History TearJerker / UruseiYatsura

* In one story (chapter 162/episode 77), Ataru mistakenly eats some food that Ran made for Rei that increased exponentially in size once inside the stomach, thus making him get incredibly sick. Lum enters an Alice in Wonderland-style realm to look for Ran to get an antidote, but Ataru's monitor flatlines before she does and Lum breaks down sobbing, thinking it's too late. Especially in the anime, where unlike the manga, we are not immediately shown what exactly happened, in the Ataru house, [[spoiler:the monitor was simply unplugged, and Ataru felt better]].
** The fact, that there was only one episode between anime version of this story and the very dark "And Then There Were None" episode, where all the Tomobiki gang, including Lum, put Ataru on the verge of a heart attack as a result of an overly elaborate prank (he got better, of course), makes it the more heartbreaking: if we don't give the [[ResetButton reset button]] trope the serious consideration it deserves, probably Lum has to cope with the fear of fatally losing her Darling twice in a very short period of time. For a comedy series, this feels very tough.

* In one story, Ataru mistakenly eats some food that Ran made for Rei that increased exponentially in size once inside the stomach, thus making him get incredibly sick. Lum enters an Alice in Wonderland-style realm to look for Ran to get an antidote, but Ataru's monitor flatlines before she does and Lum breaks down sobbing. [Fortunately, Ataru got better and the monitor was simply unplugged on his end.
** The fact that anime version of this story comes immediately after the infamous "And Then There Were None" episode, where all the Tomobiki gang, including Lum, put Ataru on the verge of a heart attack as a result of an overly elaborate prank (he got better, of course), makes it the more heartbreaking: if we don't give the [[ResetButton reset button]] trope the serious consideration it deserves, probably Lum has to cope with the fear of fatally losing her Darling twice in a very short period of time. For a comedy series, this feels very tough.

* The setup for the series in both the manga and the anime is really quite tragic, [[FridgeSadness when you stop and think about it]]: Ataru never even wanted to be engaged to Lum, but she [[AccidentalEngagement misunderstood something he said as a proposal]], and then basically ''blackmailed'' him into accepting her as his fiancee in exchange for her paying off an alien taxi cartel that would otherwise have stolen Earth's entire supply of oil -- something the world was blaming Ataru for despite it being ''Lum's stormtroopers'' who summoned the taxi drivers in the first place. This causes Ataru's long-time girlfriend Shinobu to give up on him, and Lum is constantly punishing Ataru for being unfaithful to her with [[ShockAndAwe painful electrical jolts]]. When she's not doing that, either she or her bratty baby cousin Jariten is causing trouble with their misused alien technology. All the while, people are either jealous over Ataru's unwanted engagement to Lum, or denouncing him as a loser and a pervert, with even his own ''parents'' [[AbusiveParents saying they wish they'd had a daughter or never had a child at all rather than have him]]. In many ways, his behavior feels almost like [[ThenLetMeBeEvil Ataru choosing to live down to their low opinions.

Despite being a comedy anime, some of the most memorable moments in ''Manga/UruseiYatsura'' are these tearjerkers.

* In one season finale, Ataru mistakenly eats some food that Ran made for Rei that increased exponentially in size once inside the stomach, thus making him get incredibly sick. Lum enters an Alice in Wonderland-style realm to look for Ran to get an antidote, but Ataru's monitor flatlines before she does and Lum breaks down sobbing. [[spoiler:Fortunately, Ataru got better and the monitor was simply unplugged on his end.]]
** The fact that this episode comes immediately after the infamous "And Then There Were None" episode, where all the Tomobiki gang, including Lum, [[spoiler:put Ataru on the verge of a heart attack as a result of an overly elaborate prank (he got better, of course)]], makes it the more heartbreaking: if we don't give the [[ResetButton reset button]] trope the serious consideration it deserves, [[spoiler:probably Lum has to cope with the fear of fatally losing her Darling twice in a very short period of time]]. For a comedy series, this feels very tough.
* Also from the "And Then There Were None" episode, Aturu is absolutely shattered at [[spoiler: Lum’s fake death, finding her body in the bathtub, screaming for her to come back.]] This was his emotional breaking point for the rest of the episode and just one more example of how deeply he loves Lum and can’t bear the thought of life without her.
-->'''Ataru''': [[spoiler:Gimme back my Lum!!]]
** The morning after [[spoiler: finding Lum’s “corpse”, he’s placed her in a bed and fell asleep next to her the night before while holding her hand.]]
* The episode Japanese viewers voted the best one features Ataru breaking down in tears in the middle of a dingy alley, clutching a small doll that Lum left behind when she suddenly left town. [[spoiler:She merely had to return to her home planet to renew her passport so she could continue living on Earth. But, it's the first time Ataru shows he truly loves Lum by just how much he misses her. Also, Lum bugged the doll so she was able to hear every word he said.]]

