The poor, poor Minions really had it rough before Gru came into the picture. Throughout almost the whole movie, they were sad about losing boss after boss to various tragic accidents—or in Scarlet's case, just plain not liking them.
In the mall, Bob thinks he sees the rest of the minion tribe in a room full of mirrors and is overjoyed to see "them." He then realizes that he's seeing his own reflections and becomes overwhelmingly sad, also realizing how much he misses them. The transition of Bob's face from looking overjoyed to being downright devastated just makes you want to cry for him.
The scene where Kevin, Stuart and Bob are put in the dungeon by Scarlet Overkill.
Scarlet Overkill: I don't want you to take this the wrong way. But I hate you. I thought I could get over what you did. But I feel so betrayed. I think, yes, I think we're gonna have to break up. And it's not you. Oh wait, hold on, it is you. It's one hundred percent you. So, get comfortable, Minions. Get real, real comfortable. Because this is where you're going to spend the rest of your worthless little lives.
Bob's crying and the grief of the Minions in general about Kevin (supposedly) being blown up.
When Walter is crying with the Minions.
Despite Scarlet hating the Minions and trying to kill them all, she's devastated by the end of the film. They took away everything she had, her resources and her reputation. And when she makes a last-minute attempt to take her crown, Gru freezes her and takes her crown. She's really upset when the Minions cheer Gru on as a new boss, and realizes her supervillain career is finished. A tragic end to someone who set out to be the world's first female supervillainess, even if much of it was on her own head.
