History TearJerker / TheRenAndStimpyShow

* The shot of Stimpy waving goodbye from the dog pound cell in "Big House Blues", where it's underscored by a particularly forlorn arrangement of "The Polovtsian Dances."

'''Stimpy''': (''crying hard'') I WANT REN!!! WWWAAAAAAUUGGH!!! WWWAAAAAAAAUUUGGH!!!

* A meta example: After the scandals of John K's. sexual abuse coming to light in 2018, Nickelodeon has removed every online mention of the show as well as yanking its reruns from Creator/NickRewind and all of their online streaming services, [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes meaning the show is now impossible to see unless you already have it on home video or see it online through piracy]], [[ExiledFromContinuity and possibly permanently due to the very rocky history of the franchise, from Nickelodeon firing John K. to]] [[FranchiseKiller "Adult Party Cartoon" killing any chance Ren & Stimpy could have had at a revival/reboot in the first place]] ([[AndTheFandomRejoiced although a reboot was eventually announced in 2020]]). Considering that the show is one of Nickelodeon's most iconic and influential series and is considered by many as one of the best cartoons of all time, Nickelodeon snuffing the show out entirely is considered a huge gut punch to many fans. However, the show did [[SubvertedTrope eventually return to NickRewind]] later that year, but it's anyone's guess how long it will remain.

* A meta example: After the scandals of John K's. sexual abuse coming to light in 2018, Nickelodeon has removed every online mention of the show as well as yanking its reruns from Creator/NickRewind and all of their online streaming services, [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes meaning the show is now impossible to see unless you already have it on home video or see it online through piracy]], [[ExiledFromContinuity and possibly permanently due to the very rocky history of the franchise, from Nickelodeon firing John K. to]] [[FranchiseKiller "Adult Party Cartoon" killing any chance Ren & Stimpy could have had at a revival/reboot in the first place]] ([[MoodWhiplash although a reboot was eventually announced in 2020]]). Considering that the show is one of Nickelodeon's most iconic and influential series and is considered by many as one of the best cartoons of all time, Nickelodeon snuffing the show out entirely is considered a huge gut punch to many fans. However, the show did [[SubvertedTrope eventually return to NickRewind]] later that year, but it's anyone's guess how long it will remain.

* A meta example: After the scandals of John K's. sexual abuse coming to light in 2018, Nickelodeon has removed every online mention of the show as well as yanking its reruns from Creator/NickRewind and all of their online streaming services, [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes meaning the show is now impossible to see unless you already have it on home video or see it online through piracy]], [[ExiledFromContinuity and possibly permanently due to the very rocky history of the franchise, from Nickelodeon firing John K. to]] [[FranchiseKiller "Adult Party Cartoon" killing any chance Ren & Stimpy could have had at a revival/reboot in the first place.]] Considering that the show is one of Nickelodeon's most iconic and influential series and is considered by many as one of the best cartoons of all time, Nickelodeon snuffing the show out entirely is considered a huge gut punch to many fans. However, the show did [[SubvertedTrope eventually return to NickRewind]] later that year, but it's anyone's guess how long it will remain.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_top_10_saddest_episodes_from_cartoons_1_13996_1378404333_21_big.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Even the most comical duo have their moments of despondence.]]

* Stimpy running away in tears after being harassed by bullies ("the big mean giants", as he calls them) for his short stature in comparison to their mammoth height in "The Littlest Giant". [[MoodWhiplash It wasn't very uplifting back then]], [[HarsherInHindsight and it's only gotten more depressing over time]] now that bullying victims are likely to do the same (or [[DrivenToSuicide worse]])[[note]]Poor Stimpy can't even mail the letter he wrote to his "dearest friends", only being able to [[CrazyConsumption eat the letter]] instead.[[/note]] And having "Clair De Lune" as the background music only cements the emotional impact.

* A meta example: After the scandals of John K's. sexual abuse coming to light in 2018, Nickelodeon has removed every online mention of the show as well as yanking its reruns from Creator/NickRewind and all of their online streaming services, [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes meaning the show is now impossible to see unless you already have it on home video or see it online through piracy]], [[ExiledFromContinuity and possibly permanently due to the very rocky history of the franchise, from Nickelodeon firing John K. to]] [[FranchiseKiller "Adult Party Cartoon" killing any chance Ren & Stimpy could have had at a revival/reboot in the first place.]] Considering that the show is one of Nickelodeon's most iconic and influential series and is considered by many as one of the best cartoons of all time, Nickelodeon snuffing the show out entirely is considered a huge gut punch to many fans. However, the show did [[SubvertedTrope eventually return to The Splat]] later that year, but it's anyone's guess how long it will remain.

