Shameless: Liam’s near fatal overdose and Fiona’s Downfall in Season 4. First 3 seasons, we’ve seen Fiona as the head leader of the Gallagher family that can do wrong but when she made that giant mistake, everything had changed. She’s just as messed up as everyone is on the show
John Locke from Lost is pretty heartbreaking once the full picture is revealed.
55
SerDireMar 29, 2026
+21
“You needed a father and I needed a kidney…” oooof
21
BullshitPeddlerMar 29, 2026
+40
I found Shireen Baratheon's death in Got to be extremely unsettling. Probably the most genuinely bothered I had felt watching a show in awhile. The wanting love and acceptance, to finding friendship, to the downright disturbing conclusion.
40
antmarsMar 29, 2026
+39
“But I don't understand! I don't understand how this all happens. How we go through this. I mean, I knew her, and then she's, there's just a body, and I don't understand why she just can't get back in it and not be dead anymore! It's stupid! It's mortal and stupid!”
The Body - Buffy the Vampire Slayer
39
MedoxorMar 29, 2026
+10
This and Cate’s speech in 8 Simple Rules’ Goodbye episode about being tired of hearing it’s part of God’s plan to take someone they love really hit you in the gut when dealing with grief.
10
KeremyJylesMar 29, 2026
-8
Honestly, I'll eat the downvotes, I *hate* it. It rings utterly hollow, from a character who understands death and mortality better than possibly any other in the show, and it's clearly just included for a showpiece moment people can refer to as so profound.
-8
antmarsMar 29, 2026
+4
She really doesn’t though. She’s freshly mortal. She’s never been mortal before and has only understood death from the perspective of a demon.
If anything it’s annoying that she’s still hung upon being mortal for 2 more season after this :P. (But leads to one of the best songs in the musical episode at least).
4
KeremyJylesMar 29, 2026
She literally started as mortal and became a vengeance demon.
0
antmarsMar 29, 2026
+5
Sure - I just think after 1200 years of spreading vengeance you forget what it’s like to be human and this (and 2 more seasons worth of musings) were her remembering what it’s like to be human again.
5
UserdataunavailableMar 29, 2026
+30
Dr. Mark Greene on E.R.
30
wasabiphunkMar 29, 2026
+5
I don't hear this song the same after watching that. Anything E.R. is the answer
https://youtu.be/V1bFr2SWP1I?si=bR4-NCr6aYhnOvdH
5
angrykebler4Mar 29, 2026
+23
The Leftovers. Pretty much the whole thing, but especially Nora and Kevin's fight in the beginning of season 3.
23
PM_ME_CAKEMar 29, 2026
+4
"Then you should go and be with them."
4
NativeMassholeMar 29, 2026
+2
My children aren't dead, Kevin! They're just *gone*!
2
ogrezillaMar 29, 2026
+21
The Wire: Pick a kid. Every one is wildly depressing in completely different ways.
Randy and Carver might take it though. “You gonna look out for me?”
21
DetectiveTrickyCadMar 29, 2026
+2
Naymond and Poot were the only ones who seemingly had a chance at the end of the series, and Poot had to forever live with the fact that he executed his best friend as he cried and begged him not to.
2
jn2010Mar 29, 2026
+1
Dukie for me. Kid had so much potential and just got shit on by everyone in his life other than Prez.
1
badapple1989Mar 29, 2026
+19
Amber dying on House MD got me *good* back in the day.
19
Momiji55Mar 29, 2026
+2
This. This hit me so hard and I still think about all she says before she dies years later.
2
ogrezillaMar 29, 2026
+14
Angel: Westley and Fred’s story. “would you like me to lie to you now?”
14
SirDeeSeeMar 29, 2026
+46
Where do you think we are?
46
antmarsMar 29, 2026
+20
Might as well throw My Lunch on this thread too.
20
AfroMidgetsMar 29, 2026
+10
Was going to say this one. While Fraser's is sad because he was a beloved guest character/actor, My Lunch is the true pinnacle of the show imo of seeing someone's love for their job completely be crushed in the worst way possible. Incredible television
10
Zaber_fangMar 29, 2026
+12
That episode of scubs is such a gut punch the first time.
12
xAeroMonkeyxMar 29, 2026
+11
Absolutely heartbreaking. But my lunch always got me worse
11
allywillowMar 29, 2026
+4
Heartbreaking
4
rowgybearMar 29, 2026
+11
The kids in the Wire was pretty heartbreaking when you think about the potential some of them showed and how they ended up. Also, Bubbles' entire arc.
