Top 20 Saddest TV Episodes of All Time
Top 20 Saddest TV Episodes of All Time
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for those small screen episodes that left us reaching for our handkerchiefs. Before we get started, if you’re adverse to spoilers, consider this your warning.
#20: “Super Bowl Sunday”
“This Is Us” (2016-22)
We don’t doubt that the scheduling of this episode immediately after an actual Super Bowl immensely helped its ratings. That said, a LOT of people were talking about “This Is Us’s” “Super Bowl Sunday” after its airing. The death of a character is usually a difficult one for fans to process, but this episode also leant itself an air of realism that made Jack Pearson’s demise feel all the more tragic. It only took a faulty switch on an old Crock-Pot to spark the blaze that eventually consumed the Pearsons’ home and killed Jack. This is a kitchen amenity many of us still own, and this seemingly innocuous detail makes the episode hit a lot harder.
#19: “Losing My Religion”
“Grey’s Anatomy” (2005-)
Two decades after its debut, fans are still flocking to this well-regarded medical drama. A lot of that goodwill has to do with the show’s writing, which has made fans laugh, cry, and everything in between since the very beginning. With its depiction of the death of one Denney Duquette the episode “Losing My Religion” definitely falls within the ‘cry’ category. It’s a type of emotional bait-and-switch that was successfully attempted on the sitcom “Growing Pains” with a character played by Matthew Perry. Denny’s heart transplant seems like a success…at first, anyway. By the end of the episode, though, things have gone south, the audience is in tears, and the writing of Shonda Rhimes has won out once again.
#18: “Heart of Ice”
“Batman: The Animated Series” (1992-95)
Comic book fans know well that Batman has one of the finest rogues’ galleries in the medium. This sentiment was broadcast to a wider audience in the ‘90s with “Batman: The Animated Series.” The episode “Heart of Ice” is a textbook example of how to give villains worthwhile and believable motivations. Mr. Freeze is given an excellent backstory with “Heart of Ice,” one that differs greatly from his comparatively silly comic book origins. Here, it’s Freeze’s love for his sick wife, Nora, that drives him to crime. It’s all in an effort to save her life, and this humanizes Freeze to the point where we’re honestly rooting for him.
#17: “Ebbtide’s Revenge”
“The Golden Girls” (1985-92)
“The Golden Girls” was already deep into its seven-season run when “Ebbtide’s Revenge” aired on December 15th, 1990. It deals with the unseen character of Dorothy’s brother Phil, who dies suddenly of a heart attack. Grief is a big theme running throughout the episode, but it also explores feelings of bitterness and confusion, since there is a huge, emotional rift between Phil’s widow Angela and his mother, Sophia. The latter sees her son’s cross-dressing lifestyle as a parental failure, and blames Angela for not doing more to intervene in his choices. The end of the episode doesn’t as much judge or work through these feelings as it does simply include them within a heartbreaking arc about a parent grieving their child.
#16: “Reckoning”
“Smallville” (2001-11)
Clark Kent learns just how inescapable death is in the fifth-season episode of “Smallville” titled “Reckoning.” There’s a lot of connections to Superman lore within the episode, not the least of which is Clark doing everything he can to save the woman he loves. The “Superman” film from 1978 showcased this with Lois Lane but, here, it’s Lana Lang who gets a second chance thanks to a bargain Clark makes with Jor-El. The magic crystal acquired restarts the day, and allows Clark to change history. However, it’s now his father, Jonathan Kent, that passes in Lana’s stead.
#15: “Goodbye, Michael”
“The Office” (2005-13)
There thankfully isn’t anything too tragic to report in “Goodbye, Michael.” The feeling is bittersweet as Steve Carell’s Michael Scott departs Scranton to be with his fiancée, Holly. The end results feel episodic in the best possible way, as Scott sets aside time throughout his day to settle things with all of his Dunder Mifflin employees. Jim’s conversation with Michael is certainly difficult but that final, inaudible goodbye with Pam is an even bigger gutpunch. We cannot think of a more honorable farewell for one of the sitcom world’s most memorable characters.
