Generally, even when a TV present is among the best of all time, its themes and tales are so powerful to witness that you would be able to solely watch it as soon as. Artwork is a good way for creators and audiences to work by interrogative questions and painful experiences, and seeing this unfold onscreen may be cathartic. Nonetheless, as soon as is usually sufficient relating to seeing the heartbreaking occasions of those exhibits.
The saddest episodes of sitcoms and different light-hearted TV sequence may be powerful to revisit, however these exhibits are heartbreaking from starting to finish, making it tough to justify returning to the present. There’s little query that typically we placed on a sequence as a result of we’re within the temper to cry, however these works take issues to the following stage, staying with the viewer for years to return.
These TV shows are too emotional to rewatch due to what the characters undergo and what they put one another by. Typically, it is not graphic violence or gore that makes these initiatives powerful to witness a number of occasions, however the emotionally devastating occasions and heartbreaking endings that pressure the viewer to mirror on a few of life’s hardest truths.
The Handmaid’s Story (2017–2025)
Primarily based on the guide by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid‘s Story struck with audiences as quickly because it premiered in 2017, renewing the curiosity within the unique novel. Set in a dystopian future the place ladies are subjugated and compelled into childbearing slavery, The Handmaid’s Story places its characters, significantly its protagonist, June (Elisabeth Moss), by horrifying ordeals, and her wrestle towards the totalitarian authorities makes it no much less upsetting to observe.
Although The Handmaid’s Story misplaced a few of its focus because the seasons progressed, and the sequence strayed from the unique textual content, the affect and affect of the mission cannot be ignored. Although excessive, there are lots of parallels to be drawn between the occasions of The Handmaid’s Story and gender-based discrimination in the true world, even when it is emotionally taxing to observe greater than as soon as.
This Is Us (2016–2022)
The multi-generational story of That is Us is not as graphically violent or intense as a few of the different sequence that may solely be watched as soon as, however that does not make it any much less of a tearjerker. That is Us rapidly gained a fame for breaking the viewers’ hearts many occasions over all through the seasons, as typically the saddest components of a narrative are probably the most mundane.
Whereas there are some soapy parts in That is Us, the sequence works as a result of it takes the on a regular basis struggles of a household attempting to recuperate from grief and make their means on the planet so critically. With landmark performances from Sterling Okay. Brown, Mandy Moore, and Chrissy Metz, amongst many others, That is Us is price watching, if solely as soon as, as it may assist audiences higher perceive their very own lives.
When They See Us (2019)
Created by Ava DuVernay, the miniseries When They See Us brings to life the true story of a gaggle of younger Black and Latino males falsely accused of assault in 1989 New York Metropolis. Touching upon the experiences of the 5 boys who had been wrongly convicted and the deep roots of racism that run rampant within the U.S. Justice System, When They See Us does not maintain again relating to highlighting the injustice of those occasions.
When They See Us acquired common acclaim, as DuVernay makes the younger males the story focuses on greater than the tragic circumstances that upended their lives. Every actor provides every thing they need to enjoying Kevin Richardson
The Leftovers (2014–2017)
The Leftovers is a present in regards to the aftermath of loss and the lengthy highway of grief, and the sequence’ seasons mimic the numerous phases and experiences that include the territory. In some methods, the viewer is rewarded whereas watching The Leftovers, because the sequence does get a bit extra hopeful because the seasons progress, however the journey to get there is not simple, and is not one you will need to do once more.
In some methods, The Leftovers is a better mystery show than Lost, as The Leftovers does not really feel the necessity to reply all of its questions, leaving a few of the sequence’ most compelling reveals a secret. This in the end works in The Leftovers‘ favor and cements the uncertainty and wishes to give up to life’s unknowns that the sequence explores, forcing the viewers to have interaction with advanced philosophical questions.
Child Reindeer (2024)
Richard Gadd’s TV sequence Child Reindeer immediately made waves after it premiered on Netflix, not only for its intense material, however for the emotional vulnerability of Gadd in creating the present. Gadd has been open about the truth that the story’s circumstances are primarily based on his life, making the occasions of the present much more tough to observe, as Gadd’s character, Donny, goes by them.
Universally acclaimed, Child Reindeer garnered a big viewers base, however it is not simple to return again to the present, as watching it by simply as soon as will push the viewer to the brink. Touching upon assault, stalking, and lots of different types of trauma, Child Reindeer offers with every aspect of its narrative with honesty and the nuance required to discover its themes, benefiting from the unbelievable performances and writing.
BoJack Horseman (2014–2020)
Created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, BoJack Horseman is kind of probably the most effective grownup animated sequence ever made, however that does not imply we need to revisit a few of BoJack’s darkest moments all through the present. Not solely can we really feel for the titular character as we study extra about his troubled upbringing, however we turn out to be deeply entrenched within the characters’ struggles to seek out which means, which regularly finish in catastrophe.
Moreover, the viewer is concurrently confronted with BoJack’s unforgivable actions, making the viewers query how it could be potential to root for such a personality. There are lots of BoJack Horseman episodes I can’t watch without crying, and BoJack Horseman by no means shies away from pushing the viewers and characters to their limits, making it powerful to revisit after realizing what occurs to BoJack.
I Might Destroy You (2020)
Michaela Coel provides the efficiency of a lifetime in I Might Destroy You as Arabella, and her artistic imaginative and prescient as the author and creator of the restricted sequence comes by in each second of her work onscreen. I Might Destroy You was primarily based on actual occasions, with Coel utilizing her voice and company as a filmmaker to reckon with the lasting results of her trauma (by way of Vanity Fair).
As tough as it’s to witness what Arabella goes by in I Might Destroy You, there’s additionally a deep sense of feeling seen and understood for viewers who know what the character goes by and barely witness themselves pretty and empathetically represented onscreen. After all, there are moments of comedy and levity all through the sequence, as there are in life, however I Might Destroy You nonetheless hits exhausting everytime you watch it.
Chernobyl (2019)
Chernobyl is an HBO miniseries that’s a masterpiece from starting to finish, however like all TV exhibits primarily based on actual occasions, it may be tough to abdomen the occasions of the sequence. Analyzing the fallout of the Chernobyl nuclear plant catastrophe, and touching upon what led to the devastating occasion and the way residents and officers tried to place issues again collectively, reckoning with the legacy of the historic disaster is harrowing.
Led by Jared Harris as Valery Legasov, the ensemble solid additionally options Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson, and Jessie Buckley, who present emotional and dramatic assist to the surprising realism of the story. Chernobyl takes some narrative liberties, however it’s the faithfulness to the precise occasions that makes it so devastating to observe the primary time round, and each time after that.
