recovered over the course of a few episodes and is getting better, whilst JD cannot see how incompetent his intern Cabbage is because he hates his other intern, Keith, so much. JD eventually realises Cabbage’s uselessness is endangering patients and tells him he’s not cut out for the job at the end of the episode, then as coldplay’s fix you plays over the top, Cabbage leaves the hospital, picking up and throwing away a used medical glove from the floor as he does so. His hand is green to signify the germs he now carries and as he leaves he says goodbye to Mrs Wilk who is dressed and ready to leave too, but he shakes her hand, spreading the germs to her as she puts her arms on her chest and spreads the green germs across her body. The music and the fact that you’ve truly come to care about Mrs Wilk as much as the rest of the doctors over the course of the last few episodes make this a truly upsetting moment as you realise exactly what Cabbage has unwittingly done and you just know that she is going to get ill again and die. Truly heart-breaking.
BUT, that wasn’t the saddest episode of the show! This came in the form of ‘My Screw Up’, an episode in which Dr. Cox’s son Jack is going to have his first birthday party and so Brendan Fraser’s character Ben returns to the show for the party. In series 1 Ben suffered from Leukaemia but went into remission, when he returns Dr. Cox forces him to start routine tests to check he is alright, before he asks JD to keep an eye on a patient of his with a weak heart as well as taking responsibility for Ben during his tests. JD appears later to tell Cox that a patient has died and Cox blames him, getting angry until Ben calms him down. Eventually Ben convinces Cox to apologise to JD which he does, but then on the way to his birthday party, Cox is talking to Ben, until JD arrives and Cox questions what he is doing there, mentioning Jack’s party. JD looks solemn and asks ‘Where do you think we are?’ It is then that Cox turns round and realises Ben isn’t there, and it was he who died in the hospital that day. He walks across the cemetery with JD and breaks down at Ben’s grave, allowing everyone to comfort him.
This was not only a brilliantly executed homage to The Sixth Sense, but also one of the best pieces of TV I have ever seen. I was completely shocked and did not see it coming at all, to be honest it still brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it! Especially after watching every episode leading up to it, caring about each of the characters and especially about Dr. Cox. It makes you care even more about Ben because the first two episodes he appeared in during Season 1 also had a mystery element in which JD believed Ben was fine and wasn’t ill at all, only for him to eventually realise that he was only seeing that because he wanted to see that because Ben was such a nice guy, and that he was in fact very ill. I can’t express how much I loved this episode!
Sorry for such a late comment only just read this haha great article though!
Thanks man. To be honest with you if I were to write this article now it would probably be a little different… I forgot a lot of TV episodes when I wrote this list, but still stand by the ones I picked as being very sad episodes of TV.
I was never really a fan of Scrubs if I am honest, though remember watching the episode with Brenden Fraser in and thinking it was pretty sad at the time… I still think the one I chose is sadder to be honest, however if I had been a fan of Scrubs and watched it episode by episode as opposed to just occasionally on and off maybe I would agree with you.
Thanks for reading and giving your suggestions any way. I am sure there are hundreds of episodes that could have been, and that some would argue should have been on this list. Thanks again.
Is this just American TV shows or can it be British because the episode “Modern Men” of “Only Fools and Horses” was sad when Cassandra had her miscarriage. This was sad because Rodney and Cassandra were always trying for a baby and when she becomes pregnant, it all crumbles.
I do recall there was a great deal of joy and relief when Buffy’s mother died. That episode wasn’t sad at all to the rest of us fans.
;)
You are probably talking about .0000000000000000000000000000001% of fans (at least I hope).
Surprised not to see one of the House episodes on the list, whilst I agree with all of the ones you listed bar Scrubs (being a musical episode it didn’t really hit close to home).
How could the episode of Fresh Prince of Bel Air where Will’s Dad comes back not be on this list? Saddest final 4 minutes of television ever.