* One chapter/episode has Lum's horns growing larger after [[BizarreAlienBiology a cow bite]], leading her to believe she's turning into a cow and avoiding Ataru as a result. Once he finds out, he breaks down and promises to keep her around even if she is a cow. We later see him building a cow shed in the backyard, still crying in grief. [[spoiler:Of course, it turns out she's not turning into a cow at all; it's just a side effect of how Oni antibodies react to uncommon viruses.]]
* In hindsight, the way Ataru is treated by everyone. At the beginning of the series, he isn't ''that'' bad of a lech (he did grope Shinobu's ass, but they were talking marriage literally fifteen seconds earlier). He even '''''saved the world from an alien invasion'''''… but a single misunderstanding on ''Lum's part'' caused his fiancée to go back on her promise, and everyone else to call him an idiot and a parasite.
* In episode 51, [[MegaNeko Kotatsu-neko]] is outside in the cold when Ten drops by and offers him shelter at Ataru's house. After he occupies the staircase with Ataru's kotatsu and won't leave, even with Cherry and Sakura's expertise, it's eventually revealed why. [[spoiler:He was an ordinary stray cat whose attempts to warm himself up in any home's kotatsu invariably led to rejection. For example, [[KickTheDog a drunk couple tossed him aside and shooed him out]] ([[BadPeopleAbuseAnimals the wife even caused the poor guy to]] ''[[BadPeopleAbuseAnimals bleed]]''). [[HopeSpot He eventually found a female cat he admired in the home of a seemingly nice old lady allowing her to keep warm]]... only to turn out just as mean as everyone else and complain about how disheveled he is. [[FromBadToWorse Even worse, the female cat rejected him]]. From then on, [[ThenLetMeBeEvil he vowed to be a vengeful spirit haunting those who denied him warmth]].]]

** [[spoiler: The first dream.]] What is certain that you ''will'' grow old, and it's likely that you will outlive your spouse[[note]]In Japan, women [[https://www.nippon.com/en/features/h00250/life-expectancy-for-japanese-men-and-women-at-new-record-high.html tends to live longer than men]] and [[http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/handbook/pdf/2014all.pdf marry older men]][[/note]]. At that time, you mind fails to tell your grandson from your son. It is implied that Mrs. Moroboshi is still not relieved from the housewife's duty even then, either because the family still depends on her or because it has been ingrained too deep in her mind.
** [[spoiler: The second dream.]] You will be replaced by a younger housewife - your son's wife. Even if it means your burden is lessen a bit, you can't help but feel scared of being supplanted from the role you have got too accustomed to.
** [[spoiler: The third dream]] shows what Mrs. Moroboshi would do if she had the superpower to do whatever she wants. They are [[IJustWantToBeSpecial ridiculously crazy and self-indulgent]], but basically just an exaggerated version of [[IJustWantToBeYou what other characters in the show does every episode]].
** [[spoiler: The final dream]] reveals her deepest desire which is heartbreakingly normal: to live as herself and get [[DudeWheresMyRespect a bit of thank from others]].

Some of the most memorable moments in ''Manga/UruseiYatsura'' are these tearjerkers.

* Also from the "And Then There Were None" episode, Aturu is absolutely shattered at [[spoiler: Lum’s fake death and finding her body in the bathtub, screaming for her to come back.]]
-->'''Ataru''': [[spoiler:Give me back my Lum!!]]

** The fact that this episode comes immediately after the infamous "And There There Were None" episode, where all the Tomobiki gang, including Lum, [[spoiler:put Ataru on the verge of a heart attack as a result of an overly elaborate prank (he got better, of course)]], makes it the more heartbreaking: if we don't give the [[ResetButton reset button]] trope the serious consideration it deserves, [[spoiler:probably Lum has to cope with the fear of fatally losing her Darling twice in a very short period of time]]. For a comedy series, this feels very tough.

** The everyday morning starts with you getting out of bed before the rest of the family to prepare the breakfast. The only things that wake up before you are the household devices, from which you're NotSoDifferent. Your husband can afford the luxury of turning off the alarm for a little more sleep, you can't.

Some of the most memorable moments in the series are these.

** The fact that this episode comes inmediately after the infamous "And There There Were None" episode, where all the Tomobiki gang, including Lum, [[spoiler:put Ataru on the verge of a heart attack as a result of an overly elaborate prank (he got better, of course)]], makes it the more heartbreaking: if we don't give the [[ResetButton reset button]] trope the serious consideration it deserves, [[spoiler:probably Lum has to cope with the fear of fatally losing her Darling twice in a very short period of time]]. For a comedy series, this feels very tough.

