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* [[DownerEnding/{{Film}} Films]]
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* [[DownerEnding/{{Film}} Films]]DownerEnding/{{Film}}
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If the ending mixes elements of happiness and Downer Ending, then it's a BittersweetEnding. If the whole adventure leading up to it turned out to be meaningless, then it's ShootTheShaggyDog. The CliffHanger is often a Downer Ending, but one that's implicitly not final; tune in next time to see how they retrieve this one.
to:
If the ending mixes elements of happiness and Downer Ending, then it's a BittersweetEnding. If the whole adventure leading up to it turned out to be meaningless, then it's ShootTheShaggyDog. The CliffHanger is often a Downer Ending, but one that's implicitly not final; tune in next time to see how they retrieve this one.
one. If it's only the main characters who get this, see OnlyTheLeadsGetADownerEnding.
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[[folder:Asian Animation]]
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[[AC:Asian Animation:]]
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[[AC:Eastern European Animation:]]
* ''Animation/TheLittleMermaid1968'': The Mermaid lets herself die instead of killing the prince to save herself. While in the [[Literature/TheLittleMermaid original tale]] by Creator/HansChristianAndersen it's a BittersweetEnding in that she becomes a Daughter of the Air and earns an immortal soul, those things are not mentioned here.
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The "Other Media" subpage has a good ammount of folders that are better suit on the main page of Downer Ending. Moved all the content in the main page.
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* DownerEnding/OtherMedia
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The "Other Media" subpage has a good ammount of folders that are better suit on the main page of Downer Ending. Moved all the content in the main page.
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!!Other examples:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Art]]
* As of the last painting of ''Art/MarriageALaMode'', the Earl has been killed in a duel, Silvertongue has been hanged for his murder, and the Countess has committed suicide. The title cannot pass to their now orphaned daughter, and the circumstances of her parents' deaths also mean she cannot inherit what remains of their money; she has, however, inherited her father's case of syphilis (the braces on her legs also indicate a case of rickets), so she'll be lucky if she lives long enough to have children of her own (who will also have syphilis).
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Asian Animation]]
* The Chinese short film ''Animation/MissDaizi'' ends with the main character surviving suicide attempts in the state of depression in a future, landfilled Earth.
* [[Animation/QinsMoon Qin's Moon]] ends nearly all of their seasons with one.
** The OVA, ''Birdsong in Hollow Valley'' ends with Ink Crow dying from his wounds protecting White Phoenix and Nong Yu from Ji Wuye and helping them escape from his palace. However, Nong Yu, who poisoned herself, reveals to White Phoenix that there was never an antidote, causing her to die as well. White Phoenix, all alone, gets approached by Crimson Snake and Wei Zhuang, only to be told that he can only blame himself for being unable to do anything to prevent his friends's deaths.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Audio Drama]]
* At the end of the ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'' story ''Pretty Lies'', the Doctor and Cardinal Ollistra leave the planet Beltox, assured that they saved as many people from the Dalek destruction of the city of Fergill as they could and that, now they're no longer harbouring Time Lords, the Daleks have no reason to continue threatening the Beltoxians. The last scene is the Daleks, [[OmnicidalManiac being Daleks]], blowing up the entire planet out of sheer spite.
* Creator/StanFreberg's musical AudioPlay "Green Christmas" is a protest against CommercializedChristmas starring updated versions of characters from ''Literature/AChristmasCarol''. Bob Cratchet is an HonestCorporateExecutive who tries to convince his greedy boss Scrooge that Christmas is [[TrueMeaningOfChristmas more than just another opportunity to make money]]. But this time, Scrooge does ''not'' do a HeelFaceTurn, and the story ends with Cratchet sadly accepting that Scrooge will never change.
-->'''Cratchet:''' But don't you realize Christmas has a significance, a meaning?!\\
'''Scrooge:''' A sales curve! Wake up, Cratchet, it's later than you think.\\
'''Cratchet:''' I know, Mr. Scrooge, I know.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comic Strips]]
* Japanese Slice-of-Life comic strip ''Webcomic/ThisCrocWillDieIn100Days'', [[SpoilerTitle as you see in the title]], [[https://twitter.com/yuukikikuchi/status/1240946299467259905?s=21 in the last episode]], after having a springtime picnic event with The Crocodile and his friends, The Mouse went home using his motorbike. He stopped when the traffic light went red, taking a picture of beautiful cherry blossom trees using his smartphone and send it to The Crocodile. Then a chick crossed the road, but then the traffic light went green while the chick was on the middle of the zebra-cross road, so The Crocodile bursts in and saved the chick from getting hit by a car, but instead, it was vaguely implied he got killed off-screen after his HeroicSacrifice.
