Surprisingly touching moments from non-serious shows?

[Asita]

Ever see the Wizard of Oz? Fairly upbeat film, if not entirely lighthearted, right[footnote]Modern overly cynical/jaded interpretations notwithstanding[/footnote]? Did you know there was originally a reprise of Somewhere Over the Rainbow in the witch's castle when Dorothy was locked in with the hourglass of death?

Judy Garland allegedly reduced the studio to tears with her performance in that scene. Unfortunately, while the audio remains the video seems to have been lost to the ages.

 

[BlackBark]

I'll take the easy answer;

Jurassic Bark; Futurama (Season 4; episode 7; the episode with Seymour the dog)

If you ever question if your friend is actually a demon, show him/her this episode and see if they cry at the end. If they do not, they do not have a soul and therefore are a demon.

I have no idea why people always mention this episode of Futurama. Sure, it's touching, but I think "Luck of the Fryrish" is much sadder. "Don't you... Forget about me..."

I agree with you about that, "Luck of the Fryish" has a bit more of an impact.

However, I'll have to say that the final sequence of "Leela's Homeworld" is the most touching for me, as it leaves a warm feeling instead of a sad one.

 

[PainInTheAssInternet]

This moment from the Simpsons never seems to be mentioned.

In the episode "Lisa's Pony", Homer watches old tapes of Lisa while reminiscing on the good ol' days. It then turns really dark when he realized how neglectful he was. It really hits me in the gut when he says

"No wonder she hates me!"

 

[vid87]

I raise your Vegeta one and give you this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj1V24sLsE8

Personally i'm rather fond of Vegeta, i know DBZ couldn't live to todays standards but as a kid watching that show and then watching it now and seeing all the subtle things is quite heartwarming.

I was just thinking that was a bit more poignant, totally agreed.

"Trunks, I've been a pretty crappy dad, sorry" *hug*...*karate chop*

I have a theory Vegeta's neglect is the reason Trunks went SS in the first place, considering Goten did it when he was fighting ChiChi.

 

[Flames66]

Watching Parks and Recreation, I had a tear running down my face

Spoiler

During the funeral for Lil' Sebastian.

It was one of the most moving scenes I have watched recently. The music was perfect, the cast was outstanding and everything came together perfectly to touch dem feels.

 

[DugMachine]

Scrubs was intentionally dramatic at times but MAN did that show get me right in the feels sometimes.

My Lunch is heartwrenching.

I can't even listen to How to Save a Life without getting all emotional

 

[shrekfan246]

Snip

Snip

Snip

Which fits more with the title. As in "touching" instead of "sad" moments.

While you've all pointed out great examples, I'd like to also stick with the theme of the thread title and mention this:


Among many others, of course.

The Janitor's "You're the only one who treats me like a normal person" to Elliot, and Kelso's face in this clip:

 

[Billy D Williams]

Scrubs was intentionally dramatic at times but MAN did that show get me right in the feels sometimes.

I think it was that combination of silly and serious that made Scrubs such a phenominal show. When it comes to shows where I've learned the most about life I think I'd have to put in my #1 spot, and for shows that made me laugh my ass off I'd have to put it at #2... nothing beats Arrested Development

 

[DugMachine]

While you've all pointed out great examples, I'd like to also stick with the theme of the thread title and mention this:

My god. No I'm not crying.. just got an itch in my eye :'(

 

[RedDeadFred]

The pilot episode of Community, where Jeff was sitting on the steps of the library(?) and his line about 'The funny thing about being smart...'

That episode was funny, but that scene got me hooked on the show

Community may be a comedy first and foremost, but it has a ton of these kinds of scenes. So many feels from such a funny show. Hopefully it'll still be great even after Troy leaves (he is my favourite character).

 

[Zeraki]

Last episode of Family guy

Yeah, just saw it yesterday:

Spoiler

Jesus Christ!

Granted a lot of that felt pretty forced, but the very ending of that was just brutal.

Just... wow.

Haven't watched Family Guy in years, but last time I checked

Spoiler

Brian was the most popular character in the show.

This undoubtedly pissed people off.

 

[captainballsack]

Scrubs is full of them.

 

[Syzygy23]

Avatar the legend of aang. Tales of bah sing se. Iroh. Just. Yeah... You know what I'm talking about. I cried. Honest to goodness cried. And I have no shame of this.

