History TearJerker / TransformersPrime

** On a more meta level for the episode, the dedication at the end of the episode to the late Captain H.L. Larry Cullen, brother of Creator/PeterCullen, ShellShockedVeteran of UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, and the inspiration for the voice of Optimus Prime. Truly understated. His influence on the series is not often thought of, but is truly incalculable. Before Peter auditioned for Optimus, Larry told him, "Don't be a tough hero; you are strong enough to be gentle."

** Smokescreen himself has a moment of genuine sadness when he admits that he's unaware of Alpha Trion's ultimate fate. He tries to cover it up seconds later, and is pretty good about not bringing it up anymore. But you can tell his failure to protect his mentor dose weigh on him more than he'll admit.

** Ultra Magnus deserves some sympathy here too. Because of his status as the leader of the Elite Guard, combined with demeanor, he has been having trouble adjusting to Team Prime, resulting in him essentially alienating himself from them. This is shown when he tries scolding the other Autobots for one reason or another when Optimus is away. When he returns, everyone happily rushes to get away from the commander (greeting Optimus as an excuse). Optimus looks up to see Magnus awkwardly standing alone far in the back. The thing that really drives it home is the fact that Prime ''himself'' obviously feels sympathy for Magnus.
*** What hurts even more about this is the fact that Magnus is aware of this, too. It's not that he's unwilling to change, he genuinely ''doesn't know how'', as being strict and by-the-book is essentially all he knows, and it's not doing him any favors with the more unorthodox team.

* In ''Thirst'', Silas, the vile, murderous terrorist who tormented Autobots and Decepticons alike, ends up as a heavily tortured guinea pig for Knock Out's synthen experiments. It's initially [[AssholeVictim satisfying to watch]], but by the time Airachnid kills him, he's outright grateful, the one time he showed any genuine humanity. Even if Cylas was an amoral scumbag,the thought of losing your humanity in a horrific accident, going mad with power,and then getting tortured to the point of suicide is truly horrible.

** At the beginning of the episode, everything is business as usual at the Autobot base. Optimus is out so Ultra Magnus starts trying to scold the other bots for one reason or another. When Optimus returns everyone rushes to get away from the commander (greeting Optimus as an excuse). Optimus looks up to see Magnus awkwardly standing alone far in the back. The thing that really drives it home is the fact that Prime ''himself'' obviously feels sympathy for Magnus.

*** [[HeroicSacrifice They will never]] [[HarsherInHindsight see him again.]]
*** But [[WesternAnimation/TransformersRobotsInDisguise he gets better.]]
*** Yes but none of the humans from Prime appear, meaning that the first statement stands, the humans do never see Optimus again, indeed it's implied that because of the new council prevent Team Prime from returning to earth, so the humans never see any of the Autobots again, and don't know why.

* Episode 22- Ratchet confessing his sins while almost bleeding to death.

--> '''Ultra Magnus''' [[ItHasBeenAnHonor It's been an honor serving alongside you]], soldier...

* Arcee's [[NightmareFuel terrifying]] flashback in "Predatory" of Tailgate's murder at the hands of Airachnid, especially the part when she helplessly cries his name after he gets killed.

*** [[HeroicSacrifice They will never [[HarsherInHindsight see him again.]]]]

** You'll notice during the same scene that even [[TokenEvilTeammate Knock Out [[BecomingTheMask looked devastated]].]]

*** [[spoiler: At the end of the series, Bumblebee finally does just that.]]

* The end of "One Shall Rise, Part 3". [[spoiler:For using the Matrix to take Unicron down, Optimus is completely unable to remember his life, save for his time as Orion Pax.]] Megatron tells him the Autobots are his mortal enemies and then summons a [=GroundBridge=] to the ''Nemesis''. Before Optimus goes through, he sees the faces of the other Autobots, and is completely unable to recognise them. Bumblebee's face is once again the saddest part.

* Seeing the BandOfBrothers [[spoiler: broken into an arguing mess after losing Optimus is a tear jerker in a "man, they really did need him" sort of way.]]
* Arcee's reaction to [[spoiler:being back on her dead homeworld of Cybertron and seeing the ruins of its pre-war civilization]] was extremely powerful.
--> '''Arcee''': [[spoiler:This isn't how I wanted you to see my home.]]
* The way [[spoiler:Orion Pax is treated throughout "Orion Pax, Part 3", culminating in him being beaten up by two Vehicons who talk about how good it feels, ''while he's preaching to their better nature''.]] This leads to a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome (and a possible [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments Moment Of Funny]]) when [[spoiler:Orion realizes that he has guns and kills the Vehicons.]]
** To elaborate on his treatment a little further: he's eventually [[spoiler:forced to work at gunpoint, tries to reason with the Vehicons for the sake of others' safety, gets beaten up for his efforts and doesn't fight back (believing himself to be unarmed), then briefly pleads with them to stop before he finds his guns]]. Simply seeing [[spoiler:the normally strong, in-control and completely badass leader of the Autobots]] reduced to begging fearfully, however briefly, will certainly strike the heart of any ''Transformers'' fan.

