33 Of The Most Heartbreaking TV Scenes Of 2022
To celebrate 2022, we recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which TV scenes were the most heartbreaking this year. Here are some of the best responses:
There are MASSIVE spoilers below! And #21 mentions suicide.
1.First, on 9-1-1: Lone Star, when T.K.'s mom, Gwyn, shockingly died after being struck by someone riding a bike.
"Especially the beginning of the next episode, 'In the Unlikely Event of an Emergency,' when you don’t see anything but hear the 911 call of the bike rider who accidentally killed her, trying to save her life. Then asking what he should do about the baby she had been pushing in a stroller."
2.On Grey's Anatomy, when Zola started crying during a school presentation because she thought Meredith and Maggie were going to die from Alzheimer's just like Ellis.
"We've literally watched Zola grow up on Grey's, so seeing this moment absolutely wrecked me. She's such a smart and special member of this cast, and I love that she got her own storyline, but this scene broke my heart."
3.On 1883, when Elsa was shot with an arrow, said goodbye to her mom, and ultimately died in her father's arms underneath a tree.
"I have not recovered, and may never recover, from Elsa dying in 1883."
4.On The Summer I Turned Pretty, when Belly, Jeremiah, and Steven learned that Susannah's cancer had returned and that Conrad had known all summer.
Suggested by: jenniferabidor
5.On Derry Girls, when Clare's father unexpectedly died and everyone hugged Clare at the hospital.
"From Gerry Quinn approaching girls in the street to James putting his arm around Orla, who keeps asking if Clare's dad will be okay. Seeing them all run over to hug Clare after she walks into the waiting room crying was the final blow."
6.On Wednesday, when Wednesday found Thing after he was stabbed, and she rushed to Uncle Fester, who barely saved him.
"Even though he’s okay, Thing almost dying. He is the most precious thing in the world, and in that moment, I felt like my heart was being crushed and stomped on."
7.On Young Royals, when Simon learned that his own sister was the one who tipped August off that he was going to the police about the sex tape, and Wille tried to console him.
"When he is running away after that scene, then Wille comes after him and hugs him, the way he's almost breaking down crying, I was gutted. It's really surprising that the show is Omar's first acting job."
8.On Euphoria, when Rue started screaming at her mom after she realized her stash of drugs was gone.
"Zendaya's performance was heartbreaking. It literally won her an Emmy. Rue's addiction almost killed her, and she hurt everyone she loved."
9.On Yellowjackets, when Shauna and Jackie had a huge fight and Jackie left the cabin, only for her to freeze to death by the time Shauna went and found her in the morning.
"Shauna's screams after she finds Jackie are still so haunting. It has almost been a year and I'm still not over this devastating scene."
10.On Dead to Me, when Jen and Judy said goodbye without saying "goodbye" after Judy was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
"I cried. I can’t imagine losing my best friend that way."
11.On Moon Knight, when Marc broke down in the street following his mom's shiva, after learning everything about Steven, his brother, and more.
"Oscar *killed* that scene, playing three different characters with different levels of heartbreak and vulnerability and just...man."
12.On House of the Dragon, when Rhaenyra's baby died after she went into labor early following her father's death and the loss of the throne.
"I had a baby earlier this year, and that scene was so visceral and raw that I absolutely broke down sobbing because it was impossible not to relate to that with my son's birth and how absolutely devastating that would be. Utterly heartbreaking."
13.And on House of the Dragon, when Lucerys was torn apart by Aemond and his dragon, Vhagar, while flying through storm clouds.
"He was the sweetest boy. RIP."
14.On The Flight Attendant, when Cassie visited her mom, Lisa, and explained to her that she had stopped drinking, but Lisa said she still didn't like Cassie.
"It was devastating."
15.On Warrior Nun, when Beatrice had to say goodbye to Ava after she was seriously injured, and Ava disappeared before she could hear Bea say that she loved her back.
"The last episode of Season 2 was so good and was just an emotional roller coaster, but this final moment between Ava and Bea is the one that broke me. They are made for each other, and watching them have to say goodbye was so devastating. I hate that Netflix canceled this show and now this is their last scene together."
16.On Andor, anytime B2EMO was onscreen after Maarva's tragic death.
"That stuttering droid has my whole heart."
17.On Doctor Who, when the Thirteenth Doctor realized she was about to regenerate but wanted more time with Yaz.
"When she said, 'I need more time.' It was so heartbreaking! 😭."
