13 Most Heart-Breaking Sitcom Moments Of All Time

6. Michael Leaves - The Office

The Office Michael Leaves
NBC

Sad not just because it heralded the beginning of The Office's decline, but more so because it was a sad yet fitting goodbye to the man who was the glue holding Dunder Mifflin together.

The Season 7 finale, Goodbye, Michael, had a few tearjerking moments, like with Jim's not-a-goodbye, but nothing quite gives you a lump in the throat like this scene between Pam and Michael. She arrives at the office just as he's leaving, and upon learning that he is going then rather than the next day, catches up with him at the airport (after one last "that's what she's said".

The mics are off, but we don't even need to hear what they said. The hugs, and the shared history the two have - which was one of the series' strongest and sweetest relationships - says it all for us.

The Office was never the same again, but at least Michael got a proper send-off.

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Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.