* "Crossfire" gives us [[spoiler: Breakdown]]'s death, which manages to be horrific and heartbreaking at the same time. His arm is pinned with webbing and [[spoiler: Airachnid viciously tears him apart offscreen. What makes it so sad is that Breakdown was a relatively decent villain who treated his underlings well and, while a boisterous brute, generally avoided kicking the dog.]] The worst part of all, though, is that [[spoiler: MECH rebuilds and eventually uses his corpse to use as a mech suit for a heavily injured Silas later in the season.]] Even [[spoiler:Breakdown]] deserved better than that.

* In "Toxicity", Bulkhead [[spoiler: slowly dying while trying to destroy the Tox-En]] throughout the episode can be pretty hard to watch. Also [[spoiler: Hardshell's seemingly fatal attack at the end, leaving his fate uncertain]].
** Bulkhead's flashbacks. [[spoiler:At the time, they made fans believe that ''Toxicity'' was going to be his last episode.]]
* The ending of "Hurt" with Miko [[spoiler: sitting atop the alive, but most likely permanently damaged Bulkhead]].
** And just before that, Wheeljack takes off [[spoiler: because he can't stand to see Bulkhead like that, despite still being badly wounded from his fight with Hardshell.]]
** Then they twisted the knife; the camera [[spoiler: zooms in on Bulkhead's face, as if to show that his eyes are going to open again and everything will just revert to normal. They ''don't'' open...]]

* In "The Human Factor", [[spoiler:Smokescreen offers the Apex Armor to Bulkhead in an effort to help him recover. Bulkhead immediately rages and smashes one of Ratchet's monitors in anger.]] Of course, [[ReversePsychology that was the point]].
** Knock Out's initial reaction to meeting [[spoiler:Breakdown!Silas]], he goes from happiness, to concern, to rage.

* In "Hard Knocks", Arcee chewing Smokescreen out yet again. To the point that [[spoiler:Smokescreen promptly does a RageQuit]].
* Optimus's cry to the heavens in "Inside Job" after [[spoiler:Starscream successfully makes off with the Omega Keys]]. We've never seen him suffer a complete breakdown and lose his cool until now.

* Dreadwing's calm resignation towards [[spoiler: the inevitability of his death]] as he sets forth to avenge his brother Skyquake's disgrace at the hands of Starscream; handing in The Forge of Solus Prime to Optimus Prime (whom he knows will bring peace and justice to Cybertron) as a final point of no-return. Though a warrior defined by honor and loyalty, family was more important still. [[spoiler: What a terrible waste that such a noble spirit had become a Decepticon.]]
** Part TearJerker, part NightmareFuel: when the Decepticons [[spoiler:capture the human children and threaten to kill them via Cybertron's toxic atmosphere, Jack and Raf look absolutely terrifed.]] Miko, for her part, just looks pissed off, which is kind of [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome badass]] of her.

** Even if he wasn't there and is just lashing out, you have to feel bad for Ratchet as he [[spoiler:laments the permanent loss of Cybertron]].

** Made all the worse by the fact that he isn't just lashing out...his grief is a palpable thing, and very, very raw. When the Autobots are [[spoiler:departing through the ground bridge]], Ratchet doesn't even look back.