“Jurassic Bark” was one of the saddest moments I’ve encountered on TV. I’m a huge dog person and it tugged at me at the end. I’m tearing up just thinking about it :(
Very glad you included ‘Jurassic Bark’ (Futurama)…that is the one episode I refuse to ever watch again…when I see it in repeats, I instantly turn the channel before my eyes can start to water…WAY too sad…but brilliant…;)
The saddest episode of any TV show I have ever seen was the episode of Doctor Who “The Angels Take Manhattan,” Amy and Rory’s swan song. The storytelling could have been better, but the emotion the couple shows each other is so strong you almost start feeling it yourself. Steven Moffat is known for killing off his characters, but Amy and Rory’s deaths felt like losing a member of your own family. The man spends two years getting you to become emotionally invested in these characters, then gets them touched by Weeping Angels. While standing in a graveyard with his wife, the Doctor sees the names of his two best friends (and wife’s parents) appear on a grave stone after tearfully begging Amy not to leave. I have never cried at a TV show before, but Doctor Who is the only one that could. There have been several heart breaking episodes, from Madame De Pompadour to Rose’s tearful exit and the emotionally unwatchable exit of Donna, but this left me an emotional wreck the way none of the others have had the chance to.
i dont know how the episode of fresh prince of bel air isnt on here
when wiils dad comes back after like 18 years only to leave and let him down again, one of the finest peices of acting to ever grace television in a more serious episode of a sit com
To say nothing of some of the more curious choices on this ranking, any list of the saddest television episodes of all time that doesn’t include “Bill Moves On,” the season 5 premier of NewsRadio, cannot be taken seriously.
I’m equally as floored that nary a single commenter has mentioned this. Must be too busy watching Scrubs.
While you are too busy reading 154 comments it seems… but honestly “actualtelevisionconnoisseur”, whilst I will even admit I missed out some great examples whilst writing this list (I still stand by my choices, but not necessarily for a “top 10″ or “all time”) you are pretty arrogant to assume just because you watched a fairly obscure (but not really) sitcom from the late 90′s (which is hardly considered to be a true great… seeing as I had never even heard of it until today) you are an “actual television connoisseur”- I’m sure you’ve watched a lot of TV, but so have I, and the fact that you have seen this one sitcom doesn’t mean your opinions on this topic are any more valid than mine.
At the end of the day opinions are opinions. I appreciate your suggestion, but don’t be an idiot about it. In all fairness to me, whilst in retrospect the “of all time” bit in the title was a bit silly, I don’t even think NewsRadio even aired in the UK (which is where I am from). And again, like I said in the article, I don’t even really like Scrubs and was never a regular watcher of the show.
The Buffy episode ‘The Body’ is a stunning piece of television. I watched it again recently and it is heartbreaking and such a real depiction of dealing with a terrible thing. Two things that made me tearful, Rose Tyler being sucked into another dimension in Doctor Who and the episode of How I met your mother when Marshall’s Dad dies, that scene is great acting..
I usually don’t read all the comments but did this time since there was quite a few concerning you’re choice of the Buffy episode ‘The Body’. That episode was written by Joss and was inspired by his own experience. Not only is the episode very sad but there are other elements that he purposely put in there to make it as real as possible and one of which is the lack of music. Joss said that music is a comfort and he wanted the episode to be a uncomfortable as possible because that is the reality of death. The commentary on the episode by Joss gives more detail and insight to things that you may not of noticed or didn’t realize the significance. Joss should of won an award for that episode or at least been given the appropriate recognitions.
As you may of guessed, I am also a huge Buffy fan and there are several emotional scenes throughout the 7 seasons. Some of my favorites are Buffy deciding to face the master even though she would die, Giles finding Jenny dead, Buffy killing Angel, Buffy’s speech to Jonathon in ‘Earshot’, The students giving Buffy the award of Class Protector, The graduating class opening their robes to reveal weapons, the death of a few recurring characters at graduation, Tara being brainsucked by Glory, Buffy’s death in season 5, Tara’s death, Xander saving Willow and the world, Jonathon’s death, and finally the final fight in season 7 including Anya’s death and the goodbyes between Spike and Buffy.
I like ‘Angel’ but I always preferred Buffy. Angel did have a few noteworthy emotional scenes though like Darla’s death scene, the end of the episode titled ‘You’re Welcome’ and of course Fred’s final scene and Wesley’s death.
Anyone who claims that either show was for teens obviously never watched them or only seen the OK but fairly horrible not what Joss wrote movie.
