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(#1) This Is Us
- Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Sullivan, Ron Cephas Jones, Jon Huertas, Alexandra Breckenridge, Niles Fitch, Logan Shroyer, Hannah Zeile, Mackenzie Hancsicsak, Parker Bates, Lonnie Chavis, Eris Baker, Faithe Herman
This Is Us goes from one sad episode to the next, but the most tragic moment for fans is the passing of Jack. Even though the fact that he perishes is revealed early on, it's still a shock when it's finally shown on screen. Not only does he perish in a fire, but he saves his family members and goes back into the fire for Kate's dog.
Watching how the family has to cope with this horrible loss is even worse. However, bad things continue to happen as the show goes on, only making viewers continously tear up more.
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(#2) 13 Reasons Why
- Dylan Minnette, Katherine Langford, Kate Walsh
While this show was created to spread self-harm awareness, many of the scenes are far too real, especially for young audiences. In the first season alone, you have to go through Hannah's struggles as she constantly gets hurt by those around her, which ultimately leads to her decision to take her own life. That scene is without a doubt the most devastating moment because of how detailed it is, but her assault will also make you sob and feel uneasy.
As if that wasn't heartbreaking enough, the show now has two more seasons, both of which have moments that are almost as devastating.
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(#3) Parenthood
- Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, Dax Shepard, Monica Potter, Erika Christensen, Sam Jaeger
Like This Is Us, Parenthood is a realistic drama that just shows one tearjerking moment after another. While there are sad moments from episode 1 all the way to the finale, one of the saddest moments is definitely when Kristina is diagnosed with breast cancer.
Watching her fight it is painful enough, but she even records a video for her family just in case she doesn't make it, which is devastating to have to watch.
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(#4) Broadchurch
- David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Jodie Whittaker
Death is a sad enough topic as it is, but when it's the loss of a child, it's often even more heartbreaking. Right from the start, the show centers around the passing of an 11-year-old boy named Danny, so it's hard not to cry even during episode 1. This mystery only becomes sadder and sadder as the clues unfold.
While Danny's passing is definitely a sad moment to begin with, many fans found that the finale was the most emotionally exhausting episode of all, making them demand more.
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(#5) Grey's Anatomy
- Ellen Pompeo, Justin Chambers, Chandra Wilson
Since this show is set in a hospital, it's expected that there will be some sad moments, but fans have endured more heartbreak than they could've imagined. Everything changes when Derek is hurt in a car accident, leaving him with a terrible brain injury.
After Derek's passing, fans were both outraged and in mourning. Sure, there are lots of goodbyes on the show, but watching one of your favorite characters perish that way is unforgivable.
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(#6) Six Feet Under
- Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Frances Conroy, Lauren Ambrose, Freddy Rodriguez
The cycle of life might not seem as devastating if you live in a funeral home, but that setting doesn't stop this show from making you bawl. This show uses dark humor and irony to discuss personal tragedy after Nate, the owner of a funeral home, perishes in a car accident.
The heartbreaking scenes begin right from episode 1 when Nate Sr.'s passing and the aftermath are first shown. As if that isn't hard enough, there are many traumatic events that follow, each one making the show even harder to watch. Of all the depressing moments though, it seems that the ending montage elicited the most tears from fans.
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(#7) The Handmaid's Tale
- Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, Yvonne Strahovski, Alexis Bledel, Madeline Brewer, Ann Dowd, O.T. Fagbenie, Max Minghella, Samira Wiley
The premise of The Handmaid's Tale alone is heartbreaking enough, but every episode adds to that devastating theme. While the way the women are treated in this series is constantly horrifying, there are a few specific moments that leave viewers in tears, such as when June is so close to escaping, but instead she's separated from her husband and child.
Fans were also heartbroken when they had to watch Emily be mutilated because of her orientation. All of these scenes are incredibly difficult to watch, especially when it's clear that it will only get worse from there.
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(#8) The Fosters
- Teri Polo, Sherri Saum, Hayden Byerly
The Fosters has viewers emotional from the first episode when Callie saves Jude from an abusive foster home. The show touches on a lot of serious topics and shows the reality that many foster kids face. Tears will definitely be shed not only during the heartbreaking scenes, but also during the emotional scenes between the family members.
This show represents what a loving family should be like, and that alone can make anyone tear up.
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(#9) The Leftovers
- Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman, Christopher Eccleston
The Leftovers is a heart-wrenching story from the start. The fact that so many people have disappeared without a trace is already enough to make you bawl, especially when the baby vanishes in the beginning.
There's so much grief throughout the show, which means there's no shortage of heartbreaking moments. Some of the saddest episodes are the one where Nora hires escorts to fire at her with a bulletproof vest and when Susan drives straight into an oncoming truck, ending herself and her family.
