Jeff Winger, played by Joel McHale on the NBC cult-classic "Community," once said: "What makes humans different from other animals? We're the only species on earth that observes Shark Week. Sharks don't even observe Shark Week, but we do. For the same reason I can pick up this pencil, tell you its name is Steve and go like this..." He proceeds to break the pencil in half, to the extreme horror of the study group. We associate with fictional characters, sometimes more than real people, because we see something in them that deserves our attention and and deserves our love.
This goes without saying, but, WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.
Reddit user, u/[usernamedeleted], wanted to hear how your heart broke when they asked:
What characters death made you cry?
When A Character Is The Manifestation Of Your Own Childhood And You Have To Let It Go...sob...
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Bing Bong from Inside Out.
I watched Inside Out with my siblings recently. Stop reopening fresh wounds.
Why Did You Go To The Rope Bridge Alone?!?
Leslie from Bridge to Terabithia
im surprised no ones said this before me
kid me and even adult me cries like a b-tch evertime watching that movie
Rachel: "BETH. DIES."
Maybe it's my age, but I've scrolled through this entire thread and I recognise only a handful of the characters mentioned. I've also been struck by the lack of literary references. I've sniffled my way through many a film's ending, but the character death that really gets me every time is from a book.
It is Beth in 'Little Women' - or to be strictly correct Beth in 'Good Wives'. I first read Louisa May Alcott's series of 4 books when I was 12 or 13. The copies I read had belonged to my mum when she was that age. I was inconsolable when Beth died. I think it was because I didn't see it coming as I was young and hadn't seen or read many character deaths to this point. To this day I will cry when she dies in every version of the story (I've seen every film and TV version going) and I reread the books for a good wallow as well.
Honourable mention:
The death of DS Freya Graffham in the novel 'The Various Haunts of Men' by Susan Hill. I read a lot and this is the only time I can remember having the rug totally pulled from under my feet at the death of a character. Absolutely unexpected as she was one of the protagonists of the book. Brilliant writing.
When Your Mental Preparation Isn't Enough
Glenn' s death for the walking dead
He was my fav character but I had read spoilers for it so I had like months to mentally prepare to i braced myself and somehow did not cry.
I did cry at his fake out death a season or two before until ten min into talking dead when I realized it was a sham!
Go To The Great Valley...
Littlefoot's mom from The Land Before Time
Same! I was fine when I saw it as a kid, but as an adult? Sobbing mess every time.
Time Is A Passive Enemy
Fry's dog, Seymour.
Saddest scene in a goofy tv show. Futurama had some really good episodes and some that really hit you like a truck.
Sip A Cup Of Tea And Have A Good Cry
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Not an onscreen character death, but Iroh mourning his son never fails to make me blubber like a baby.
There is so much emotional depth to that show, even for a Nickelodeon show that is 15 years old. Leaves from the vine gets me every time. And as I did more research into ATLA, I actually realised that Zuko's redemption arc reflected Iroh's, in a way, and also what Iroh wanted his son to achieve.
Although the episode "Tales of Ba Sing Se" was technically a filler, Iroh's tale was 4 minutes of pure perfection. He helped a small child, a young boy, and a young man, reflecting what he wished he could have had with Lutein before the war had taken him. Love ATLA so much.
Here's The 14th Reason
As dumb as the show can be, Justin Foley from 13 Reasons Why. He struggled with an absent mother, addiction, and homelessness. It made me cry even more when he called Clay his brother. The only family he pretty much ever had
FAIL
Jenna's death from The Vampire Diaries.
Elena tried her best to keep Jenna out of the supernatural vampire world, and only in the end to be used as a sacrifice for Klaus. As I watched the scene, Jenna felt so confused and scared and I cried when Elena told her to "turn it off".
*whistling sound
Rues death in the Hunger games. She didn't deserve that pain. I also sobbed profusely at Prims death, hunger games again.
Man...Suzanne Collins really likes cutting off characters that are loved by everyone. Kind of reminds me of another famous author.
A Ride Home You'll Never Finish
Most recently, Henry Blake from MAS*H. I knew it was coming because I got into the show via ladyknightthebrave's YouTube documentary/essay, but that might have made it more potent.
The man was a mess and cheated on his wife a bunch of times, but I started crying when he hugged Radar just before getting in the chopper. He was so excited to see his wife and kids, too.
When You're Aware Of What's Going To Happen, And It STILL GETS YOU
The dad in Train to Busan
My god, I went into this movie thinking "ok it's a zombie movie, don't get attached to any characters because they're all fair game". I still was not ready
Just Point To Any Wizarding Death
Dobby's a free Elf.
sob
Fred made me throw the book. i read it straight through the night i got it at the release, until i got to that point. i thought i had misread, so i went back and reread it, and when I realized I was so mad
He's Mary Poppins, Ya'll!