#14: “Archie Alone”
“Archie Bunker’s Place” (1979-83)
“All in the Family” never shied away from approaching sensitive subjects head-on, particularly from the perspective of its dogmatic lead character, Archie Bunker. That said, this flawed protagonist does see marked growth throughout both “All in the Family” and its successor, “Archie Bunker’s Place.” The second-season opener showcases this in spades, as Archie’s long-suffering wife Edith dies off-screen after a stroke. Carroll O’Connor gives a magnetic performance as he delivers his monologue with palpable emotion. This is a man’s veneer of bravado laid bare, and we grieve alongside Archie as he engages in bedside mourning for his “dingbat.”
#13: “Free Churro”
“BoJack Horseman” (2014-20)
“Bojack Horseman” contains some worthwhile surprises for those that really dive head-on into the show’s somewhat surreal concept. The episode titled “Free Churro” is one of those emotionally resonant episodes that go beyond the silly premise to discuss deeper themes of abuse and trauma. The eulogy that BoJack gives at his mother’s funeral is delivered with expertise by voice star Will Arnett. His performance ties together all of the series’ dark humor with an approach that deliberately vacillates between moments of levity and hard-hitting issues.
#12: “The Son”
“Friday Night Lights” (2006-11)
“Friday Night Lights” is one of those shows that seems to revel in its emotional sentimentality, to the point of feeling prurient. That said, many fans of the show flocked to these emotional moments, such as the one set up within the fourth-season episode, “The Son.” The death of Henry Saracen in Iraq serves as the crux of this episode, specifically with how it affects his son, Matt. Zach Gilford gives a tremendous performance in the latter role, accurately displaying the grief process throughout. Anger, emptiness, sadness and more all rise up through Gilford’s speech and mannerisms, and the audience can palpably feel what’s going on throughout the entire episode.
#11: “Long, Long Time”
“The Last of Us” (2023-)
If the success of “The Last of Us” has taught viewers anything, it’s that we should never underestimate an adaptation from a video game’s storyline. This HBO series wonderfully reconstructs the game’s post-apocalyptic setting, never sacrificing its quality characters and only building upon its compelling dialogue. “Long, Long Time” is a standout from the first season with particular attention paid to Nick Offerman’s character, Bill, and Murray Bartlett’s Frank. Their romance is an arc that offers a light of hope within an otherwise bleak and frightful world of infected. It also bucks the trend of portraying gay male characters as doomed, which is almost certainly by design.
#10: “Mother’s Day”
“Rugrats” (1991-2004)
Every now and then, animated children’s programming sets aside the time to talk to its audience about some real, serious issues. The “Mother’s Day” special of “Rugrats” does just that: explaining the tragic and sometimes unfair nature of death to Chuckie. The episode is a heartfelt one, particularly as Chuckie and his father Chas go through a box of the mother’s belongings. There isn’t a dry eye in the house as the pair uncover a poem that Chuckie’s mom wrote for her son. It’s a plot thread from the show that we never forget due to just how well it’s constructed.
#9: “My Screw Up”
“Scrubs” (2001-10)
This episode of “Scrubs” was actually nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for the outstanding quality of its writing. The premise of “My Screw Up” – and its big twist – are actually indebted to “The Sixth Sense,” as it follows Dr. Cox and his close friend/ex-brother-in-law, Ben. The death of a patient mentioned throughout the episode is later revealed to be Ben, with Dr. Cox in denial throughout the episode. There are subtle bits of foreshadowing to this end, but the real emotional crux of “My Screw Up” lies within the performances, and that final reveal at Ben’s funeral.
#8: “Life of Brian”
“Family Guy” (1999-)
Never underestimate the power of fandom, even for a program as notably irreverent as “Family Guy.” The decision to kill off the Griffin dog, Brian, in season twelve, was initially intended to be permanent. Or, at least, many fans believe it was, since the writers introduced a new dog, Vinny, into the mix. However, Brian’s demise was almost immediately retconned two episodes later, which was certainly for the best. That said, the way the show actually handled Brian getting hit by a car was beyond effective and surprisingly emotional…at least by “Family Guy” standards.
