What is the saddest episode on a TV show that you've seen?

[PrincessKitty1]

Scrubs--Dr. Cox's best friend (and brother-in-law) dies of leukemia and Dr. Cox goes to his funeral. The episode is a fantasy sequence of wonderful memories and would-be memories and you (and Dr. Cox) don't even realize you're at the funeral until the last few minutes of the episode.

It was the most incredibly well-done and least-maudlin (yes, and saddest) death I've ever seen on TV.

 

[Sleepy]

on the flip side-the final episode of six feet under, though full of death (we got to see how everyone lived out their lives and passed) was very uplifiting (though i was upset and shed some tears when they showed how keith was killed).

NOOOOOOOO! I did not need to see that! We are just now getting these episodes. We have not gotten that far yet. Not mad at you. Just that Italy is way behind America with everything. I need to stop reading this thread. We are only on season 2 of House. I've read too much.

 

[GirTheGecko]

Tosh and Owen being killed on Torchwood and her goodbye video afterwards.

That was a doozy. Forgot about that one until you mentioned it. The video just broke my heart all over again after watching them die.

 

[Notatourist]

I thought the episode of Kung Fu The Legend Continues where Robert Lansing left the show was terribly sad. On the show, they had him just leaving to find himself. In reality, he was leaving because he was dying. About two weeks after the show aired, Robert Lansing died of cancer. Chris Potter, who played Robert Lansing's step-son on the show was sobbing during the scene. I'm sure it was very emotional for everyone on the set.

Dang, you had to bring this one up...where's my kleenex...

 

[Claire L]

The very last episode of Blackadder 4 where they went over the trenches in WWI, as it really did happen for alot of young men back then

Claire

 

[DisneyMomx7]

There are so many for me -

MASH - Henry dies
ER - "Loves Labor Lost"
Mark Greene dies
Designing Women - Charlene gives birth

But the one that made me cry the hardest was on Thirtysomething -
when Nancy has the second look surgery and Gary dies.

 

[Allison]

I agree with Dr. Greene & Lucy on ER and Denny on Grey's Anatomy.

Another one that comes to mind is The West Wing. In season 6 there is an episode where Leo has a heart attack. During the filming of season 7 John Spencer (who played Leo) died from a heart attack. I can no longer watch that scene in season 6 as it's just too heartbreaking.

Also, another West Wing episode that really got to me is the one where CJ's Secret Service Agent (played by Mark Harmon) is killed by a convenience store robber. That one had my crying for sure!

The West Wing episode that got to me is when Mrs. Landingham (the President's secretary) is talked into getting a new car and then is killed as she leaves the dealership with it. I think it was the only episode where Leo referred to the President by his first name instead of "Mr. President" when he was giving him the news.

 

[Planogirl]

ETA: 2 more episodes of all in the Famly just came to mind. The one where Beverly was beaten to death and the one where Archie found out that Stephanie was Jewish.
Both of those really get to me. I guess the one with Stephainie isn't really sad, but it is a tearjerker for certain.
Carol O'Connor was an amazing actor and while he didn't often get the chance to show his range on AITF, when he did, it was TV moments that leave a lifelong impression.

I never understood how Carroll O'Connor could play a character like Archie Bunker and somehow make people care so much about him. He was amazing.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

thought of a couple more-

the episode of 'news radio' after phil hartman was murdered. the staff has to convince andy dick's character that it realy happened

the episode of 'wkrp in cincinatti' that dealt with the death of the who fan's was very touching.

for us 'older folks' watching the episode of sesame street where they have to explain to big bird about mr. hooper's death was very memorable.

on a lighter note, but still sad for me-the episode 'farewell my little viking' on 'the adventures of pete and pete', where artie ('the strongest man in the world') tells little pete that because he's grown and matured it's time for artie to move on to another child who needs him.

I LOVED Pete and Pete and am glad that somebody actually remembers that show! My husband thinks I am making it up! "A kid with a tattoo???" And that was a sad episode!

 

[koalababy]

I just remembered the "last" episode of Magnum PI where he dies. I was like 10 watching it with my mom and sister, all of us bawling. I think I've read that they ended up bringing him back though for another season. I don't remember that from back when it happened though. I was too young. Or maybe I'm thinking of something else.

 

[sha_lyn]

I just remembered the "last" episode of Magnum PI where he dies. I was like 10 watching it with my mom and sister, all of us bawling. I think I've read that they ended up bringing him back though for another season. I don't remember that from back when it happened though. I was too young. Or maybe I'm thinking of something else.

That was the end of the season before the last season. Yes he lived through being shot. You should really try to watch the last season.