Thanks. It’s always nice to find people who love Buffy just as much as I do. In all honesty, for me personally every single episode on this list (except for the Six Feet Under episode and the Futurama one) could have come from Buffy and anyone of the moments you mentioned plus several more… but I am sure that it wouldn’t have gone down very well.
Thanks for reading
I think the last episode of boy meets world should be number 1
Thanks. Never saw the show so I can’t say whether I agree or disagree… I imagine number 1 is a push though. I cant imagine anything beating Six Feet Under.
Great list, I agree nothing can top 6 feet under finale. Here are a few I find sad. Bobby dying Nypd Blue, Kate on NCIS , & Not a sad episode but my favorite sitcom died with it’s main character. R.i.p. Charlie Harper :-)
Thanks for reading. I don’t watch any of the shows you mentioned so can’t comment… but I will take your word.
Yeah I don’t think I saw one single episode you mentioned! When I think of sad TV.. a couple of episodes come to mind.
- Grey’s Anatomy when Denny dies and when George dies.
- The Vampire Diaries (One of the best shows on TV) When Alaric decides to die instead of turning into a vampire and everyone shows up to support him in his death and how hard it is for Damon.. Then earlier this season when they put together this last minute memorial service for everyone who died (which is A LOT) and Damon couldn’t do it.. instead he goes to Alaric’s grave and tells him how much he misses him and then it shows Alaric’s ghost there listening to him and telling Damon he misses him too but obviously Damon couldn’t here him. When Damon comforts Rose as she is dieing… giving her a sweet dream before killing her to end her suffering. There are actually several tear jerking moments on TVD.
-Glee: When Sue’s sister(an older lady with down syndrome) dies and the Glee club organizes this awesome willy wonka (the sister’s favorite movie) funeral. I bawled my eyes out!
#1 for me, isn’t an episode per say but the real death of Andy Whitfield who played SPARTACUS in Blood and Sand. The show itself was beyond phenomenal. There were some really sad moments when his wife dies and when he has to kill his best friend but the greatest tragedy was Andy dieing of cancer (and being re-cast.)
Thanks for reading. If you haven’t seen any of the episodes on this list then I highly recommend you do as soon as possible. If you haven’t seen Six Feet Under or Buffy The Vampire Slayer I couldn’t recommend both of those shows any more… you are missing out on some truly great TV by not watching them. (also, based on the TV shows you mentioned so therefore obviously like, I think Buffy and Six Feet Under seem like shows you would actually enjoy). In all honesty this list could have easily been just episodes from Buffy and SFU… there are certainly plenty of sad episodes in these shows to pick from.
As a big fan of Glee, although the episode you mentioned was definitely sad, because Sues sister wasn’t a main character and had only been in 3 or so episodes previously I didn’t find it had that much of an impact… plus the episode felt a bit like it was filler until the first Nationals episode which followed.
I don’t watch the other shows you mentioned, but even though I have never watched SPARTACUS, Andy Whitfield’s death was very tragic and had an impact on me despite the fact that I have still never seen an episode of the show or really seen the actor act.
Kacy, I am also a big fan of TVD and I agree with the moments you mentioned although I think tonight’s episode will top them all. :(
As Daniel already mentioned.. Since you’re a fan of TVD, you should really give Buffy a try. ;-)
I think The Walking Dead’s Season 3, episode 4 “Killer Within” would’ve made this list. I mean, when Lori died (who was probably the most hated character on the show), I’m sure no one had a dry eye. That ending with Lori dying and telling Carl who good he is and how she knows he’ll survive, really kicked me in the heart and I balled my eyes out the whole entire scene.
Sarah Wayne Callines is an amazing actress and really pulled off that death scene well. It was such a sad ending to a great character that needed to die but, we didn’t know how. I know a lot of my friends were very adamant about Lori’s death and absolutely wanted her gone but, when it happened – and the way it happened – just absolutely threw me off and absolutely made me cry my eyes out.
I watch The Walking Dead and I mostly enjoy the show, however I have never once cried or even come close. Although I liked the character of Lori somewhat, I generally find pretty much every character on the show highly unlikable, particularly Rick… why he suddenly became leader of the group and why everyone listens to him above anyone else is ludicrous, and I hate how he seems to think he can solve all his problems by killing people (or at least wanting to) who he doesn’t trust… any way, rant over.