* ''ComicStrip/DickTracy'': The Model Jones story in the 1950s. It is a story of Junior Tracy's first love, a lovely girl whose homelife is a total wreck with drunken parents and a bullying small time hood brother named Larry. As Junior and Model's relationship grows, Larry murders a police officer while robbing parking meters. Model learns of this crime and tries to keep Junior out of her life by pretending to reject him with a sneering façade. However, Junior learns the truth, is profoundly touched by her concern and seeks her out to try to resolve the situation by bringing Larry to justice. Unfortunately, Model impulsively tries to confront Larry herself to convince him to give himself up, but Dick Tracy and troopers arrive before the argument could be resolved. The siblings struggle, Larry's gun goes off and Model is mortally wounded. While Larry is chased and caught by Tracy while Sam Catchem quickly radios medics, her condition is hopeless. Eventually, Model dies in Junior's arms and the only tarnished silver lining is Model's family, the ones who responsible for this tragedy, are utterly destroyed by the consequences of their actions with Larry facing murder and resisting arrest charges.
* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'': [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2022/04/17 The April 17, 2022 strip]] gives a bad ending to Garfield.[[note]] To elaborate: Garfield is thoroughly annoyed with a fly that keeps buzzing around him and won't leave him alone, and all of Garfield's efforts in swatting it amounts to swatting air instead, so he decides to don a fly costume in the hope of sneaking up on the fly. The attempt, however, draws the attention of a large swarm of spiders, which promptly traps him in their spider silk. To add insult to injury, the fly Garfield intended to lure with his costume comes back to annoy him yet again with the buzzing at the end, after Garfield is immobilized and the spiders had already left.[[/note]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Fairy Tales]]
* ''Literature/TheYellowDwarf''. The titular villain ends up murdering the hero, and the bereaved heroine [[DeathByDespair dies of grief]] not long after.
* ''The Ram'' (also known as ''The Wonderful Sheep''), by Creator/MadameDAulnoy (who also wrote ''The Yellow Dwarf''). The titular ram, who has previously declared that losing his beloved princess, Merveilleuse, would cost him his life, waits for her in town, but is forbidden from entering the palace. Merveilleuse told her father that the ram was actually a prince, but she was so excited in telling him that she lost track of time. The ram waits such a long time that by the time Merveilleuse sees him, he has died, leaving Merveilleuse with a broken heart.
** Some retellings have Merveilleuse die as well.
* ''Babes in the Wood'' is usually known as a pantomime in which the two titular children, having been abandoned in the woods by their wicked uncle, are rescued by either fairies or by friends of Robin Hood. The original ballad has a far less pleasant scenario: after being abandoned in the wild wood, the two children starve to death.
* ''Literature/FrauTrude'' by the Brothers Grimm. The titular witch turns the protagonist into a block of wood and throws her into the fire.
* ''The Poor Boy in the Grave''. The protagonist is killed, and his abusive master and his wife lose their home.
* ''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/beautybeast/stories/maidenbeast.html The Maiden and the Beast]]'', a Portuguese version of ''Beauty and the Beast''. It ends with the beast dying, the heroine dying soon afterwards, and her sisters being reduced to poverty.
* Although it's gone through {{Disneyfication}} over the years, the original ''Little Red Riding Hood'' definitely falls under this: the little girl is devoured, rather messily, by the wolf, who [[KarmaHoudini gets off scot-free]] and wanders away. No brave hunter in this version, nope!
* The original version of Hans Christian Andersen's ''The Little Mermaid''. No happy ending for you.
** Many other of Andersen's works do not end well. ''The Little Match Girl'' ends with a girl freezing to death, and the princess in ''The Swineherd'' does not learn her lesson and is rejected by the prince.
* The Slavic fairy tale ''[[http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/135.htm The Three Treasures of the Giants]]'' sets up a happy ending where Jack, the hero, receives a magic table, cornet, and bag from giants, marries a princess, and becomes a wise king. However, the story continues, and Jack's descendants [[{{Pride}} grow proud]] and neglect the king's treasures. One king thrusts the treasures into a cellar. Years later, the king's grandson searches for the treasures to defend himself from an invading army. He finds the treasures, but all the magic has faded from them due to neglect.
* The Romanian fairy tale ''[[http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/016.htm The Death of the Sun-Hero]]'' ends with its protagonist having his tongue ripped out by a crab and dying soon afterwards. For no good reason as well! He was supposed to protect a tree for nine days and nine nights from wolves and actually managed to stay awake for eight days, before succumbing to slumber and falling asleep. A lady in black appears and condemns him, ignoring that humans have to sleep!
* Many fairy tales from sub-Saharan Africa feature sad endings. A prime example is ''[[http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/134.htm The Rover of the Plain]]'', where a husband loses his wife and fortune due to her laziness and neglect of her buffalo, and the husband feeling humiliated for not obeying his parents.