* A meta example: After the scandals of John K's. sexual abuse coming to light in 2018, Nickelodeon has removed every online mention of the show as well as yanking its reruns from Creator/TheSplat and all of their online streaming services, [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes meaning the show is now impossible to see unless you already have it on home video or see it online through piracy]], [[ExiledFromContinuity and possibly permanently due to the very rocky history of the franchise, from Nickelodeon firing John K. to]] [[FranchiseKiller "Adult Party Cartoon" killing any chance Ren & Stimpy could have had at a revival/reboot in the first place.]] Considering that the show is one of Nickelodeon's most iconic and influential series and is considered by many as one of the best cartoons of all time, Nickelodeon snuffing the show out entirely is considered a huge gut punch to many fans. However, the show did [[SubvertedTrope eventually return to The Splat]] later that year, but it's anyone's guess how long it will remain.

* Even though John K. was on record saying that the show only went for "fake pathos", quite a few fans would dare say the ending to "Fake Dad" accidentally earns the real thing: [[BrokenRecord GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! DADDY! DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY!]]

* "Fake Dad:" [[BrokenRecord GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! DADDY! DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY!]]
-->'''Ren:''' ''*sobbing*''' Goodbye, baby.

* It's very brief, but in "Stimpy's Invention", the [[http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/speedyboris/renandstimpy/stimpysinvention-16-300x226_zpscd7473c6.jpg face]] Stimpy makes after his first attempt to make the happy helmet fails is quite sad to look at.

-->'''Ren:''' "Looooove"--it says "love"--"Your pal...''[[WhamLine S-Stimpy]]''"? (''turns to Stimpy, who, in spite of the beating, is trying his best to smile for his best friend. Ren quivers as he realizes [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone what an ass he made of himself]]'') Oh Stimpy...[[BreakTheHaughty I'm so ashamed...]]\\

* At the end of ''Stimpy's Fan Club'', Ren is so happy to finally have a fan letter that he slowly reads it to Stimpy as he beats him, wanting to rub in the fact that he finally has a fan out there. But when he gets to the final line:
-->'''Ren:''' "Looooove"--it says "love"--"Your pal...''[[WhamLine S-Stimpy]]''"? ''(Turns to Stimpy, who, in spite of the beating, is trying his best to smile for his best friend. Ren quivers as he realizes [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone what an ass he made of himself]].)'' Oh Stimpy...[[BreakTheHaughty I'm so ashamed...]]
-->'''Stimpy:''' [[FanOfTheUnderdog I meant every word]]. ''(Hugs a sobbing Ren)'' There, there, Ren. [[SuddenlyShouting THERE, THERE.]]

-->'''Muddy Mudskipper''': Hey kid, I don't get it. You got it made! You got forty-seven million dollars. You got ''my'' TV contract. What '''more''' could you possibly want?
-->'''Stimpy''': ''(crying hard)'' "I WANT REN!!! WWWAAAAAAUUGGH!!! WWWAAAAAAAAUUUGGH!!!"

* Stimpy's dream from "Insomniac Ren" has sad for two reasons: Firstly, it's pretty similar to what a lot of people in abusive relationships go through. Secondly, it shows that Ren's cruelty really is taking a toll on Stimpy's subconsciousness.

* "Son of Stimpy": Say what you will about the absurd premise or even John K. himself, there's something to be said about making the audience feel for basically what is a sentient fart and Stimpy treating it like a child he birthed. Ironically, the episode is intended to be a deconstruction of what he called "fake pathos" (ie, that getting an audience to cry, for a whole movie or even just two scenes, can be done with anything regardless of how substantial it is, citing Disney/{{Bambi}}'s mother getting shot as an example), but even those who believe it succeeded at it's intended purpose have said that it also succeeds at ''actual'' pathos.

-->'''Ren:''' "Looooove"--it says "love"--"Your pal...''[[ShockingSwerve S-Stimpy]]''"? ''(Turns to Stimpy, who, in spite of the beating, is trying his best to smile for his best friend. Ren quivers as he realizes [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone what an ass he made of himself]].)'' Oh Stimpy...[[BreakTheHaughty I'm so ashamed...]]

For a comedy show that's packed to the brim with gross-out humor and ComedicSociopathy, ''Ren and Stimpy'' actually has moments that will make you cry.[[note]]Even when they're [[Recap/RenandStimpy2x07SonofStimpy part of the gag]], [[DudeNotFunny and/or are otherwise]] [[DeconstructiveParody not]] [[{{Squick}} supposed to]].[[/note]]

* When Ren loses all his teeth in ''Ren's Toothache'', the beaver inside his mouth leaves, and the flies around Stimpy's litter box depart as well, remarking what a horrible stench it is. Poor Ren is left in tears.

* The episode "Aloha Hoek", where Ren and Stimpy get stuck on a desert island. They quarrel and Ren drives Stimpy from their shelter (a whale carcass) into the jungle where he befriends the natives. Ren however is convinced they are cannibals that ate Stimpy and secludes himself, sobbing in remorse. A family of crabs enslave Ren and he uses their pet fly to escape, but it falls into the sea and he drowns. The fly carried Ren's body to a horrified Stimpy, [[DiedInYourArmsTonight who cradles it in his arms]].