** [[spoiler:The evacuation of the Autobot base.]] It especially hits home when you see [[spoiler: the look Miko gives Jack. Whenever ''[[GenkiGirl Miko]]'' has her spirits crushed, you can't help but feel your own following along...]]
** [[spoiler: Starscream shoots down the Jackhammer. While Wheeljack has survived being shot down before, the way Starscream snarls the victory is brutal and saddening. Wheeljack might have been a loner, but he bought the team precious time to evacuate, and even rescued Fowler in the fighting.]]
** Starscream, of all 'bots, gets a moment just after the Autobots escape back to Earth. The look on his face when he takes in the fact that [[spoiler:his home may now be permanently dead]]. Then he starts screaming about how Optimus will pay for [[spoiler:dooming Cybertron.]] No boasting or bragging, no snide remarks...he was just plain heartbroken. Hard to believe he was capable of that emotion.
** To anyone who read the Season 2 synopsis during its debut and finished ''[[VideoGame/TransformersFallOfCybertron Fall of Cybertron]]'' will find "Darkest Hour" to be especially nerve-crushingly sorrowful. [[spoiler: From the synopsis, we were hopeful that Cybertron would finally be revived. Not to mention, those of us from Fall Of Cybertron will feel especially heartbroken knowing the world we left behind may never come back again.]]
* [[spoiler: June's horrified, "no" when the base is destroyed, as she believes that Jack was inside. Fowler also is clearly heartbroken by it, before forcing himself to look away and retreat.]]
* The [[spoiler: base being destroyed]] and the build-up to it. On top of everything that's already occurred, the most haunting [[OminousLatinChanting Ominous Latin Chanting]] imaginable begins, as the ''Nemesis'' prepares to [[spoiler: open fire on the base.]] The camera cuts between that, June and Fowler's reactions, and Megatron watching from the nose of the ''Nemesis''. One can only imagine the sheer hatred within him towards our heroes as he prepares to do this. All the while, Optimus [[spoiler: has this expression of fear, and very shaky resolve on his face as he readies the Star Saber to destroy the Groundbridge so his team won't be found. He has no idea he's directly in the line of fire and his staying behind is meaningless. Then the ''Nemesis'' fires on the base, destroying it. As the horror of what just happened sinks in, the viewer feels the same pain as June and Fowler. The Autobots' home, and the viewers' home, has just been destroyed in cold blood. Even worse, a very heart-wrenching remix of the show's main theme plays as June and Fowler react in pain. We just lost the place we've called home for two years.]]
* The ending, in which [[spoiler: [[VisualPun Megatron lands on the Autobot sigil of the flaming remains of the base.]] This one shot hammers home the very, very hard fact that the Autobots lost.]]
* The absence of Alpha Trion after the War on Cybertron is vaguely hinted at, and the pieces to his mysterious fate are left to the viewer to put together. [[spoiler: As we later find out, near the end of the war, the Decepticons discovered the location of Alpha Trion and the artifacts and began to storm the building. He used the Covenant of Primus to see a hazy glimpse into the future where the Autobots arrived on Earth, and in a last ditch effort, sent every artifact to the distant planet in hopes that they would find them all and a encoded message in the Star Saber. It's heavily implied that not long after he sends them off, the Decepticons were finally able to break into the facility and killed Alpha Trion.]]

* Jasper Nevada... [[spoiler:in ruins]].
* Poor Smokescreen, throughout the first three episodes of season three. First we find out that when he left the base, he couldn't stand the idea of leaving his commander behind and rushed back as fast as he could, only to find said commander near death. Then, his first instinct is to go find Ratchet, but Prime won't let him. [[AllForNothing And after he risks his own life to bring the Forge of Solus Prime, the one thing he knows can save his beloved leader. Optimus tells him that it can't be used for such a purpose,]] [[spoiler: because it's running low on power and should be conserved to rebuild the Omega Lock]]. Not to mention the look in Smokescreen's eye throughout the whole thing, PuppyDogEyes does not ''begin'' to describe it!

* Watching Smokescreen panic as Optimus starts to [[spoiler:die]].

* After [[spoiler: Optimus' BigDamnHeroes made possible by using the last of the power in The Forge of Solus Prime, you realize there's no hope left to repair the Omega Lock, and that Cybertron is truly dead.]]

* In "Evolution", we're given reason to feel sympathy for [[spoiler: ''Predaking'' of all bots, who, just after gaining self awareness, loses all of his newfound brethren created by Project Predacon. The way the cloned Predacons cry out just before they're blown to smithereens is as heartwrenching as it is terrifying, and Creator/PeterMensah's performance totally nails the anguish Predaking feels over their demise.]] And on top of all that? [[spoiler: The Decepticons ''set the whole thing up'', and Predaking has absolutely no idea about the truth.]]
-->[[spoiler: '''Predaking:''' What have you done to my brethren!? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?]]
** At the beginning of the episode, everything is business as usual at the Autobot base. Optimus is out so Ultra Magnus starts trying to scold the other bots for one reason or another. When Optimus returns everyone rushes to get away from the commander (greeting Optimus as an excuse). Optimus looks up to see Magnus awkwardly standing alone far in the back. The thing that really drives it home is the fact that Prime ''himself'' obviously feels sympathy for Magnus.
*** Ultra Magnus eventually does win over the other Autobots while working together with Wheeljack... [[spoiler:but the battle with Predaking ended with him ''brutally'' losing his right hand, along with his weapon, the Forge of Solus Prime.]]

* Seeing Ratchet after [[spoiler:[[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness having outlived his usefulness]] for the Decepticons being brutally beaten by the unstoppable Predaking]] is very hard to watch.
** In addition to the seemingly hopeless situation, Optimus [[spoiler:failing to protect the tracking beacon from Starscream.]] Giving us the impression that [[spoiler:there was nothing the Autobots could do to save Ratchet now.]]
* Bumblebee [[spoiler: [[VideoGame/TransformersFallOfCybertron once again]] ends up on the business end of Megatron's cannon. Only this time, he actually ''dies'' and would've remained that way had it not been for the cybermatter.]] It's only made worse by [[spoiler:the slow-motion it goes into after the first shot connects, the music, and the reactions of the other 'Bots.]]
** Especially Optimus [[spoiler: the horror in his eyes as he tries to stop Megatron, and as Bumblebee falls is enough to bring tears to your eyes.]]
*** [[spoiler: Optimus was no doubt experiencing serious flashback horror for seeing the scout suffer at Megatron's hands again.]]