Yondu in guardians of the galaxy volume 2, the whole funeral scene is so goddamn sad
I thought his death was sad, because you can hear Peter mourn about loosing Yondu, and his last words:"He may have been your father, but he wasn't your daddy, I'm sorry I didn't do any of it right. I'm [damn] lucky you my boy."
An Arc Set Up From The Beginning
Iron man. The whole theatre cried.
it's fitting that he would be the one to close out the infinity saga. i always come back to Ho Yinsen's last words to tony in the cave: "Don't waste it. Don't waste your life."
his entire arc from that moment was defined by those words until the very end.
Here's A Few For The Road
1.) (Hamilton) Phillip Hamilton's death. Stay Alive reprise had me blubbering like a baby.
2.) (Hamilton) Alexander Hamilton's death. very sad. in Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story? just makes it worse too.
3.) (Hamilton) John Lauren's death. They didnt show it, but Lauren's interlude had everyone in the theatre crying. The fact that Alexander lost his best friend ( and quite possibly past lover 😏) is heartbreaking.
4.) (degrassi) campbell saunder's suicide. they didn't show it for obvious reasons, but its quite heartbreaking how we can see the buildup of depression and anxiety and other events that led up to it. one of his mental breakdowns, the one he had in front of Ali tore me into pieces. very sad.
5.) (dragon ball z) Son Goku's second death. It's a hard episode for everybody.
6.) (assassination classroom) Koro Sensei's death. again, hard episode for everyone. assassination classroom gets a bittersweet ending. the kids finally reached their goal, but in order to achieve it and save the world, they lost their lifelong friend and mentor. Very sad.
Great, Now We're All Crying
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Carl's wife, Ellie, in the opening scene from Up.
Their whole lives, it was just them, taking on the world together. Through good times and bad. They were so excited for a baby, but Ellie miscarried and was left sterile. They kept saving up to go to Paradise Falls, but life kept getting in the way. When Carl eventually gets around to buying plane tickets, she falls ill and dies. He then sits there by her casket in the very same church they were married so many years ago. Carl becomes embittered and lonely. What else do you do when you lose your other half? When you lose the one and only important person in your life?
But then years later, he finally looks into Ellie's adventure book that she had given him before her passing. Chronologically telling their story together. From the founding of their club that started it all, all the way up until their last moments together. And there, on the last page, in Ellie's handwriting is a message. "Thanks for the adventure - now go have a new one! Love, Ellie" He gave her more than a childhood promise of exploration, because you don't need to travel the world when the world is right there by your side. But she wanted him to move on and find happiness again, even if that didn't include her.
F-ck, my eyes are leaking.
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When we're intoxicated, or even the slightest bit tipsy from having a little too much to drink, our immediate perspective on things is hazy.
But there's nothing like a bit of alarming news or a jarring incident to snap us out of the fog and focus on the moment.
Sometimes alcohol isn't always to blame for our impairment.
It can be a state of mind, like a perpetual numbness from being complacent in life, and all it takes is one shocking moment to rattle us back to our senses.
Curious to hear from strangers online about this type of scenario, Redditor Known_Challenge_7150 asked:
"What’s one thing that sobered you up real quick?"
These individuals were witness to shocking events that sobered them up right quick.
Bleeding Out
"Got out of a taxi and found a naked man profusely bleeding from his head crawling up the driveway in my condo. Called him an ambulance completely forgot I was absolutely wasted until 45 minutes later when I'd helped him translate and in to an amublance and stepped in my front door."
"Later a few days later learned he'd slipped in the tub and literally crawled out for help. Poor dude. He was fine but I genuinely thought he was going to die there."
– DongLaiCha
Tragic News
"At a bachelor party and we got a phone call that the groom’s father had suddenly passed."
– accountnameredacted
Bottom Of The Barrel
"I went to visit my parents back in July. I was homeless and deep into fentanyl addiction so I lost a lot of weight. My folks could see it. They knew something was up. Anyway, I spent the night and I was getting ready to leave in the morning and I looked at myself in the mirror for a good long time. I finally had enough and told them everything. They took me to detox, from there I went to rehab. Graduated in August and been living with them ever since then. I have 160 days clean and sober."
– Crotch-Monster
A reality check can be enough for some people to snap out of it.
Like Father, Like Son
"Was driving a drunk friend home, he had been on a bender again and was smart enough to call me for a lift rather than try and drive. As I helped in to his house his mother came down the stairs and said 'your as drunk as your father' and went back upstairs. I haven't seen him drunk since then, he still drinks but the thought of turning into his dad scared him out of hard drinking."
– psycospaz
Busted
"Flashing blue lights."
– FiddleOfGold
"This sobered me up just thinking about it."