18.On Our Flag Means Death, when Ed waited for Stede to show up on the dock so they could run away together, but Stede never arrived.
"He waits until the sun rises, and you can see the sadness and disappointment growing in his expression the longer he waits before he finally gets in the boat and rows away. I don't know why, but that scene really got me."
19.On Manifest, when Zeke sacrificed himself by absorbing Cal's cancer in order to save him.
"Zeke Landon’s death made me cry. First, I just love the character and his journey with Mick, but second, he knew Cal needed to live, so he literally took his cancer. Such a sad but badass moment for Zeke."
20.On Station Eleven, when Kirsten and Jeevan were reunited after years apart and after thinking that each other might've died.
"I could not stop sobbing."
21.On Reservation Dogs, when Daniel, who had died by suicide before the show began, read a note he had written to himself.
"Utterly heartbreaking. Also, at the end of this episode, when he's shown with his friends at the beach before he disappears. So sad."
—lw36
22.On Only Murders in the Building, when we watched Bunny's final day before she was murdered, and it included the sad moment when she just wanted to hang out with Charles, Oliver, and Mabel, but they didn't get the hint.
"They had this whole episode following Bunny (who was murdered) around. How she was going to retire from running the apartment building and what her plans were. Bunny could hear the trio laughing and having fun through her vent, so she went over with champagne, hoping to join them, and they took the champagne, had an awkward conversation, thanked her, and slammed the door in her face. She stood there for a minute and then started crying, and omg, I felt that pain. Then she walked back to her apartment to watch a show with her bird, and she ended up getting murdered. So not only did she have this awful last day on Earth, but if the trio had JUST LET HER IN, she would maybe still be alive."
23.On From Scratch, when Lino died as Amy sat at his bedside after his long battle with cancer.
"Pretty much that whole episode had me sobbing, but when Amy tells him, 'You waited,' I became a blubbering mess. I think I’d lost most of my body’s moisture by the time Idalia said goodbye to her father."
—Soph
24.On The Walking Dead series finale, when Luke was bleeding out after being attacked by walkers, and Yumiko, Connie, Magna, and Kelly couldn't save him.
Suggested by: groverdill
25.On Interview With the Vampire, during the final moments of the Season 1 finale, when we saw the aftermath of Lestat's "death" and found out who Rashid really is.
"The last five minutes of the last episode of the season, where they show the aftermath of Lestat's 'death' from the different perspectives and reveal how much Louis has been lying to himself (and possibly been lied to). My heart dropped into my stomach when they revealed who Rashid really is; I can still feel the chill that went down my spine. Props to the cinematographers for that rapid-fire emotional onslaught."
26.On Stranger Things, when Max escaped Vecna after Lucas, Dustin, and Steve started playing "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" by Kate Bush.
"ABSOLUTELY the 'Running Up That Hill' scene. My GOD, Sadie Sink KILLED that one."
27.And on Stranger Things, when Eddie tragically died after saving Dustin and helping to save all of Hawkins.
"Heartbreaking."
28.Also on Stranger Things, when Max nearly died in Lucas's arms after confronting Vecna.
"God, the waterworks were flowing."
29.On The Orville: New Horizons, when Gordon begged Mercer not to erase his life, his love, and his children, but it had to happen.
"Broke my heart to imagine such a loss, especially when it happens and Gordon forgets everything. Yes, it’s a time travel/paradox episode."
30.On Better Call Saul, when Jimmy and Kim reunited during the series finale.
"It was bittersweet and touching."
31.On Firefly Lane, when Kate went to Tully's house after finding out that she had cancer, but Tully wasn't home.
"Kate banging on Tully's door, after a year of not speaking, when she found out she has cancer, begging her to open it, and then breaking down sobbing on the floor. Ugh. A beautiful show."
32.On Pachinko, when Sunja's mom begged the rice merchant for some Korean-grown rice so that Sunja could have it before leaving for Japan.
"So much of Pachinko, but for me, especially the scene when Sunja’s mom, Yangjin, begs the rice merchant for some Korean-grown white rice so that her daughter could experience a final taste of her homeland before leaving for Japan, with both of them knowing that her daughter would likely never return home or see her mother again."
33.And finally, on The Midnight Club, when Anya died right as the rest of the Midnight Club finished her story.
"The whole seventh episode, called 'Anya,' is sad, but the scene where the rest of the Club finishes her story right before she dies absolutely broke my heart."
We know we can't fit everything into one post, so which other sad TV moments broke your heart this year? Tell us in the comments below!
Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