 

[barkley]

I LOVED Pete and Pete and am glad that somebody actually remembers that show! My husband thinks I am making it up! "A kid with a tattoo???" And that was a sad episode!

was'nt it a great show? i remember little pete's tattoo, her name was 'petunia'

i just checked on amazon and they've got 2 of the seasons on dvd, i think i'll order them-my kids would get a kick out of them and i'de love to see iggy pop, steve buscheme and ellen cleghorne portraying those great characters again.

one of my favorite episodes was when the parents leave pete and pete at home for a couple of nights and little pete gets ticked off and sells the house

 

[LadyyRedd]

The saddest one for me was on 8 Simple Rules. It was the first episode after John Ritter's death and they had written it into the story line. You knew that all of the emotions that you were watching were real. Those kids did an amazing job! I was bawling!

This was the first one that came to mind when I read the question and I Can't believe it wasn't mentioned before page 4!

Kimya

 

[5lilfish]

I am not a soap opera fan, but somehow I got hooked, briefly on General Hospital. My vote for saddest episode(s) on TV is/are the epsidoes of GH when BJ died and her heart saved her cousin's life. When her father, Tony, sat at her bedside and said goodbye to her, I was absolutely BAWLING!!!

Jess

 

[Mermaid02]

The final episode of M*A*S*H*. They had been hiding out on a bus with several civilians and one woman had a chicken with her. It kept squawking and Hawkeye kept telling her to keep it quiet so they wouldn’t be detected. Finally she just killed it.

Through flashbacks in Hawkeye's therapy sessions, we finally learned that it hadn't been a chicken at all. It was her own baby that the woman killed. I've never even seen that episode in reruns, but it remains my vote for the saddest ever.

Yep- the woman smothering her baby in order to keep everyone on the bus alive.... This was the first thing that came to my mind too. Saddest thing I have ever seen.

 

[TaraPA]

Another one is an episode of Fresh Prince, believe it or not. The episode where Will's father returns and just as Will's starting to connect with his father he's backing out of taking him along in his truck and may or may not be back. That last scene with Will letting out all his rage and hurt and Philip there to comfort him, and Will starts to realize that his uncle is more of a father than his father is ... definitely shows Will Smith's acting potential back then.

Bingo! I remember that scene vividly (and yes I cried). I always loved Will Smith but when I watched that I knew that young man was a real actor & was going places....

 

[THE HAT]

Henry's death on MASH
When Archie Bunker talks to Edith and hugs her slipper after she's died

These are my choices always......now even more then ever.....

Mash was my mom's favorite show ever, she had every episode on VCR tapes, taped from the TV,then I had bought her the whole set on DVD a year ago for Christmas, my mom passed in January and getting these was more important to me then her rings. I can remember watching when Henry died and my mother passing me a tissue as we cried together on her bed.
As for Archie Bunker....To start with my Dad looks AND has the same attitude as Archie, it is crazy, people sometimes stare, lol but when my Mom passed and he broke down holding her pillowcase it was a total flashback for my brother and I to that episode when Archie lost Edith......
I will never be able to watch those episodes the same way ever again.......

 

[WDWLVR]

The West Wing episode that got to me is when Mrs. Landingham (the President's secretary) is talked into getting a new car and then is killed as she leaves the dealership with it. I think it was the only episode where Leo referred to the President by his first name instead of "Mr. President" when he was giving him the news.

There are so many mentioned here that I cried at, but this one hit me especially hard for some reason.

 

[TaraPA]

I'm watching the 90210 epi where Toni is killed... most heartbreaking thing I've ever watched on a fictional show!

When I saw the title of this post this is the EXACT episode I was going to post about! I watched it yesterday morning & sobbed. And I must have seen this episode 10 times already! Especially after the funeral when Dylan is packing up to leave & Trouble, their lost kitten, comes in & he holds it & breaks down.

I also cried like a baby when Denny died on Greys Anatomy, and the few episodes after that when they felt each other's presence in the hallways of the hospital.

Last episodes always get me - Mash, The Waltons, 90210, Fresh Prince, Family Ties, Wonder Years - and what was the newer show with Michael J Fox - when he had to quit the show due to his Parkinsons - I had a meltdown during his last episode. They were playing Macy Grey & every time I hear that song it seem so sad!

Could barely watch the episode of 8 Simple Rules after John Ritter died. I had the "ugly cry" for the whole show. We lost a true great comedian/actor when he died.

 

[MineeBaby]

When Warrick was killed during the season finale of CSI--it was very quick and unexpected, but the fact that he was murdered was just too much.