* ''Anguillette'' by Henriette-Julie de Murat. Hebe, the heroine, is warned by the fairy Anguillette that her love life may be fatal. She falls in love with a prince named Atimir, who later falls in love with her sister Ilerie. Hebe marries another prince, while Atimir marries Ilerie, but Hebe and Atimir still pine for each other, despite Anguillette's warnings that Hebe must never see Atimir again. Eventually, Atimir duels with Hebe's husband. Atimir dies, and when Hebe sees the lifeless bodies, she commits suicide. [[NotQuiteDead Hebe's husband turns out to have survived the duel]].
* ''The Palace of Revenge'', also by Murat. The protagonist, Imis, and her lover Philax are shut up in the Palace of Revenge by the evil spirit Pagan because Imis had rejected him in favor of Philax. Imis and Philax eventually find a way out, but have grown so sick of each other that they do not marry. (A rare fairy tale example of a sad ending where the protagonists do not die.)
* ''Joliette'' by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. The protagonist, Joliette, has a penchant for gossiping and tattling. Eventually, her gossiping gets her in serious trouble when a gentleman overhears her gossiping to his wife that her husband told her that the man was dishonorable. The man later proceeds to kill Joliette's husband. Upon seeing her husband's dead body and realizing what a horrible mistake she made, Joliette impales herself on the sword that killed him. Joliette's mother dies right afterwards.
* ''Judar and His Brethren'', a story from the Arabian Nights. Judar is poisoned by his brothers after he becomes sultan.
* In the anthology book ''Ask the Bones: Scary Stories from Around the World'', there's a story titled ''Nowhere to Hide'' about a princess who [[EngagementChallenge refuses to marry anyone who doesn't beat her at a three-day game of hide-and-seek]]. Anyone who challenges her but loses [[OffWithHisHead gets his head cut off]]. The protagonist wants to marry her, but isn't good at hiding. So he asks for the help of a djinn... then when he challenges the princess, on the first day the djinn turns into a fish and hides the man in his mouth. The princess doesn't find him. The second day, the djinn becomes a bird and hides the man under his wing; once again, the princess doesn't find him. On the third day, the djinn digs a hole under the princess's floorboards and hides the man there. The man listens to the princess magically search for him until the third day is nearly up, and [[HopeSpot is relieved that he won't get beheaded]]... [[DiabolusExMachina then the princess stomps her foot in tantrum and the floor breaks under her feet. She looks down the hole...]]
-->'''[[LastNoteNightmare I FOUND YOU!]]'''
* ''Literature/TheBlueberry'' ends with the heroine crying her heart out, forever away from home, and eventually turning into a blueberry.
* Creator/HansChristianAndersen's "Literature/TheLittleMatchGirl" is about a poor girl trying to sell matches on a freezing New Year's Eve. After failing to sell any matches and desperate to stay warm, the girl begins to light them to use them herself, all while hallucinating better times she's had with her late grandmother. In the end, she's used up all her matches and [[DeathOfAChild frozen to death]], with her body being found by passers-by the next morning on New Year's Day. Ameliorated by the epilogue showing she has gone to Heaven, where she becomes reunited with her grandmother and nothing can hurt her again]].
* Creator/AlexanderAfanasyev's "Literature/{{Kolobok}}": The main character -a sentient little bun- is eaten by a cunning fox. Meanwhile, the poor old couple who baked it is left with nothing to eat.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Podcasts]]
* ''Podcast/{{Disgraceland}}'': Mixed with ForegoneConclusion, any episode where the subject dies tragically young.
* ''Podcast/MyFavoriteMurder'': Many of the cases either become cold cases or only get solved decades later for various reasons including lack of evidence, PoliceAreUseless at best and DirtyCop at worst, the technology used not being available, MissingWhiteWomanSyndrome, DisposableSexWorker, miscommunication, evidence becoming tainted and DisposableVagrant. If they do get solved, there’s a chance that the killer is dead or too old for prison. And the loved ones still have to pick up the pieces.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
* Wrestling/TripleH's feud with [[Wrestling/MickFoley Cactus Jack]] ends with him retiring Mick Foley at No Way Out 2000. Mick Foley kinda gets a HopeSpot by being reinstated for one night to compete in the title match main event at Wrestling/WrestleMania 16 (or 2000 as it was also title in honor of the new millennium) but he just ends up getting eliminated in the middle of the match by Triple H.
** Speaking of which up to this point all [=WrestleMania's=] ended with the babyface winning in the main event. However [=WrestleMania=] 16 ended with Triple H beating [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] thanks to Wrestling/VinceMcMahon turning on The Rock. Even though The Rock kinda got revenge by giving Wrestling/StephanieMcMahon the Rock Bottom and the People's Elbow at the end, Rock still lost the match. At least The Rock overall won the feud.