* While still slapstick comedy, Mrs. Moroboshi's [[ADayInTheLimelight day in limelight]] episode 78 provides a surprisingly thought-provoking criticism of [[Housewife the traditional role assigned to Japanese women]]:

%%* While still slapstick comedy, Mrs. Moroboshi's [[ADayInTheLimelight day in limelight]] episode 78 provides a surprisingly thought-provoking criticism of [[Housewife the traditional role assigned to Japanese women]]:
%%** The everyday morning starts with you getting out of bed before the rest of the family to prepare the breakfast. The only things that wake up before you are the household devices, from which you're NotSoDifferent. Your husband can afford the luxury of turning off the alarm for a little more sleep, you can't.
%%** Once your husband is off to work and your kids are off for school, you're left with the unending task of keeping the house a proper living quarter, which is both physically and mentally demanding. Even if you do your best, someone is still unsastified. You become an uncouth person if your reject their demand, because what they see as a nice little bit of indulgence, only you know its detrimental consequence to the whole family's well-being.
%%** You only has a little break for yourself at the end of the day when you dunk yourself in the ''leftover'' [[FuroScene bathwater]], knowing that the routine will repeat tomorrow, and the day after that, and days after that, until your kids have their own family and your husband retires. ''Maybe'' then you will be able to rest. You go to bed after all others but not before checking for wrinkles in the mirror, wondering whether you have grown old.
%%** Your identity is "[Your husband]'s wife" and [Your kid]'s mom". After an unknown point, you can't even recognize your younger self.
%%** [[spoiler: The first dream.]] What is certain that you ''will'' grow old, and it's likely that you will outlive your spouse[[note]]In Japan, women [[https://www.nippon.com/en/features/h00250/life-expectancy-for-japanese-men-and-women-at-new-record-high.html tends to live longer than men]] and [[http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/handbook/pdf/2014all.pdf marry older men]][[/note]]. At that time, you mind fails to tell your grandson from your son. It is implied that Mrs. Moroboshi is still not relieved from the housewife's duty even then, either because the family still depends on her or because it has been ingrained too deep in her mind.
%%** [[spoiler: The second dream.]]

%%** Once your husband is off to work and your kids are off for school, you're left with the unending task of keeping the house a proper living quarter, which is both physically and mentally demanding. Even if you do your best, someone is still unsastified.
%%**

* In episode 51, [[MegaNeko Kotatsu-neko]] is outside in the cold when Ten drops by and offers him shelter at Ataru's house. After he occupies the staircase with Ataru's kotatsu and won't leave, even with Cherry and Sakura's expertise, it's eventually revealed why. [[spoiler:He was an ordinary stray cat whose attempts to warm himself up in any home's tokusatsu invariably led to rejection. For example, [[KickTheDog a drunk couple tossed him aside and shooED him out]] ([[BadPeopleAbuseAnimals the wife even caused the poor guy to]] ''[[BadPeopleAbuseAnimals bleed]]''). [[HopeSpot He eventually found a female cat he admired in the home of a seemingly nice old lady allowing her to keep warm]]... only to turn out just as mean as everyone else and complain about how disheveled he is. [[FromBadToWorse Even worse, the female cat rejected him]]. From then on, [[ThenLetMeBeEvil he vowed to be a vengeful spirit haunting those who denied him warmth]].]]

** For this troper, the fact that this episode comes inmediately after the infamous "And There There Were None" episode, where all the Tomobiki gang, including Lum, [[spoiler:put Ataru on the verge of a heart attack as a result of an overly elaborate prank (he got better, of course)]], makes it the more heartbreaking: if we don't give the [[ResetButton reset button]] trope the serious consideration it deserves, [[spoiler:probably Lum has to cope with the fear of fatally losing her Darling twice in a very short period of time]]. For a comedy series, this feels very tough.