** [[spoiler:[[DeusExMachina Then Ren & Stimpy are revealed to be Soviet spies and they leave the island on a submarine. Yeah.]]]]

** According to one account in ''Sick Little Monkeys'', after John K. was fired, he pitched this episode to Vanessa Coffey, hoping she'd let him stay on long enough to produce it. She was in tears by the end of it and agreed.

* "Son of Stimpy": Say what you will about the absurd premise or even John K. himself, there's something to be said about making the audience feel for basically what is a sentient fart and Stimpy treating it like a child he birthed. Ironically, the episode is intended to be a deconstruction of what he called "fake pathos" (ie, that getting an audience to cry, for a whole movie or even just two scenes, can be done with anything regardless of how substantial it is, citing Disney/{{Bambi}}'s mother getting shot as an example), but even those who believe it succeeded at it's intended purpose have said that the emotions in it are just as real as the cartoons it's mocking and is just as sad.
** According to one account in ''Sick Little Monkeys'', John K. managed to convince Vanessa Coffee to let him stay on the show long enough to produce this episode by pitching it to her in one of their last meetings. She was in tears by the end of it.

* "Son of Stimpy": As sick as it is, you have to give props to John K. (no matter how much you love or hate the man) for making the audience feel for basically what is a sentient fart and Stimpy treating it like a child he birthed. Ironically, he only made this episode, and made it the way he did, in order to prove a point about the nature of tearjerkers,[[note]]Namely, his point about "fake pathos", and how easy he feels it is to make a tear jerker (whether it's a whole movie or just one or two scenes) around something that he feels has little to no real substance (he cites Disney/{{Bambi}}'s mother getting shot as an example).[[/note]] but many fans thought it was legit gut punch.

* A meta example: After the scandals of John K's. sexual abuse coming to light in 2018, Nickelodeon has removed every online mention of the show as well as yanking its reruns from Creator/TheSplat and all of their online streaming services, [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes meaning the show is now impossible to see unless you already have it on home video or see it online through piracy]], [[ExiledFromContinuity and possibly permanently due to the very rocky history of the franchise, from Nickelodeon firing John K. to]] [[FranchiseKiller "Adult Party Cartoon" killing any chance Ren & Stimpy could have had at a revival/reboot.]] Considering that the show is one of Nickelodeon's most iconic and influential series and is considered by many as one of the best cartoons of all time, Nickelodeon snuffing the show out entirely is a huge gut punch to many fans.

* A meta example: After the scandals of John K's. sexual abuse coming to light in 2018, Nickelodeon has removed every online mention of the show as well as yanking its reruns from Creator/TheSplat and all of their online streaming services, [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes meaning the show is now impossible to see unless you already have it on home video or see it online through piracy.]] Considering that the show is one of Nickelodeon's most iconic and influential series and is considered by many as one of the best cartoons of all time, Nickelodeon snuffing the show out entirely is a huge gut punch to many fans.

* A meta example: After the scandals of John K's. sexual abuse coming to light in 2018, Nickelodeon has removed every mention of the show as well as reruns on Creator/NickSplat and all of their online streaming services, [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes meaning the show is now impossible to see unless you already have it on home video or see it online through piracy.]] Considering that the show is one of Nickelodeon's most iconic and influential series and is considered by many as one of the best of all time, Nickelodeon snuffing the show out entirely is a huge gut punch to many fans.

* It's very brief, but the [[http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/speedyboris/renandstimpy/stimpysinvention-16-300x226_zpscd7473c6.jpg face]] Stimpy makes after his first attempt to make the happy helmet fails is quite sad to look at.

* "Son of Stimpy": As sick as it is, you have to give props to John K. (no matter how much you love or hate the man) for making the audience feel for basically what is a sentient fart and Stimpy treating it like a child he birthed. Ironically, he only made this episode, and made it the way he did, in order to prove a point about the nature of tearjerkers.[[note]]Namely, his point about "fake pathos", and how easy he feels it is to make a tear jerker (whether it's a whole movie or just one or two scenes) around something that he feels has little to no real substance (he cites Disney/{{Bambi}}'s mother getting shot as an example).[[/note]]

** Stimpy finally cracking and realizing he missed Ren.

* "Fake Dad:" [[BrokenRecord GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY! GOODBYE DADDY!]]

** Ren crying and missing Stimpy, and finding Stimpy's catnip mouse and hairballs on the floor.

-->'''Stimpy''': "I WANT REN!!! WWWAAAAAAUUGGH!!! WWWAAAAAAAAUUUGGH"

* Not an in-show example, but when John K. posted the news of Michael Pataki's death, he posted with it a picture of a tearful Ren and Stimpy with the words "Goodbye, Our Kind and Beloved Master", with Ren [[CrossesTheLineTwice still holding the oar from "Man's Best Friend"]].