The scene where Lori died was OK… but I wasn’t invested in her enough (or if I am honest, anyone) to really care. Personally anyone on the show could die and I couldn’t care less… which isn’t exactly the mark of a great TV show… if I am honest, I really just watch for the zombie killing.
I’ve got a similar problem with the Whedon shows that dominate the list. I enjoy Walking Dead and I was into Buffy and Angel too, but one sign (for me) that all three shows lack true depth is that I just find myself rooting for characters I find cool or interesting at the expense of all those whom I find bland or annoying. I think it’s to the detriment of a show, one that has the word drama, however hyphenated, in its genre description, that the audience would largely be “rooting” for some characters to move foreword and others to simply die or disappear or fail; a truly good show would have you wanting everyone to turn their lives toward the light, so to speak, even as doom and the consequences of their own actions close in upon them.
This list is way to Buffy-centric. I don’t have a problem with someone loving Buffy and Angel, but don’t call it “9 Saddest TV Episodes of All Time”, call it 9 Saddest TV Episodes of All Time That Happened on Shows I Watch” because clearly that’s what the entire list is. I’m not mad, and there’s no reason you have to exhaustive, this isn’t the New York Times or a Cracked article, but if you expect positive feedback you should have at least asked around a bit or researched BEFORE writing the article, or else just written “The Saddest Buffy and Angel Episodes of All Time” and you wouldn’t have really had to change much other than leaving out the iconic Futurama dog image.
Sure, I accept and have admitted to this list not really being the “saddest of all time”… however with any list like this one, even if I had asked around at the end of the day it would still be opinion. I think I was quite honest in the article and especially with my feedback in the comments that this is more what I consider to be the saddest… I can’t speak for the entire world and like I have said many times before, I wanted and fully welcome others to suggest TV episodes that they find sad (like they have done). I understand your criticisms however surely it would have been more productive of you to suggest shows I missed out rather than just criticize.
Perhaps I could have done a bit more research, but at least I have watched all the episodes I mentioned… had I done the research and found a couple of fairly obscure episodes from other shows, it would have been a little silly of me to include these episodes had I not actually watched them. I did however do a bit of research before hand and did read similar lists to this one and I think you’ll find that on most of those lists Six Feet Under’s episode, Buffy’s “The Body” episode is mentioned, and on quite a few of them Futurama’s Dog episode is mentioned also.
However, if this list were just a copy of all the other lists out there on the internet then what really would be the point in this list existing at all. The fact that this list is more personal and includes many episodes other lists don’t makes it a little more interesting and at least gives it a reason to exist.
If I were to write this list again it would probably be a little different (not a whole lot mind you) but I don’t think that many people have been all that negative with their feedback really… passionate maybe but not really negative. The whole point of this sort of list at the end of the day is to start a conversation or start people thinking.
Thanks for reading any way… I would like to hear your suggestions as I’m sure you clearly have them…
Daniel, I really like the fact that you continue to reply here. Probably every show on TV has had sad episodes and I admire the fact that you only included those that you had seen. It would be really tough if not impossible to watch the suggested episodes if you haven’t seen the episodes preceding since most deal with characters or situations that you grow to care about over a period of time. If I were to make a list people would make the same comments to me because my list would include not only Buffy and Angel but episodes from Vampire Diaries, Charmed, Bones, True Blood and several others that not everyone has seen. Personally, I’ve never watched Glee or other shows that were suggested but I believe the poster when they say they are sad.
No problem Val. If I come across a comment on one of my posts I will usually reply, even if the post is 5 months old like this one.
You make a good point. Even if I had done tons of research and watched all the episodes that have been suggested to me or that I read on similar lists the chances are I wouldn’t have found them sad any way because you’d have needed to watch all the following episodes before it and be invested in the characters to get where the sadness is coming from (most of the time). Because I wanted this post to be more of a personal thing, with personal responses about how I felt watching the episode, it seemed best to included episodes from shows I had seen (and I feel like I have seen a good percentage of critically acclaimed shows for my opinions in this list to be valid).