11
GuyHamburgersMar 29, 2026
+10
Peter Quinn on Homeland from Germany on
10
Tammy_twoMar 29, 2026
+2
They did him so dirty. Imagine season 7 & 8 if he was still around.
2
AtharaphelunMar 29, 2026
+16
Ghorman Massacre.
16
Girl_Back_ThereMar 29, 2026
+1
I wanted to throw up watching the build up during the protest. Partially because that whole storyline was a masterclass in tension building and dread, but also because of how true in our recent history that story rings.
1
Morph247Mar 29, 2026
+8
Fresh Prince - there's so many heartbreaking moments in the show but 2 stand out to me.
1. Carlton getting a gun.
2. Will's dad coming back then leaving again.
I think the heartbreaking part about both is because this is really a 90s Sitcom, neither get the character development they deserve from dealing with such trauma.
8
bad_animaMar 29, 2026
+21
In Superstore, when Mateo is arrested by ICE after they all tried so hard to get him out safely
21
WintersDoomsdayMar 29, 2026
+1
That episode was ahead of its time honestly looking at how things are now with ICE
1
AustinAlexanderK97Mar 29, 2026
+6
It didn't get me the most, but Rex had an amazing arc in Invincible
6
xvoyMar 29, 2026
+2
Whenever there’s a feel good moment in that show you know something real bad is about to happen.
2
NativeMassholeMar 29, 2026
+1
>!Until he Rexploded himself!<
1
shosamaeMar 29, 2026
+6
John lockes entire arc in LOST
6
kowalski_82Mar 29, 2026
+5
Kleyas slow move through the Hospital to turn of Raels life support is gut-wrenching in Andor, but so so well done.
5
7_ConstanzaMar 29, 2026
+5
Bubs drugging Sherod by a accident. That one really gets to me
5
ptrang1987Mar 29, 2026
+5
Dooky in The Wire. He already had a shitty life to begin with. His mom is never home because she’s a drug addict. He’s picked on by other people and his peers. He’s hungry. Then he became addicted to drugs himself
5
Hench4-life21Mar 29, 2026
+5
The shield. Shane vendrel downfall.
5
thatditzyguyMar 29, 2026
+1
Them mirroring his story's end with Chris Benoit was haunting. Or even Vic's story playing out that final confession
1
ohdearitsrichardiiiMar 29, 2026
+4
Donna in Doctor Who. She didn't even get to remember anything
4
Kenner1979Mar 29, 2026
+1
Was my answer too. >!It's since been undone, as of the 60th anniversary specials.!<
1
Kaiju_DanMar 29, 2026
+4
Gestures vaguely at all of bojack horseman
4
fa-jitaMar 29, 2026
+2
Jesus Christ that show broke me good
2
weforgotMar 29, 2026
+2
Dads death in “This is Us” will never look at Super Bowl and crock pots the same 😭
2
Different_Bad7239Mar 29, 2026
+1
President Roslin and Commander Adama in BSG.
The final scene with them flying over Africa in a raptor. "So much life...", and then her hand goes limp in his.
1
KashK10Mar 29, 2026
+1
Season 2 finale of Mr Inbetween. Tbf it wasn't a huge arc, it was just an inevitability from the start that kind of just naturally came to fruition. Expected, but absolutely devastating nonetheless.
1
Purlz1stMar 29, 2026
+1
ER, Dr Greene. I boohooed big time.
1
HarkoncitoMar 29, 2026
+1
To say something not mentioned yet, Foyet in Criminal Minds.
1
AussieDog87Mar 29, 2026
+1
During season 8 of Supernatural, Sam and Dean are going through a series of magical trials to prevent an apocalypse, and Sam is the one doing them and his health is deteriorating throughout the season. In the finale, Sam's about to complete the last trial and Dean finds out that it'll kill Sam, kind of an ultimate sacrifice. Dean tries to get Sam to stop, who refuses.
"But you'll DIE!"
"...So?"
Then Sam goes into a speech about how horrible he feels about himself, how much he's let Dean down throughout the years, how the world will be better off without him, etc. Basically a depression/suicide confession. Dean has to talk him through it. It's heartbreaking because these two are heroes, they've saved the world numerous times, but they can still feel an utter lack of self-worth. And I think people who have felt that way identify with the scene.
1
NativeMassholeMar 29, 2026
+1
Sarah Lynn will always break my heart. Her entire arc is about the people around her dashing her innocence as she grows up into something she was always pushed to do. Then, when she finally gets a heartwarming scene, she overdoses and dies. But it doesn't stop there, as it all keeps coming back to haunt Bojack, only to hit hard again with the "17 minutes" reveal at the end. Pure tragedy, from start to finish.
56 Comments