History TearJerker / CriminalMinds

* ''Hanley Waters''. Sad in the parts revolving around the team elaborating grief for [[spoiler: the events of ''Lauren'']]. Sadder when the unsub has [[spoiler: her husband express his grief for their son's death]]. Extremely sad when the unsub finally breaks down when Hotch talks to her about [[spoiler: her child]].

*** This is made a million times more touching simply because of how REAL it is. For anyone who's ever had a friend in danger you can't contact, or a missing person... It just hit the nail on the head so devastatingly perfectly. This Troper nearly had a hyperventilating nervous breakdown because of that little bit there. And she's still waving a flashlight.

** And not much later...

-->'''Hotchner:''' Agent Prentiss will tell them. I can stay with you until you're ready.
-->'''Mrs. Cutler:''' I'd like that.

--->'''Jason Gideon:''' Yes sergeant... yes, the boy's all right"

** In the same episode Reid tells Morgan about a particularly cruel prank played on him high school; while in the library a girl told him that another girl, the prettiest in school, wanted to meet him later. Going to the meeting place Reid found the girls, the entire football team and several other students all there. Stripped naked, Reid was tied to the goal post and despite all his begging no one helped him. When he finally got loose around midnight and went home he discovered his mother, who was having one of her episodes, didn't even notice he was missing.

** Plus the part where the diabetic victim's husband shows up at her side as the paramedics prepare to load her up.

* "Uncanny Valley"
-->"Please don't leave me."

!!Season Three

* That one balloon during the speech in Seven Seconds was truly tearjerking.

* "Valhalla": Emily's interactions with her team, especially Garcia and Reid, and her tearful, surreptitious departure from the BAU.

** Garcia's voicemail to Prentiss, when she tells Emily that no matter how alone she feels, no matter how dark it is, the BAU is with her, "with guns and flashlights, screaming and shouting and showing you the way out".

** The last half of that episode may want to be included here. Particularly that one point where [[spoiler: Sarah Jean begs Gideon to let her be killed in the electric chair in order to giver her son, who she claimed she killed to protect him from her sadistic CompleteMonster husband, a better life.]] She stood for 15 years in prison and ''died'' to protect her son. This may be the most selfless act evident in the series to date.

"Revelations", just "Revelations". Especially for all the Spencer Reid fangirls out there who need to run and purchase a box of tissues whenever this episode comes on.

* Well, to start off, there's the ending of "Distress"

* The entire last half of "The Big Wheel" is one big tear jerker. Especially when Vincent gives the speech to Stan [[spoiler: before dying]],and when Stan finds out that [[spoiler: Vincent was the one who killed his mother,]] and how innocent and caring Vincent really is.

* "Lauren." Just..."Lauren." To explain, [[spoiler: Emily goes to confront Ian Doyle, a member of the IRA who has a grudge against her. The ending with the team in the hospital waiting room and then the funeral, hurts to watch.]]

* The entire last half of "The Big Wheel" is one big tear jerker. Especially when Vincent gives the speech to Stan [[spoiler: before dying]],and when Stan finds out that [[spoiler: Vincent was the one who killed his mother,]] and how innocent and caring Vincent really is.
** This becomes especially painful when you realise that Vincent was so traumatised by his mother's death that he was forced to relive it - to take on his father's role - over... and over... and over...
* Hotch watching Jack playing in the playground ''through a webcam'' in the beginning of "Reckoner". Oh, ''Hotch''.

* "True Night's" ending ("Hey, this is Vicky! I can't come to the phone right now because I'm out living my life!")

* "Elephant's Memory": The audience is led to believe that [[spoiler: a sympathetic, teenaged unsub is about to get cut to pieces in SuicideByCop]]. And then they start playing ''Johnny freaking Cash''.
** In the same episode Reid tells Morgan about a particularly cruel prank played on him high school; while in the library a girl told him that another girl, the prettiest in school, wanted to meet him later. Going to the meeting place Reid found the girls, the entire football team and several other students all there. Stripped naked, Reid was tied to the goal post and despite all his begging no one helped him. When he finally got loose around midnight and went home he discovered his mother, who was having one of her episodes, didn't even notice he was missing.
* "Ashes and Dust":
-->'''Doctor:''' I'm giving her as much painkiller as I can. She asked about her husband and son. She passed out again before I had to answer.
-->'''Prentiss:''' She doesn't know?
-->'''Doctor:''' Whatever you tell her, she won't live long enough to know different.

* "Amplification" has Reid leaving a recorded message for his mother to hear in the event that his being [[spoiler: infected with anthrax]] proves fatal. Understandably, he has trouble keeping it together, as does the audience.
--> '''Reid:''' Hi Mom, this is Spencer. I just, um, I just really want you to know that I love you and I, I need you to know that I spend every day of my life proud to be your son.

* The part when Hotch had to say goodbye to Jack at the end of "Nameless, Faceless."
* The last ten minutes of "Riding The Lightning".
--> '''Sarah Jean:''' If it's not too much to ask...I'd like your face to be the last one I see.
** The last half of that episode may want to be included here. Particularly that one point where [[spoiler: Sarah Jean begs Gideon to let her be killed in the electric chair in order to giver her son, who she claimed she killed to protect him from her sadistic CompleteMonster husband, a better life.]] She stood for 15 years in prison and ''died'' to protect her son. This may be the most selfless act evident in the series to date.
* Bit late to the party, but season three's "Seven Seconds" has a pretty major one when [[spoiler:they're trying to revive Katie Jacobs]]
** Not to mention the mother pleading over the mall intercom to get Katie back.

* "Revelations", just "Revelations". Especially for all the Spencer Reid fangirls out there who need to run and purchase a box of tissues whenever this episode comes on.
* The younger Unsub in "Open Season" [[spoiler: dying and Gideon comforting him]]. Him begging Gideon not to hurt his brother because he is all he has left and[[spoiler: him knowing his brother was shot and killed before dying himself]] was just heartwrenching.
** YMMV a ''lot''. Remember [[CompleteMonster he and his brother]] [[ForTheEvulz kidnapped, hunted and killed people in the woods]].
* That one balloon during the speach in Seven Seconds was truly tearjerking.

-->'''Megan Kane:''' You're the first man who didn't let me down. Will you stay with me?

* The younger Unsub in "Open Season" [[spoiler: dying and Gideon comforting him]]. Him begging Gideon not to hurt his brother because he is all he has left and his reaction to [[spoiler: his brother being killed before dying himself]] was just heartwrenching.