* [[spoiler: Megatron's death. Awesome as it was, watching the Decepticon Leader slowly die like a bug on a stick was utterly wrenching at the same time. All the good he originally set out to do as Megatronus isn't worth a thing at the end. The wasteful loss of life, home, and friendship. It's sad watching as the light in his eyes fades as he falls off the lock and into the atmosphere.]]
* Starscream's rage over [[spoiler: Megatron's death.]] In its own way, it really shows how Starscream's character has developed over the course of the series. It also shows how honest he really was when he decided to pledge his loyalty to Megatron after returning to the Decepticons. The fact that ''[[TheStarscream he]]'' of all bots attempts a LastVillainStand [[spoiler:in spite of the fact that Megatron was horrible to him]], and that Shockwave of all bots has to stop him, Starscream cursing at him all the while, just makes the moment even sadder.
* If you look carefully even Optimus seems sad as [[spoiler: Megatron dies.]] You can see that it does sadden him that in the end [[spoiler: he couldn't convince his old friend to repent and he does have to be put down]]
* Raf, Miko and Jack's final farewell to their Transformer Companions Bumblebee, [[spoiler: now with voice]], Bulkhead and Arcee respectively. It really tugs at heartstrings, seeing how reluctant they all are to see their Autobot Protectors leave Earth (after the course of 3 seasons) to go back to Cybertron. The final words between each exchange is what really sells the tear-jerking moments.

*** [[spoiler:[[HeroicSacrifice They will never]] [[HarsherInHindsight see him again.]]]]
*** [[spoiler:But [[WesternAnimation/TransformersRobotsInDisguise he gets better]].]]
*** [[spoiler: Yes but none of the humans from Prime appear, meaning that the first statement stands, the humans do never see Optimus again, indeed it's implied that because of the new council prevent Team Prime from returning to earth, so the humans never see any of the Autobots again, and don't know why.]]

* Predaking lamenting his status as the LastOfHisKind. [[spoiler:Mercifully, he finds out that there are two more, even if they aren't very bright.]]
* [[spoiler:Megatron's HeelRealization and subsequent HeelFaceTurn. That's right, the BigBad ends up being broken and comes to understand the pain that he's been inflicting on others without a second thought... until now, and he simply has no idea what to do with himself.]] That last look he and Optimus share really says a lot.
--> '''Megatron''': I now know the true meaning of oppression, [[spoiler: and have thus lost my taste for inflicting it.]]
* Optimus [[spoiler: telling the team that he has to sacrifice himself to restore the [=AllSpark=]. None of them took it very well.]]

---> '''Ratchet''': Optimus, I didn't return to save a life [[spoiler: only to lose the one I care most about...]]
** You'll notice during the same scene that even [[spoiler: [[TokenEvilTeammate Knock Out]] [[BecomingTheMask looked devastated]].]]

* The murder of Solus becomes (if possible) even more tragic in the ''[[{{Retcon}} true]]'' version of the events. As it turns out, [[spoiler: her murder]] was actually orchestrated by [[FalseFriend Liege Maximo]]. Turns out Megatronus and Solus had a strong bond of trust and faith in each other. But Maximo set the two against each other by sowing distrust among the pair, culminating in Megatronus unintentionally [[spoiler: killing Solus]] during an argument.

* After agreeing not to [[spoiler: kill off Optimus Prime in "Rebellion", the crew somehow forgot to remind Creator/PeterCullen about Optimus' recovery.]] This resulted in the veteran voice actor growing more and more depressed [[spoiler: while having flashbacks to his experience working on ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformersTheMovie'' in the 80s.]] [[spoiler:[[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments While the crew was finally able to inform Peter Cullen that Optimus will in fact live,]] you still see the bond between him and Optimus and the heartbreak as the two are to be yet again separated from each other. Peter Cullen would be nothing without Optimus Prime in his life.]]

* After agreeing not to [[spoiler: kill off Optimus Prime in "Rebellion", the crew somehow forgot to remind Creator/PeterCullen about Optimus' recovery.]] This resulted in the veteran voice actor growing more and more depressed [[spoiler: while having flashbacks to his experience working on ''WesternAnimation/TransformersTheMovie'' in the 80s.]] [[spoiler:[[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments While the crew was finally able to inform Peter Cullen that Optimus will in fact live,]] you still see the bond between him and Optimus and the heartbreak as the two are to be yet again separated from each other. Peter Cullen would be nothing without Optimus Prime in his life.]]