As I am also a watcher of True Blood I’d be interested to here what episode from that series you would have included here?
Also, although I am sure many people would disagree with me, if you have never watched Glee I would really highly recommend it (especially seeing as you seem to be a fan of the drama/ comedy hybrid type shows like Buffy for example). It’s not a perfect show, and like every show it has it’s cringey moments, but out of everything on TV at the moment it is the show I enjoy watching the most (though not what I consider to be the best show on TV critically). If you were to watch it from the beginning, I guarantee you’d have a lot of fun with it. I avoided it for ages and thought I’d hate it before I watched it from the beginning but I actually find it to be a lot of fun (and this is coming from someone whose other favorite show on air is Breaking Bad… and those two shows couldn’t be any more different).
Any way, thanks for reading my posts, and feel free to comment on them anytime :)
Oh god, Jurassic Bark! I watched that episode, cried my eyes out, and it’s the only Futurama episode I’ve only seen once. It’s too heartbreaking, especially as I have a dog that looks just like Fry’s.
Last episode of MASH!!!! Come on man. How is that not on your list?
Indeed… blame youth and ignorance for this. This list really should have been called, “saddest of the last 15 years in my opinion”, but that isn’t really a very catchy title. I still have yet to see even one episode of MASH, but I hear it is very good so therefore I take your word (and everyone elses) that this episode deserved a place in a list with this title. Sorry TV gods.
Fully agree with number one. One of the best TV Series ending ever (along with The Wire, and Sopranos) Thanks for reminding the last song :)
The last song is probably the most inspired use of music in any TV episode ever. I can’t listen to that song without almost welling up with tears at the thought of the Fisher family. Thanks for reading.
No The Wire episodes?
No Walking dead episodes?
No The Shield episodes?
A couple of these yes, others seem like a bit too much Whedon Fanboy, and not enough research!
I’ve pretty much explained all of this in the comments, but I make it pretty clear that i only included episodes from television shows I have actually seen and that i personally thought were moving, as apposed to what other people thought were sad, but i didn’t. I have watched every episode of the Walking Dead but have yet to find the show all that sad to be honest. Unlike most shows i don’t want the characters to die… with the Walking Dead i really couldn’t care less who dies and who lives. I guess i watch the show but i don’t really like it.
*TRUE BLOOD SPOILERS AHEAD! IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN ALL 5 SEASONS AND DON’T WISH TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS THEN DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER.*
I think anyone that has watched True Blood knows that one of the saddest moments was when ‘Gran’ was killed then Sookie’s moment eating “Gran’s pie”. Other sad moments that come to mind are: Godric’s death, Jesus’ death, Tommy’s death, Eric’s release of Pam and Jessica erasing Hoyt’s memories of her and of Jason. The interesting thing about True Blood’s sad moments compared to other shows is for example.. Godric. You only knew him in a few episodes but his death is very memorable as a sad moment. Although Tommy was quite annoying, the events that lead to his death changed your perception of the character which is what made his final moments with Sam so sad. Moments like that can be not only attributed to the writing but to the acting abilities of the cast.
Interesting. Although I really like True Blood I honestly don’t feel like I have ever felt all that emotional about it. I guess because the show is so violent and bloody I am kind of expecting people to die all the time that I guess when they do I don’t really care. It isn’t that I don’t care for the characters, it is just that their deaths aren’t all that unexpected. I guess sometimes the characters are equal part unlikable to likable that when they die I don’t really care (not that this is a criticism of the show, a lot of my favorite shows feature characters I don’t like… and I like them even more for it. You don’t have to like everyone, and I can still like the characters I hate if you know what I mean).
That said, I guess I did feel emotional when Gran died, and I did find Jesus and Tommy’s deaths sad for sure, and I did like the scene where Hoyt lost his memories and think that was really well done… but none of those moments moved me enough for inclusion on this list, however I respect that had this had been your list, those moments may very well have featured.
Thanks for giving your suggestions.
I think there’s so much going on in True Blood that different things really affect different people. Recently I’ve gotten 3 people from work to watch it and although Gran’s death was sad to them the other moments didn’t stick out as much. Same thing goes with some of the funny lines. Not everyone gets the joke.
