We all love Gensokyo too, Reimu...
- One of Sanae's fanon personalities is her being a sadist against youkai. Then we see her backstory in Part 7 which is utterly heartbreaking.
- Double points for managing this after Sanae crossed the Moral Event Horizon in her torture of Kogasa. The music through that whole episode, especially "The World of Midnight" doesn't make things better for the audiences.
- Made even worse by the fact that Sanae's soul is fouled and unable to rest properly because of Koakuma.
- Patchouli's My God, What Have I Done? moment after realizing that her blind trust towards Koakuma doomed Gensokyo. The poor girl ends up as an Empty Shell, forced to watch as her beloved friends are reduced to being Kaiju monsters that are slaughtered by the Lunarians.
- The Yakumos' plight in all of this, along with it being Nightmare Fuel.
- Cirno's last stand against Star Sapphire.
- The result of the Lunarians' atrocities and their impact to Gensokyo:
- Yorihime burns and stabs Reimu, then kills Remilia and Kanako in cold blood, and forces the injured Reimu to watch the whole thing while her shrine is ruined. Seeing Reimu on the brink of tears can be hard.
- The destruction of the Great Hakurei Barrier by the crazed Kaiju!Flandre, which marks the end of Gensokyo and the situation goes From Bad to Worse as all mutated Gensokyo folks no longer have safe haven and will be hunted down by the combined power of Outside World and Lunar Capital army.
- The battle between Kaiju!Suika and the Anti-Oni Vi-Joker is interjected with the flashback of Suika's life before all the madness started.
- While some deaths may be "acceptable" due to how powerful the adversaries are, Suwako (a legitimate Goddess) died because of despair, heartbreak and lack of faith. She was completely and utterly defeated without fighting a single battle, unable to avenge Sanae and Kanako.
- The moment when Yorihime fight against Kaiju!Reimu and Kaiju!Marisa in Episode 19 (7/9). When the remix of Love-coloured Magic starts playing, it is exceptionally heartwrenching because we know what will happen. Reimu's Final Speech makes it more bittersweet. If there is any consolation, they figuratively succeeded in avenging Gensokyo, at least the first important step for it.
- The interaction between Kaguya and Eirin in a flashback scene of Part 19 (8/9).
- The conclusion of Part 19 (8/9). Koishi tears open her third eye with a glass shard which enables her to "feel emotions" again, so she can understand Yukari's feelings. Their relationship went from trying to maim and kill each other, then working together to put a stop to Lunarians' plot (to no avail), and eventually living together as emotional supports for each other.