#7: “The Body”
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)
Fans of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” always seemed pretty prepared for any number of fantastical deaths to occur on the show. This is essentially why the episode “The Body” works so well. There’s absolutely nothing supernatural or strange about the demise of Buffy’s mom, Joyce. Instead, we’re faced with the very traumatic, tragic and most of all realistic scenario of Buffy coming home to find that Joyce has suffered a brain aneurysm. The reactions of the ensemble cast lend a lot of gravitas to what’s going on, while the script never diminishes the impact felt by Buffy, her family, and her support system. It’s powerful stuff.
#6: “Bad News”
“How I Met Your Mother” (2005-14)
The death of Marvin Eriksen on “How I Met Your Mother” is fairly shocking for a number of reasons. For starters, there’s how quickly the news is delivered to Marshall, and by Lily no less. The out-of-nowhere twist speaks to how most of us are rarely prepared for the tragic unexpectedness of death. Meanwhile, the actor’s reactions feel genuine, since both Jason Segel and Alyson Hannigan weren’t privy to exactly what their lines would be until the day of filming. As a result, the audience seems to feel just as blindsided as Marshall does by the news.
#5: “Mother Simpson”
“The Simpsons” (1989-)
This is yet another sitcom that trades poignancy for satire. Usually. Because we are with “Mother Simpson,” one of the most effectively tear jerking animated episodes ever created. There’s a lot of narrative balls in the air when it comes to describing Mona Simpson’s back-story, her reasons for abandoning her family, and her sudden return to her son’s life. The explanations for all of these plot threads feel earned, though, particularly when it comes to why Chief Wiggum assists Mona in her escape. That final, melancholic shot of Homer looking up at the sky just gets us every time.
#4: “Goodbye”
“8 Simple Rules” (2002-05)
The second season of “8 Simple Rules” spent a lot of time working through the grieving process after the real-life death of its star, John Ritter. This informs not only the two-parter “Goodbye,” but lends the entire season a certain level of seriousness that had heretofore been absent from the show. The reactions of leads Katey Sagal, Kaley Cuoco and the entire cast feel real, because they are real. Meanwhile, the bittersweet tributes featured within “Goodbye” and each subsequent episode of “8 Simple Rules” do a great job at highlighting just how much Ritter’s life and legacy touched everyone around him.
#3: “Papa’s Got a Brand New Excuse”
“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (1990-96)
Will Smith was really beginning to find his feet as an actor when this episode of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” debuted back in 1994. The audience feels Smith’s character run the gamut of emotions after reconnecting with his estranged father, Lou - played by veteran Broadway actor Ben Vereen. Joy, surprise, hope, hurt, betrayal and confusion are all evident within Smith’s performance. The latter works particularly well off of James Avery’s Uncle Phil, as evidenced by the pair’s affecting final scene. Smith’s monologue comes across as natural and poignant, and we can palpably feel the rage and disappointment of his character after he loses his father a second time.
#2: “The Quarterback”
“Glee” (2009-15)
The end results of this fifth-season episode of “Glee” feel similar to that of “Goodbye,” from “8 Simple Rules.” The shock and surprise emanates from the cast and their performances, as they bid a real-life farewell to their castmate, Cory Monteith. The actor’s sudden death was also handled in a similar fashion with regards to how “Glee” continues to reference Monteith’s character in future episodes. The life of Finn Hudson is ultimately celebrated in “The Quarterback,” but it doesn’t stop us from feeling so heartbroken every time we watch it.
#1: “Jurassic Bark”
“Futurama” (1999-2003, 2008-13, 2023-)
Honestly? We were never ready for “Jurassic Bark.” We weren’t ready when it first aired, and we’re definitely not ready to talk about it now. We’re still coming to terms with the total despair we felt after watching Fry’s loyal little dog Seymour wait forever to see Fry again. The ending of “Jurassic Bark” tells a lot with just visual cues and music, and our hearts honestly break every single time we watch Seymour close his eyes for the last time. If you’ll allow us to break the fourth wall for a second: the person scripting this video is actually still so broken up about revisiting “Jurassic Bark” that he’s in tears writing these words. No joke.
What’s your opinion on sitcoms tackling serious issues? Do you enjoy those sad episodes or do you think they should leave it to the dramas? Let us know in the comments!