The Joss fan in me would love to see an episode of True Blood written by him but have you ever wondered about a total Joss Whedon True Blood? It would certainly make an entertaining list/article here. ;-)
1) it’s “without further ado” not “without further adieu” or were you being jocular?
2) About the last Lost episode: I didn’t expect it to tie up loose ends. Yes, the idea that they were all dead the whole time is a little of a letdown, BUT, I judge movies and TV shows on how long they stay in my mind immediately following seeing them and that episode stayed with me for weeks.
I hated the Angel theme music. That aside, as the two series continued parallel, Angel got better and better and Buffy lost steam, though I think that the last episode of Buffy was very sad. By that point Angel was a better series.
Breaking Bad is about as perfect as a series can get (ignoring certain plot contrivances). One of the best things about it is that they don’t cross all their Ts, they let things be understood.
I’ve been a Whedon fan since day 1 (actually since I rented the Buffy movie back before the series started) but I don’t see him doing a Glee episode. Ryan Murphy is a genius in his own right – the original musical pilot for Popular has got to be one of the greatest TV episodes ever.
It seems we disagree a lot about Buffy, which in my opinion is by far the greater show. That said, Buffy did go down in quality (though not that much) as the seasons went on, and Angel’s season 5 was the best Angel season (though Season 4 was in my opinion pretty much terrible… so I wouldn’t say it got better and better).
And you said that you don’t see Whedon doing a Glee episode… although he has already done one (he directed “Dreams” from Season 1 of Glee). Also, I tried to google it but I can’t find the evidence that the original pilot for Ryan Murphy’s TV series Popular was ever a musical. Is this true or are you very much mistaken???
Also, as much as I’d like to say I was being jocular, I was really just being an idiot.
I think one of the saddest TV moments I’ve seen in a long time has to be the simultaneous deaths of Tosh and Owen at the end of Torchwood series 2. I know many people won’t have seen it. Basically, he couldn’t die but got locked in a radiation chamber so his body would basically decompose in front of his own eyes, and she had been shot in the stomach and was slowly bleeding out. They were talking over a phoneline and she didn’t even tell him she was dying. Then there’s the horrific moment when he’s freaking out, screaming about how he doesn’t want to die and she tells him to stop, he basically asks why should he? He’s gunna die! And she just sobs “because you’re breaking my heart”.
Very rarely can I quote lines from TV shows but that just stayed with me, still gives me chills.
I also think some of the most haunting TV moments have come from The Walking Dead. In particular the scene where little Carl has to shoot his own Mother before she turns into a walker. Lot’s of very shocking but beautiful scenes in that show although not really tearjerkers like the others in your list.
In m opinion, the episode “Goodbye Michael” from The Office should have been there. This episode is so sad because after years of getting to know Michael Scott, he moves away. To top it off he and only one of his coworkers know that he is leaving and they try to hold back tears as they say their goodbyes. The other coworkers think Michael is leaving the following day, so they never really get to fully say goodbye. Finally, one of Michael’s friends, Pam, is on a sales call and doesn’t get back to the office in time for Michael to leave. The episode ends with Michael giving back his microphone to the camera crew which he has been wearing from day one, and then him leaving on the plane.
The Big C the episode where her son finds the keys for the storage locker and realised why his mother stored all his futur birthday presents in there.
Sounds sad just reading it. I am aware of the show but have never watched an episode… any good?
Interesting list. Personally I am another huge Buffy fan so not surprised that there are 2 Joss episodes on the list. He has a great ability to make you love a character and then take them away in the harshest way possible.
Strangely I did not find The Gift particularly sad. I am not sure why, perhaps after the weight of the world, you could see Buffy coming to terms with her destiny. In the end she took whatever steps it took to save the world and Dawn. Then again I can easily see how it would be viewed differently.
The Body on the other hand…..All I can say is I am working my way through Buffy again and am getting to the point where I have to decide to watch it or not. Most of the time I skip it; it is wonderful, but it so true that I cannot bear to watch it.
If I had to pick another Buffy episode, I’d almost suggest Seeing Red, but while it is shocking it misses that certain something to be the best.
