9 Saddest TV Episodes of All Time

2. "The Body" Buffy The Vampire Slayer

This episode deserved so much more credit than it ever got, and really is one of the greatest depictions of the aftermath of the death of a loved one ever put to screen. This episode is also unique to this list because it is the only episode on here that has completely no soundtrack. Whereas a lot of the episodes on this list are helped greatly by the use of an emotional soundtrack played over the top of the heartbreaking scenes, the silence that haunts this episode so chillingly is much more realistic to the cold reality of death, and also allows the viewer to come to their own conclusions and deal with their emotions without being manipulated in any other way.

For those that haven't seen this episode, first of all you really should watch it (though without the previous episodes build up the effect might not be the same on you), it really is one of the most interesting, best directed episodes of television you will ever see, whether you are a fan of Buffy or not. The story of the episode follows Buffy as she returns home to find her mother dead on the sitting room couch. The rest of the episode follows Buffy, her sister and her close friends reaction to this sudden and painful news over the course of the same day.

Every single member of this wonderful cast give some of the greatest performances I have ever seen, and their realistic reactions to the death of Buffy's mom, one of the sweetest characters ever, are fascinating and haunting to watch. Dawn breaks down in a fit of tears, Willow stresses about what T Shirt she should wear that will be the most sympathetic but not over sympathetic, Tara feels uncomfortable about her place in the group or what right she has to try to comfort Buffy and Xander puts his fist through a wall. But surprisingly, probably the most emotional scene from the whole episode is Anya's (the former demon) fitting speech about the reality of death, which I dare you to watch with out your eyes watering just a little:

"I was having fruit punch and I was thinking that well Joyce will never have fruit punch, ever, and she'll never have eggs, or yawn, or brush her hair, not ever, and no one will explain to me why".

For a series about vampire slaying, this is the most real episode of TV you will probably have ever watched.

Special shout-out also go to the episode Becoming Part 2... another example of Whedon's power to make you cry.