– redmaple_syrup
Losing Sight
"Woke up to no sight in one eye. I had cataract surgery so just thought one of the lenses had slipped and it was an easy fix. Eye doc says nope, you had a stroke. I loved soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and salty food, which caused high blood pressure, which caused retina damage. Over six months was able to get most of my eyesight back with medication, and all back within a year. Trying to navigate life with one eye was very sobering. Started taking HBP much more seriously."
– MissHibernia
Quitting The Bottle
"Looked up someone I went to highschool with who was an awesome guy. Found out he had been dead for 3 years from alcoholism, at age 33. I made an overnight change. I hadn't started drinking that night yet, 10 months ago. Haven't touched it again since."
– omgtater
These disturbing moments were enough for Redditors to immediately come to their senses.
Unplanned House Guests
"Me and a buddy Woke up in someone’s living room, realized neither one of us knew the people, they were just nice and let 2 drunk guys sleep on their living room floor. We didn’t even say goodbye."
– Oneinsevenbillion75
Serious Health Warning
"Elevated liver enzymes."
"And the knowledge that this sh** was gonna kill me and I just couldn't orphan my family over it."
"So I opted for recovery, instead."
"Clean and sober since June 5, 2009."
– Far_Meal8674
The Joyride
"Grew up in a rural area. The little town hosted dances at the hockey arena, everyone (adults and kids) went and they overserved everyone, regardless of age. I was maybe 16 or 17 and was absolutely sh*tfaced, and jumped in the back of someone's truck with about 8 other people to go back to someone's cottage for after dance drinking. The driver (still don't know who it was) started racing one of his buddies and we whipped around small dirt roads, flying around blind corners on the wrong side of the road, going god knows how fast. It was basically a disaster waiting to happen. It was crazy scary and I was sober and thankful to be alive when we finally arrived."
– foxfood9116
The human psyche is a fascinating thing, isn't it?
How we can automatically focus on something urgent at a crucial time, even after getting buzzed from drinking too much alcohol.
But as we're in the thick of the holidays, it's a good reminder to drink responsibly and stay off the roads if you drive to your celebratory destination.
Cheers. Stay safe. And happy holidays.
We've all complained or vented about something in our lives which, in the grand scheme of things, wasn't exactly a problem, or is very easily solved.
Then there are those who complain about things that others almost hope will happen to them at some point in their lives.
These are known as "first world problems", as they are problems that pretty much only the world's one percent faces.
From having to fly business class instead of first class, or being served Roederer instead of Dom Pérignon, these complaints are often met with amusement, bewilderment, or even anger.
Redditor jennimackenzie was curious to hear the most absurd "first world problems" anyone ever complained about, leading them to ask:
"What’s the most ridiculous 'first world problem' you’ve seen people get worked up over?"
"Tale As Old As Time..."
"I once knew a mom who was legitimately devastated, to the point of tears/grief, because a doctor predicted her 8 year old daughter's final height to be around 5'2","
"Which wasn't tall enough to get cast as Belle at Disney World."
"That was the child's (and her mother's) only dream in life, apparently."
"Didn't appreciate my suggestion that she could be Minnie or Mickey."
"Lol!"
"Only a face character would do!"- TravelLovingMom
"Must Be Funny, In A Rich Man's World..."
"My boss from about a decade ago was this insanely rich dude who always went to the bank to get fresh and crisp currency."
"He'd call the bank in advance to make sure they had some on hand."
"I think he was a germaphobe."
"He had a trash can that he'd throw $1 and $5 bills in that he thought was 'dirty' and regularly just donated it vs spending it."
"I asked him why he did this and he said it was too much trouble and asked if I wanted it."
"I said f*ck yeah dumped it into my bag and when I got home it was close to $400 in singles and fives.
"Another time, he wanted to upgrade all the computers in his studio, so we went to a store and bought 10 PCs."
"They all had $150 mail in rebates and he wasn't bothered to go through the trouble of mailing them in."
"3 weeks later I received $1500 after spending a whole afternoon filling out all those goddamn forms."- azninvasion2000
Money Burn GIF by nog
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Who Wore It Better?
"When I was about 19 years old, I was at my boyfriends family BBQ."
"I was wearing this pretty floral sundress."
"His cousins girlfriend showed up in the same dress and she was SO mad that she went and changed."
"I will never understand being upset when someone is wearing the same thing as you.'
"Did you really think that your shirt you bought off the rack is going to be unique to you?"
"No."- mertsey627
Seeing Red! Or Blue In This Case...
"The blue of the balloons wasn't quite the same as the bridesmaid's sashes."
"Years ago my wife and I attended a wedding."
"It was very low key."
"The dinner was in the dining hall at the university where the couple met, cinder block walls and all."
"It was a Baptist wedding - no booze and very serious."
"The dark blue balloons attempting to liven up the hall were a slightly darker shade of blue than the sashes on the bridesmaid's dresses."
"The bride lost here sh*t and absolutely raved for nearly an hour."