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(#10) A Million Little Things
- David Giuntoli, Ron Livingston, Romany Malco, Allison Miller, Christina Moses, Christina Ochoa, James Roday, Stéphanie Szostak, Lizzy Greene
Any show centered around a main character taking their own life is guaranteed to be depressing, but this show touches on lots of other sad moments along with it. Watching the characters question why their friend would end his life is hard enough as it is, but as it turns out, they all have their own heart-wrenching issues, as well.
One of the most emotional moments on the show is when Jon's friends come together for a father-daughter dance with Jon's daughter, Sophie. Everything related to Gary's cancer is a tearjerker, as well.
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(#11) Doctor Who
- Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, Jodie Whittaker, Billie Piper, John Barrowman, Bruno Langley, Noel Clarke, Karen Gillan, James Corden, Jenna Coleman, Matt Lucas, Pearl Mackie, Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill, Tosin Cole
Even though Doctor Who has been on for much longer than most shows, it still manages to pull at the heartstrings of fans. It's full of emotional episodes that will make you question everything.
Specifically, fans were most devastated with the episode "Doomsday" with David Tennant as the Doctor. Not only have terror and conflict spread across the Earth, but this is also the episode where Rose and the Tenth Doctor say their goodbyes, which fans would argue is the worst part of all.
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(#12) Jane the Virgin
- Gina Rodriguez, Andrea Navedo, Yael Grobglas, Justin Baldoni, Ivonne Coll, Brett Dier, Jaime Camil, Elias Janssen
Overall, Jane the Virgin isn't an incredibly sad show, but one particular episode is heartbreaking for fans. Everything seems to be going great for Jane, but then the worst moment is when Michael passes out of the blue, changing everything for Jane and her family.
It's so sudden that fans almost don't have enough time to grieve his loss. Then, just as viewers finally start to get over this event, Michael turns out to be alive with amnesia. It's an emotional roller coaster, and you'll likely cry at every happy and sad moment in Jane's life.
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(#13) Party of Five
- Matthew Fox, Scott Wolf, Neve Campbell
Party of Five centers around five siblings that are forced to live on their own after their parents perish in a car accident. These kids have to struggle to act like adults and protect each other. The show covers a lot of dark and serious topics such as abuse, self-harm, a fire, and a miscarriage, but one of the saddest moments comes in the intervention episode.
The hardships just never seem to end for these characters. If you couldn't get enough of the sadness the first time around, there's now a Party of Five reboot out, too.
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(#14) Ghost Whisperer
- Jennifer Love Hewitt, David Conrad, Camryn Manheim
The ability to talk to ghosts might sound cool, but Ghost Whisperer shows that communication with the undead is often intense and confusing.
Melinda has to help the ghosts that have unfinished business on Earth, which ends up getting much more depressing than your average ghost show. Sometimes, the ghosts' backstories are the upsetting part, but the most heartbreaking moments happen to the living, such as when Jim and Andrea perish suddenly.
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(#15) The Wire
- Dominic West, Lance Reddick, Sonja Sohn
This gritty drama looks at sad themes from a different point of view. Specifically, the show centers around police officers and dealers, so it covers a lot of serious topics. However, there are a few scenes in particular that are guaranteed to bring fans to tears.
Some of the most emotional scenes are Wallace's passing and Dukie and Michael's goodbye, but there are plenty of other heartbreaking moments scattered throughout the show, as well.
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(#16) BoJack Horseman
- Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Paul F. Tompkins, Aaron Paul
Despite being a cartoon, BoJack Horseman is one of the most brutally honest shows that is guaranteed to make you feel down in the dumps. While the show is funny and uses animals for the characters, it touches on darker subjects including depression, abuse, and substance use.
Some of the saddest moments on the show include Sarah Lynn's passing and the moment BoJack's mom recognizes him. However, there are countless dark and upsetting moments throughout the entire show that will make you question your own life.
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(#17) Dead to Me
- Christina Applegate, Linda Cardellini, Edward Asner
While Dead to Me is a comedy series, it does have its darker moments that might cause you to tear up. The main characters, Jen and Judy, bond because they both claim to have recently lost their husbands, which is sad enough as it is.
However, the show takes a dark and emotional turn when you learn one character's secret. It's the perfect mixture of humor and deeply emotional themes.
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About This Tool
I don't often cry in front of others, but I often cry because of touching TV plots in the dimly lit living room. I can't tell you exactly why I am obsessed with some heavy Tearjerkers. Perhaps these TV shows are essential for the audience to have a place to vent their emotion so that they can find a reason to breathe a sigh of relief when the anxiety collapses.
Everyone would cry for different reasons. The random tool lists 17 TV shows that make countless people cry with painful plot twists and tragic deaths, such as 13 Reasons Why, This Is Us, Grey's Anatomy, etc.
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