Passion on the other hand has just so many elements that come together to make it a brilliant but heartbreaking episode:
The calm voice over by Angelus that belies what he has become.
The fact that Angelus has seemed to have a pattern to his taunting, so his real target is even more unexpected.
Jenny and Giles reconciliation, giving hope for their relationship to continue.
Jenny’s completion of her ritual to restore Angel, just in time for him to kill her.
The most heartbreaking part of all is Giles returning home to see his expectations rising at the music, candles and flowers, while the audience KNOWS what it is waiting for him. The whole scene builds wonderfully.
What is better is they get a final act afterwards, so you get to see everyone’s reactions, particularly considering the characters have to come to terms with the death of someone close to them for the first time (Not counting Jessie). Buffy has it even worse, as it finally strikes home that Angelus has crossed the line and sooner or later she will have to kill the man she loves.
It is a really dark episode, and as a viewer it is the point you realise that all bets are off, and almost anything can happen.
Sorry after all that, but one final suggestion would be Goodbyee, the last episode of Blackadder series 4. If you have not seen it; do so. It may well be one of the greatest comedies ever written (maybe not series 1). It is very English, so might not to be to all tastes. The amazing thing is that it ends with one of the most poignant scenes ever, and the contrast with the comedy that has come before makes it even more striking.
Thanks. It’s always good to find other huge Buffy fans. A couple of things…
I understand why you would find “The Gift” less sad and more uplifting in a sense… Buffy finally realizing her place in the world (in a sense) and realizing her “gift” is pure and good and not just about killing and death. That all said, although I was glad in a sense that she had that moment in the episode and did die, I thought it was incredibly well done and emotional, and though her death wasn’t shocking or sudden, it was incredibly emotional and sad… but perhaps not in the upsetting way others in this list where (for example “The Body” or like you suggested “Passion” or “Seeing Red”).
Though I love “Passion” I was never all that fond of Jenny as a character, and though the episode was undoubtedly sad, especially at the end, I was kind of glad that it happened… if only to give more emotional weight to that almost perfect second season. Seeing Red is more shocking than sad I feel, and Tara’s death and the sadness of Tara’s death takes four episodes to be explored and my emotion towards this was split over these four episodes so one episode doesn’t really do it justice. Plus, her death happened at the end of Seeing Red and the episode wasn’t at all devoted to the death or even really leading up to it (unless with retrospect) so the emotion is less (though still obviously shocking and great).
As for Blackadder, I have seen the entire series and I would agree that last episodes final moments are indeed very sad and well done. The reason it wasn’t included (though arguably could have been) is the fact that, although the show was good in its day, personally for me it doesn’t hold up very well today and I was never fully all that much of a fan of the series like other people I know were. Also, the last episodes power comes more from the fact that everyone knows how horrible and upsetting World War 1 and therefore it was far easier for the show to evoke an emotional reaction from the audience. Unlike the others on this list, that shows great and powerful emotional finale ( which admittedly my eyes water up whilst watching) doesn’t come directly from the shows characters or the shows story, and more as simply a respectful ending to a horrific period in history. Yes, it was very sad, but it was historical and therefore (in my opinion any way) easy… I guess it wasn’t the show that made that moment emotional, it was the period in history itself. Still, I would understand why you would include it on your list.
Thanks for reading. One last thing… if I were you I’d rewatch the episode “The Body” whilst re-watching the series. Though like you sometimes I like to skip it because it is difficult to watch and not as uplifting and positive as most other episodes of the show are, season 5 wouldn’t have been the wonderful season it was without this wonderful episode. Plus, arguably it is the greatest piece of television Joss Whedon has eer written and directed, and at least one of the greatest 40 minutes in television history.
how about the episode of Criminal Minds when Hutch’s wife is murdered? also glad about the futurama episode. recently started watching the show and that episode was so sad.
What about the final episode of Tom & Jerry where they both sit on the train tracks and wait for the oncoming train to end their lives? I thought this was the saddest cartoon episode ever. It’s called “Blue Cat Blues”
Is this real? Sounds super depressing for a kids show. Must track this down.
Turns out it is real… Couldn’t track down the full episode but wikipedia’d it and it sounds very odd indeed. Thanks for the recommendation.