** For this troper, the fact that this episode comes inmediately after the infamous "And There There Were None" episode, where all the Tomobiki gang, including Lum [[spoiler:put Ataru on the verge of a heart attack as a result of an overly elaborated prank (he got better, of course)]], makes it the more heartbreaking: if we don't take the [[ResetButton reset button]] trope into the serious consideration it deserves in this series, [[spoiler:probably Lum has to cope with the fear of fatally losing her Darling twice in a very short period of time]]. For a comedy series, this feels very tough.
* The most popular episode includes one where Ataru breaks down in tears in the middle of an alley, clutching a small doll that Lum left behind when she suddenly left town. [[spoiler:While she simply had to renew her passport to continue living on earth, it's the first instance where Ataru demonstrates he truly loves Lum by how much he misses her. Also, Lum bugged the doll so she was able to hear every word he said.]]
* Kitsune hears a fairy tale of a fox who defeats an Oni to rescue a girl trapped inside of a picture. When Kitsune next visits Tomobiki, one of the first things he finds is a photo of Shinobu. Having never seen a photo before, Kitsune believes she's trapped in the picture and his reaction is just heartbreaking.
* One of the manga chapters has Lum's horns growing larger thinking she's turning into a cow [[BizarreAlienBiology from a cow bite]] and avoids Ataru for a while. When Ataru finds out, he broke down in tears and promised to keep her around even if she turned into a cow and we later see him constructing a cow shed, still crying in grief. [[spoiler: Of course, it turns out it's just a reaction from Lum's antibodies, she's not actually going to turn into a cow.]]
* In hindsight, the way Ataru is treated by everyone. In the first chapters he wasn't ''that'' bad, and had even saved the world, but a single misunderstanding on ''Lum's part'' and the girlfriend who had promised to marry him went back on his promise and everyone else started treating him as an idiot and a parasite.

* One of the manga chapters has Lum's horns growing larger thinking she's turning into a cow [[BizarreAlienBiology from a cow bite]] and avoids Ataru for a while. When Ataru finds out, he broke down in tears and promised to keep her around even if she turned into a cow and we later see him constructing a cow shed, still crying in grief. [[spoiler: Of course, it turns out it's just a reaction from Lum's antibodies, she's not actually going to turn into a cow.]]

* One of the manga chapters has Lum's horns growing larger thinking she's turning into a cow [[BizzareAlienBiology from a cow bite]] and avoids Ataru for a while. When Ataru finds out, he broke down in tears and promised to keep her around even if she turned into a cow and we later see him constructing a cow shed, still crying in grief. [[spoiler: Of course, it turns out it's just a reaction from Lum's antibodies, she's not actually going to turn into a cow.]]

* Kitsune hears a fairy tale of a fox who defeats an Oni to rescue a girl trapped inside of a picture. When Kitsune next visits Tomobiki, one of the first things he finds is a photo of Shinobu. Having never seen a photo before, Kitsune believes she's trapped in the picture and his reaction is just heartbreaking.

** For this troper, the fact that this episode comes inmediately after the infamous "And There There Were None" episode, where all the Tomobiki gang, including Lum [[spoiler:put Ataru on the verge of a heart attack as a result of an overly elaborated prank. He got better, of course]], makes it the more heartbreaking: if we don't take the [[ResetButton reset button]] trope into the serious consideration it deserves in this series, [[spoiler:probably Lum has to cope with the fear of fatally losing her Darling twice in a very short period of time]]. For a comedy series, this feels very tough.

** For this troper, the fact that this episode comes inmediately after the infamous "And There There Were None" episode, where all the Tomobiki gang, including Lum [[spoiler:put Ataru on the verge of a heart attack as a result of a very eleborated prank. He got better, of course]], makes it the more heartbreaking: if we don't take the reset button trope into the serious consideration it deserves in this series, [[spoiler:probably Lum has to cope with the fear of fatally losing her Darling twice in a very short period of time]]. For a comedy series, this feels very tough.

Some of the most memorable moments in the series are these.
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* Ataru's class is raising caterpillars and, despite an overly large and ugly one eating all of the food, Ataru spends the entire episode working with Lum to keep the rest of the class from hurting it, believing it will become a beautiful butterfly. At the end, it turns out to be a fairy whose first words to Lum and Ataru are, "Mama! Papa! Thank you for believing in me."
* In one season finale, Ataru mistakenly eats some food that Ran made for Rei that increased exponentially in size once inside the stomach, thus making him get incredibly sick. Lum enters an Alice in Wonderland-style realm to look for Ran to get an antidote, but Ataru's monitor flatlines before she does and Lum breaks down sobbing. [[spoiler:Fortunately, Ataru got better and the monitor was simply unplugged on his end.]]
* The most popular episode includes one where Ataru breaks down in tears in the middle of an alley, clutching a small doll that Lum left behind when she suddenly left town. [[spoiler:While she simply had to renew her passport to continue living on earth, it's the first instance where Ataru demonstrates he truly loves Lum by how much he misses her. Also, Lum bugged the doll so she was able to hear every word he said.]]
* Kitsune hears a fairy tale of a fox who defeats an oni to rescue a girl trapped inside of a picture. When Kitsune next visits Tomobiki, one of the first things he finds is a photo of Shinobu. Having never seen a photo before, Kitsune believes she's trapped in the picture and his reaction is just heartbreaking.

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