37 TV Episodes That Are So Devastating, People Cry Every Single Time They Watch Them

"The whole episode is devastating because Hotch is the team leader and has to face losing his wife, with the knowledge that her killer is still out there, and the fact that their young son heard his mom getting murdered. It's heartbreaking."

—pthorpe169

"The entire series is heartbreaking, but Episode 4 just absolutely killed me. I was actually sobbing watching it! It was just one sad moment after another for the entire episode, especially when Korey hallucinated his girlfriend and they went to the fair together, and when he found out his sister died. I don’t think I’ve ever cried this much watching a TV episode."

—ak9296a

"We already knew that Nell died, but to watch as her whole story unfolds from childhood, and then realizing that she was haunted by herself since she was a child just added another layer of tragedy. The episode is really well done, but just heartbreaking to watch."

—ashleyh47ff5e58a

"Obviously, it was sad before because of Cory Monteith's death, but now there’s the additional layer of Naya Rivera singing 'If I Die Young.' I don’t know if I’ll be able to watch Glee again, much less this episode, just because of how heartbreaking it all is."

—saraw19

"There are so many sad moments packed into this single episode. Fitz dies in order to save Mack, Coulson dies, and Daisy defeats Talbot all in one whirlwind episode. All of it is heartbreaking."

—inspire_forever

"Both episodes are filled with so much emotion, I basically cried nonstop through both of them."

—rngcec530

"Amelia wanting to be alone and Addison holding her while she gave birth, then seeing Amelia hold her baby before he died. It's all so horrible and sad."

—serenityjohnson1003

"I rewatch Futurama a lot, but I skip this episode every single time."

—andersonemmalucy

"I was really unprepared to cry as hard as I did during this episode."

—swimmer712

"Seeing Uncle Iroh singing 'Leaves from the Vine' to his deceased son on his birthday is the saddest thing I've ever seen on television."

—marie-francel

"Carl's selfless final acts, his heartfelt speeches to Judith, Michonne, and Rick, hearing the shot, and watching Rick and Michonne fall apart as they lose their son. I can never hold it together through this episode. Carl's death was heartbreaking and so unnecessary."

—aeichamatteson

"Watching the betrayal and butchering of the Starks is one of the reasons I can't rewatch this show. It hurts me too much."

—scottaaronm

"Even though it's a kid's show, the way they portrayed death was so beautiful and yet so tragic. Julie giving Luke's parents the song that he wrote about wanting to make amends with them was amazing because it gave both Luke and his parents closure. I bawled."

—angelazach1308

"I lost my sister in 2005 to suicide, so hearing Piper sobbing while saying, 'How could she think I could live without her?' will always, ALWAYS make me sob. Charmed also happened to be one of my sister’s favorite shows, and Piper was her favorite character."

—tracy110302

"This episode has so many moments. Peyton gets shot, Brooke's trapped outside, Peyton and Lucas hid in the library, everyone we love is trapped in the tutor center, and then Jimmy dies. This episode is nonstop heartbreaking. Then, at the very end, Dan kills Keith, his own brother. It's a massive and sad episode."

—taylornealy

"Quentin had such a great redemption arc and was becoming one of the best characters. When Jamie and Quentin’s little brother are dealing with understanding death, it’s just so heartbreaking."

—Th3FatPanth3r

"'Faith' from Outlander is the most heartbreaking, soul-crushing hour of television I’ve ever watched. Not only did Claire have to go through the entire ordeal of her baby’s stillbirth without Jamie, she lost her faith in him when he broke his promise not to kill Randall yet. The entire hour is so devastating."

—katrinacomensb

"I sobbed so hysterically that my husband came in and thought someone I knew had died."

—cherrieh2

"'Swan Song' was so well done and also just gut wrenching. At the end of the episode, when Dean is comforting Sam as he's getting beaten to a pulp just breaks my heart. Plus, the combination of the memories of their childhood and the first five seasons with only the sound of wind gushing in the back. Don’t know why it got me, but it got me good. Excuse me while I go cry now."

—hksincco

"I’ve never cried so hard over a TV show in my life. I had to go to the kitchen to ugly cry so I wouldn’t wake up my roommate. I still haven’t forgiven the writers for this episode."

—fedora_the_explorer

"Buffy finding her mom was heartbreaking, but the scene where she told Dawn broke my soul. It was such a beautifully sad and heartbreaking episode. There was no music in the episode, just pure emotion."

—bt617

"I will always be wrecked by Opie's death."

—tiptopcashew

"I was sobbing like a baby when I first watched it. Even my aunt, who didn’t know anything about the show, was a mess. Just when you think everything is going to turn out fine, they just crush your soul. Plus, I can't handle the Doctor's reaction."

—ashkeithsmom

"I can count on one hand how many times I’ve watched this finale because I just can’t. I just cry and cry and cry and cry. There is so much that happens in these episodes with every single character on this show. It’s been more than six years since I watched this finale, and I still can’t watch it all the way through."

—megana459810788

"I think this is easily one of the saddest episodes of TV that includes one of the most memorable heartbreaking moments of all time."

—courtneyb4046c93a2

"The last two minutes turn me into a blubbering mess every single time. Even just listening to 'Winter' by Daniel Dozier turns me into a puddle of tears."

—nikkifalcon

"This is the saddest episode of television I’ve watched where nobody dies. Everyone’s just already dead and you know it’s all going to end soon."

—roxjmilotwo

"With John Ritter's real-life death, you could tell none of the actors were actually acting. The pain was so authentic."

—pennyguide

"You already know Jack's going to die at some point, but for a second you thought it wouldn’t be in this moment. Mandy Moore's acting was just astounding in this episode."

—bporter2018

"I ugly cried for an hour after watching this episode for the first time."

—hollandt3

"The acting in this episode is some of the best I've ever seen, and it is absolutely heartbreaking."

—wonderlandismadness

"One Day at a Time has had a lot of heartbreaking moments, but 'Not Yet' is one of the saddest overall episodes. Watching everyone talk to Lydia while she's unconscious in the hospital was so sad. I was truly not ready to weep this hard watching a comedy series."

—noradominick

"Everything hits the fan. I think I lost it when Walt left with the baby. The silent scream Skyler makes is just heartbreaking."

—zeilerra

"Matt always had a complicated relationship with his dad, who was fighting in Iraq, only to find out he was killed in combat. His eulogy at the funeral followed by him helping dig his dad’s grave made me sob."

—hollandt3

"This was a gut-wrenching episode with incredible performances by Anthony Greene and Bradley Whitford. One of the few TV episodes where I’ve consistently bawled my eyes out."

—meaganm46947b20b

"The whole episode is heartbreaking because Fred is one of the most innocent and lovely characters, and didn't deserve to die. When Wesley is holding her and she says, 'I'm not scared. I'm not scared. I'm not scared. Please, Wesley. Why can't I stay?' Ugh, I ugly sob every time."

—shyleemarier

"Arguably the best episode of Riverdale and the saddest. A fitting tribute to Luke Perry."

—justanotherfangirl101