I learned to play that leaves from the vine song. I still kinda get misty eyed when I play it and sing along. Jegus that was a moving scene. Theres a reason Iroh/Zuko are my favourite characters of all time from anything.

I too shed a single manly tear during that scene. From both eyes. Several times.

Loudly.

For an extended period of time.

I was hoping the Legend of Korra would be able to move me the way that scene in the old Avatar did, but no such luck...

Watmote got me a couple times in the later episodes. I just felt so bad for the girl being THAT bad at human interaction. The pity led to a couple pretty sad moments.

Y'know I felt the same way but after thinking about it more she really is a shitty person. She's so arrogant and the things she says about other people she knows nothing about... but I suppose crippling anxiety can do weird things for you.

Thats one of the few animes I actually liked, mainly because I can actually relate to the main character. It's not that the main character is a shitty person or trying to be shitty, it's that when you fail at understanding something that comes naturally to what seems to be everyone else, you start trying to rationalize it. You aren't broken, its EVERYONE ELSE who's malfunctioning! You don't commit social faux pa's, it's everyone else who isn't acting like a normal human being! Knee Jerk mental defenses is all it is.

If anything you should be pissed off at her family. Their daughter is clearly suffering, and they would know that if they were at all involved in her life.

 

[EyeReaper]

The first thing that pops into my head is Hatoful Boyfriend, the pigeon dating sim. It's called the "Bad boys love" route, and, well, to quote the letsplayer Angie Gallant: "AND THEN HAPPINESS WAS OVER FOREVER"

Oh! and "You're the Inspiration" in Elite Beat Agents. The episode is about a little girl at christmas who only wants her father back. do I need to say more?
Also, the joke ending for lambda in Blazblue: Continuum Shift, to put it simply, it isn't funny, at all.
One last one, TT-TT

 

[ZtH]

For me I have to say, Sisterhooves Social from MLP. My sisters don't get along and that episode crushed me.

Also in GTO, which isn't a terribly lighthearted show,

Spoiler

The end of the anime. Everything else usually works out for Onizuka through his ridiculous luck or just plain being heartwarming, but having to leave the school is probably the biggest downer ending to any of the plot threads/arcs in that show.

 

[SeeIn2D]

Futurama does the touching moments absurdly well. Jurassic Bark, The Sting, and the final episode of the series (presumably) Meanwhile. All of these episodes were masterfully written and executed. Would recommend them to anyone.

 

[Darkbladex96]

Spoiler

Start at 00:50.

Spoiler

That moment when the music dropped and Twilight was crying for Celestia... Wow. It could've been a much stronger scene if it lasted longer and the episode ended there.

 

[FalloutJack]

Okay...how about these ones?

Spoiler: Stein's Gate

The time traveling show about a young man who is in the continuous act of a mad scientist has a life of the bizarre and silly maintained in his life in order to keep things interesting, however he has some sobering moments where in his explorations of time travel...

Mayuri (Mayushii) keeps getting killed, as though it was a fixed point in time that she MUST die, no matter what.
Moeka (Shining Finger) is a CERN agent working for a mysterious FB...who eventually kills her when exposed.
Suzuha (Part-Time Warrior) is a time traveler from the future who's trying to prevent a disaster caused in the past.
Makise Kusiru (Lab Assistant) falls in love with him, but is destined to die because he has to put time back to normal.

Spoiler: Durarara

This show is largely very silly, but you have some really serious moments even in here. For instance...

Celty's 'life' as a Dullahan deprived of her head is fairly dramatic, turning her from urban legend to a real person, just about. Her endless search is actually pretty damn serious, despite all the weirdness around her and just BEING strange herself.

Let's not forget when Saika appears, taking control of people that she has cut and they have cut, and that there's an army of people turned kill-crazed roaming about town. Heh, and THEN we find out that the REAL Saika is Anri...who inherited the blade when her father was killed by her mother, who then killed herself. All this and her ability to actually go sword-wielding badass on people.

How about the whole Yellow Scarves thing, where Kida is forced back into gang life...and then as leader realizes that his gang's been slowly repopulated by his old enemies, the Blue Squares. We knew something was going wrong there, but that turned out to be a brilliant "Fuck you" moment on Kida, who's suddenly very alone at that moment.

Spoiler: Red Dwarf

Okay, the show even plays up drama with comedy, but can you honestly say no tears are shed for the death of Ace Rimmer? I mean...what a guy!