History TearJerker / TheThickOfIt

*** Peter, one of the grouchies, most sarcastic characters in the show, also looks hurt when Glenn reveals his disdain for him. Rather than insulting him back, he's just silent. Tellingly, he's the one who asks if anyone should follow Glenn and check on him.

** What makes this sadder is that Glenn was one of the few characters Malcolm was somewhat nice to, being sympathetic to his meltdown and sincerely apologising for hitting him. Now, he holds him in such contempt that he can't be bothered to even insult.

* Malcolm's gradual deterioration throughout the season.

* Glenn's breakdown in Spinners and Losers.

* At the Inquiry, the way Glenn apologizes for bringing Ollie into politics.
* The series' [[DownerEnding Downer Ending]], with [[BreakTheCutie Nicola destroyed]], [[AlasPoorVillain Malcolm being forced to resign and facing a possible prison sentence]], [[FaceHeelTurn Ollie having pretty much sold his soul]], [[DumbAssHasAPoint Stewart being sacked]] and [[OnlySaneMan Glenn quitting as a last effort to redeem himself]].

* The look on Terri's face when Glenn calls her useless. She was probably the only person in the office that liked him and looks very hurt by it.

* Watching Nicola's many failures, and the cruel treatment she receives from Malcolm throughout the series, even if it's [[JerkassHasAPoint justified for the most part]].
** Especially the heartbroken way she says "You're not gonna try and talk me down off the ledge, are you? Because I'm so tired, and the pavement just looks like a warm, splatty bed right now" to Ollie after Ben resigns.

* Ollie's [[FaceHeelTurn Face Heel Turn]] in Season Four, from helping Malcolm sabotage Nicola, to utterly betraying Glenn, made worse by the moments when he seems to be uncomfortable before he just keeps going.
** Made even worse by the fact that he appears to be crying in 4.04 after ruining Nicola's career.
* Malcolm's career falling apart in seasons three and four.

-->'''Malcolm:''' I'm as dead as fucking two-tone. But I can fashion my own exit.
-->'''Ollie:''' What, you're gonna fly yourself to Switzerland and have a wank off a nurse and a bye-bye pill are you?
-->'''Malcolm:''' Funny, funny man. ''Political'' exit. I'm going to leave the stage with my head held high. What you are going to see is a masterclass in fucking dignity, son. The audience will be on their feet. "There he goes," they'll say. "No friends, no real friends, no children, no glory, no memoirs." Well, fuck them.

*** The final line in the show sums it up perfectly: "What a shit day."

-->'''Malcolm:''' "I'm as dead as fucking two-tone. But I can fashion my own exit."
-->'''Ollie:''' "What, you're gonna fly yourself to Switzerland and have a wank off a nurse and a bye-bye pill are you?"
-->'''Malcolm:''' "Funny, funny man. ''Political'' exit. I'm going to leave the stage with my head held high. What you are going to see is a masterclass in fucking dignity, son. The audience will be on their feet. "There he goes," they'll say. "No friends, no real friends, no children, no glory, no memoirs." Well, fuck them."

* [[spoiler: Malcolm's gradual deterioration]] throughout the season.
* [[spoiler: Ollie's [[FaceHeelTurn Face Heel Turn]]]] in Season Four, [[spoiler: from helping Malcolm sabotage Nicola, to utterly betraying Glenn, made worse by the moments when he seems to be uncomfortable before he just keeps going.]]
** Made even worse by the fact that he appears to be [[spoiler:crying]] in 4.04 after [[spoiler:ruining Nicola's career]].
* [[spoiler: Malcolm's career falling apart]] in seasons three and four.

** Especially the heartbroken way she says [[spoiler: "You're not gonna try and talk me down off the ledge, are you? Because I'm so tired, and the pavement just looks like a warm, splatty bed right now"]] to Ollie after [[spoiler: Ben resigns]].
* In season four, [[spoiler: Glenn's efforts to try and get back into the party, and the way Malcolm turns a begging Glenn down and Ollie just watches.]]

* The series' [[DownerEnding Downer Ending]], with [[spoiler: [[BreakTheCutie Nicola destroyed]], [[AlasPoorVillain Malcolm being forced to resign and facing a possible prison sentence]], [[FaceHeelTurn Ollie having pretty much sold his soul]], [[DumbAssHasAPoint Stewart being sacked]] and [[OnlySaneMan Glenn quitting as a last effort to redeem himself]]]].
** [[spoiler:Malcolm's]] exit.

*** And then there's Glenn's exit. While simultaneously [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome awesome]], it's still most likely in vain because [[spoiler: he's probably going to end up following Malcolm to jail]].
*** The final line in the show sums it up perfectly: [[spoiler: "What a shit day."]]

*** And then there's Glenn's exit. While simultaneously [[AwesomeMoments awesome]], it's still most likely in vain because [[spoiler: he's probably going to end up following Malcolm to jail]].

*** The final line in the show sums it up perfectly: [[spoiler: "What a shitty day."]]

--->"No, I want to say something, I want to say something." A long pause. "Doesn't matter." And then we're treated to a long close-up of his face with an "I'm fucked" look.

* Watching Nicola's many failures, and the cruel treatment she receives from Malcolm throughout the series.

--->"No, I want to say something, I want to say something." A long pause. "Doesn't matter."
** Also, the final scene is rather wistful, in its way. Everything just carries on.

--->"No, I want to say something, I want to say something." A long pause. "Doesn't matter."

* The series' [[DownerEnding Downer Ending]], with [[spoiler: [[BreakTheCutie Nicola destroyed]], [[AlasPoorVillain Malcolm being forced to resign and facing a possible prison sentence]], [[FaceHeelTurn Ollie having pretty much sold his soul]], [[DumbAssHasAPoint Stewart being sacked]] and [[OnlySaneMan Glenn quitting as a last effort to redeem himself]]]].

* At the Inquiry, the way Glenn apologizes for bringing Ollie into politics.

* The series' [[DownerEnding Downer Ending]], with [[spoiler: [[BreakTheCutie Nicola destroyed]], [[AlasPoorVillain Malcolm being forced to resign and facing a possible prison sentence]], [[FaceHeelTurn Ollie having pretty much sold his soul]], [[DumbAssHasAPoint Stewart being sacked]] and [[OnlySaneMan Glenn quitting as a last effort to redeem himself]]]]. Although some may find it darkly hilarious, the show's final line really hits home how bleak the ending is.
->''"What a shit day!."''

* The series' [[DownerEnding Downer Ending]], with [[spoiler: [[BreakTheCutie Nicola destroyed]], [[AlasPoorVillain Malcolm being forced to resign and doing his best to do it with dignity]], [[FaceHeelTurn Ollie having pretty much sold his soul]], [[DumbAssHasAPoint Stewart being sacked]] and [[OnlySaneMan Glenn quitting as a last effort to redeem himself]]]].

* The series' [[DownerEnding Downer Ending]], with [[spoiler: Nicola destroyed, Malcolm being forced to resign and doing his best to do it with dignity, Ollie having pretty much sold his soul, Stewart being sacked and Glenn quitting as a last effort to redeem himself]].

* [[spoiler: Ollie's [[FaceHeelTurn Face Heel Turn]]]] in Season Four, [[spoiler: from helping Malcolm sabotage Nicola to utterly betraying Glenn, made worse by the moments when he seems to be uncomfortable before he just keeps going.]]