"I can't remember how they finally managed to talk her down."- mechant_papa
south park wedding GIF
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See You In Court!
"Rich neighbors who end up in expensive court battles because they disagree about where a tree can be planted or whether the color of a fence fits in with the street’s 'amenity'."
'These disputes get really heated and rack up huge lawyers’ bills."
"The most pathetic part is after the judgement when they are arguing about who should pay the other party’s costs."
"Lots of affidavits filed citing the 'emotional distress' they had to endure, or painting themselves as brave warriors who were forced to take a stand to fight for 'justice'."
"Also lots of pompous litigants insisting that the judge refer to them by their 'Dr' title."
"An absolutely insane dumpster fire of entitled rich people problems."- ElectrocRaisin
It's Always People With Money Who Don't Want To Pay!
"I work in a public library."
"People will get so so mad if they have to be put on a wait list for a book."
"A popular book that just came out."
"Ok our services are not only free but so are the books."
"You’re welcome, a**holes."- Switchbladekitten
A Warm Butt Is A Happy Butt!
"My own."
"We have a bidet toilet seat (Fabulous! Everyone should have one!) and not only does it wash your bum and blow dry it, but the seat's heated!"
"It's shocking how much a heated toilet seat makes the whole process more agreeable."
"Except: We had a power outage and I went to use the toilet and the seat was cold!"
"Unacceptable!"
"This shall not stand!"
"I was really upset because it didn't feel good."
"Then I stopped and thought: This is the most first-world problem anyone's ever had."
"I was really pissed because my heiny was tepid."
"I got over it."- DeathGrover
homer simpson episode 23 GIF
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Holy Matrimony!
"Weddings are a gold mine for this question."
"People get so hyped up over their 'most important day of their life'."
"They'll destroy friendships, go into debt, and have crazy expectations."
"It's not always the couple who go crazy, either."
"Sometimes, it's the parents or another family member who feels entitled to control the wedding."
"It's just a party."
"Be considerate of guests, have plenty of food and drinks, and enjoy it."- magicrowantree
When Fast Food Isn't Fast Enough...
"Having to pull off to the side to wait for a drive-thru order to be brought out to you because your food isn't ready and there's a line building up behind you."- demanbmore
In Case You Don't Think Customer Service Employees Are Undervalued...
"I was working the return desk at a Target next to a military base so I have so many stories."
"One of my favorites was a lady who had her baby shower before revealing the gender and was livid that she had received floral newborn diapers when she’s having a boy."
"It was a huge box of super expensive, all organic diapers, that we didn’t carry and therefore could not return."
"I cannot accurately express her fury and disgust."
"How dare either suggest her boy could wear feminine diapers."
"I suggested she donate them if she didn’t want to use them and she instead threw away the entire box."
"When she left we pulled it out and threw it in our donate bin."
"There have also been multiple times where mom’s order massive toys and when we bring them out to the car they get furious that they aren’t wrapped."
"We don’t offer wrapping services."
"Here’s the thing, if you don’t want your kids to see the toys you got them for Christmas or their bit to day DON'T BRING THE CHILD WHEN YOU PICK IT UP."
'I’ve had multiple women scream and curse me out that I had ruined their kids Christmas by bringing the toys they ordered out to the car like they requested."- clever-mermaid-mae
Customer Service Waiting GIF by Juno Calypso
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Happiest Place On Earth!
"I used to work for Disney."
"That in itself should tell you everything."
"However for fun I'll give you two specific stories one form our tech department and one from my wife who worked bookings."
"I specifically worked for their call center to help with technical issues with magic band and the website."
"Suddenly got worse huh?"
"A right of passage call everyone has at least one story of is the 'Dome call'."
"Basically there is a subset of Disney Guest (TM) that believes if it rains at Walt Disney world there is someone that will push a button to encapsulate the whole of Disney property in a dome to keep out the rain."
"I'm not kidding."
"If this button is not pushed they call our tech department to angrily ask why."
"My wife worked booking."
"Pretty much everything including Bibbidi Bobbidi boutique and Pirate's league."
"These two things did roughly the same thing difference being price and theme."
"BBB was expensive did more and was focused on princesses, pirates league did a bit less and focused on mermaids and pirates."
"Lady called up my wife, and got pissed about BBB being booked up (It goes FAAAAST)."
"Karen: 'Im going to give the phone to my daughter and I want you to tell her how you are ruining her vacation by not letting her do BBB'."
"Wife proceeds to explain how pirate's league is so much cooler and how she can be a mermaid or pirate and basically gets the kid to start demanding to their parents about how they want to be a mermaid instead of a princess."- trollsong
Disney World GIF
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The horror!
Being booked into a junior suite at Disney World instead of an executive suite!
It's almost as bad as having no money for groceries, or no food to feed you children...
Said absolutely no one.