Television is one of the things we invented to entertain ourselves. We have drama, comedy, horror, the thrills, the chills, and whatever else kind of void needs to be filled. However, some TV episodes aren’t just all fun and games – they hit you right in the feels, leaving you emotionally wrecked. These iconic moments remind us why we get so attached to our favorite shows and characters.
Let’s look back at some of the saddest episodes that had us all bawling our eyes out.
1. “The Body” – Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 5, Episode 16)
Buffy the vampire slayer, as the title suggests, is used to slaying vampires among other creatures of the night, but nothing could prepare her for finding her mom dead from a brain aneurysm. “The Body” is raw and devastating, capturing grief in a way that feels painfully real. With no music to soften the blow, it’s one of the most unsettling and unforgettable episodes in TV history.
2. “Goodbye” – 8 Simple Rules (Season 2, Episode 4)
When John Ritter tragically passed away, the show’s writers decided to do a proper send-off for his character. In “Goodbye,” his family processes the loss, echoing the real-life grief of the cast and crew. The episode ends with the family reading Paul’s final article, a tear-jerking tribute to love and family that hit fans hard.
3. “Doomsday” – Doctor Who (Season 2, Episode 13)
Rose Tyler’s farewell to the Tenth Doctor is still one of Doctor Who’s most iconic and dramatic moments. Trapped in a parallel universe, she gets one last chance to say goodbye and while the Doctor tries to tell her he loves her but fades away before he can finish. Fans were crushed, and even Rose’s later reunion with a Doctor clone didn’t erase the sting of this heartbreaking goodbye.
4. “Honor” – The Walking Dead (Season 8, Episode 9)
Carl Grimes’ death was a brutal blow for fans. After being bitten by a walker, Carl spends his final moments writing letters, sharing dreams of a better world, and comforting his sister. His passing devastates Rick, and many fans felt it marked a turning point for the show. Some viewers thought it was a nice curveball, while others saw it as a cheap shot.
5. “Goodbye Michael” – The Office (Season 7, Episode 22)
Michael Scott’s departure from The Office was bittersweet. The episode follows him on his last day at Dunder Mifflin, saying heartfelt goodbyes to the coworkers he cared so much about. Steve Carell called filming “emotional torture,” and many fans agree that the show was never quite the same without him.
6. “Long, Long Time” – The Last of Us (Season 1, Episode 3)
Bill and Frank’s post-apocalyptic love story was a poignant detour from the main plot of The Last of Us. The episode shows the pair finding love in a bleak world filled with misery and fungal zombies, growing old together, picking strawberries, and ultimately choosing to die in each other’s arms. It’s beautiful and devastating, offering a rare moment of tenderness in an otherwise brutal series.
7. “Whenever You’re Ready” – The Good Place (Season 4, Episode 13)
The finale of The Good Place goes pretty hard on the subjects of life, death, and what it means to move on. Each character chooses their moment to leave the afterlife, having grown into their best selves. Eleanor helping Chidi make his exit is heartbreaking, but her eventual decision to leave as well brings the show to a bittersweet, profoundly moving close.
8. “Jurassic Bark” – Futurama (Season 5, Episode 2)
Fry discovers his fossilized dog Seymour and plans to bring him back to life—until he learns Seymour lived 12 years after Fry disappeared. Assuming Seymour moved on, Fry decides against it. But the flashback reveals Seymour waited for Fry every day until the end. It’s a sucker punch of an ending that left fans sobbing.