* [=WrestleMania=] 17 ended with Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin turning heel and teaming up with Vince [=McMahon=].[[note]]Though since it was in Steve Austin's hometown of Texas, the crowd loved it and treated it like a Vince [=McMahon=] face turn instead.[[/note]]
* Triple H's feud with Wrestling/BookerT in which he went on about how people like Booker T don't get to become champion and after all the build up to [=WrestleMania=] 19 with this story line-Triple H wins. This was hugely criticized by fans for a varied of reasons ranging from how Triple H came off as a huge racist in the feud and by beating Booker T essentially proved the racist was right, to how it took at least a minute for Triple H to pin Booker T after hitting the pedigree on him which in turn made Booker look really weak.[[note]]Worse, that wasn't even the plan. Triple H botched the move, hence causing the delay, but just went ahead with the follow-up pin despite that.[[/note]]
* Wrestling/TheUndertaker's legendary winning streak at [=WrestleMania=] tragically coming to a end when Wrestling/BrockLesnar beat him at [=WrestleMania=] 30.
* Wrestling/SurvivorSeries 1997, depending on whose side you are on could count for this. The Wrestling/MontrealScrewjob where Wrestling/BretHart legitimately got double crossed and screwed out of his belt and also humiliated in his home country.
* At Ultima Lucha in season 1 of Wrestling/LuchaUnderground, pretty much every heel won their match, with maybe only one or two exceptions.
** A year later at Ultima Lucha 2, Wrestling/PentagonJr had a big rematch against Matanza Cueto for the title where he trained intensely to beat him, yet Matanza still wound up winning against Pentagon Jr.
* Wrestling/DustyRhodes never got any revenge against Wrestling/TedDiBiase who pretty much beat Dusty in every match they had.
* Wrestling/KofiKingston's WWE Title reign came to an end when Brock Lesnar beat him on the first episode of [=SmackDown=] on FOX in less than ten seconds. Afterwards, Kofi never even ''tried'' to reclaim the belt, or showed any sign that the loss of what's supposedly the top championship in wrestling bothered him at all and was promptly shuffled back into the midcard tag team scene, which, if anything, attracted even more criticism than the squash loss itself.
* Every major main event of [=WrestleMania=] since 2021 has seen the company's top heel Wrestling/RomanReigns defeat the all-conquering white-hot babyface challengers.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Radio]]
* AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho:
** "Lucie Miller/To the Death" has one of the biggest Downer Endings in ''Doctor Who'', surpassing all the New Who endings. Tamsin is killed senselessly by the Daleks, upsetting the [[JerkassWoobie Monk]]. Alex and Lucy die defeating the Daleks, and by the end the Doctor is left broken.
** To make matters worse, and crossing into LiveActionTV, "The Night of the Doctor" short that serves as the sendoff for the Eighth Doctor confirms that the audios are canon in the context of the TV show. As it turns out, the Eighth Doctor hit the DespairEventHorizon afterward when his choice not to fight in the Time War and instead try to save lives didn't do much good. When he was fatally wounded and urged by the Sisterhood of Karn not to give up on his own life for the sake of the universe, he chose to give up his ideals instead, regenerating into the warrior responsible for the genocide of both the Daleks and his own people that brought the war to an end. The subsequent Doctors refuse to acknowledge this incarnation for centuries afterward, until the events of "The Day of the Doctor" allow for a happier outcome to the Time War -- which still doesn't make up for the Eighth Doctor's miserable descent into despair.
** Another spectacular example from Big Finish, [[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWho014TheHolyTerror "The Holy Terror,"]] concludes with the Doctor and Frobisher unable to save ''anyone.'' Frobisher's attempts to teach free will to the people of the Castle end with [[HumanoidAbomination The Child]] massacring them - the entire population of the world dying horrible while begging Frobisher for a miracle he can't provide. Though the Doctor manages to discover the truth behind the Castle and stop Eugene from carrying on [[EternalRecurrence the same cycle of murder and forgetting he's been stuck in for the last few thousand years]], he can't free him from his SelfInflictedHell: unwilling to spend another cycle in the prison dimension but [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone unable to forgive himself]], Eugene [[DrivenToSuicide allows the Child to kill him]]. In the end, the Doctor and Frobisher are the only survivors of the entire story, and both of them are horribly traumatized by what they've encountered.
** [[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWho045ProjectLazarus "Project Lazarus"]] has the rare distinction of having ''two'' downer endings: the Sixth Doctor's part in the story ends with the Doctor barely escaping the Forge alive, his attempts to cure Cassie having been AllForNothing; Cassie herself has been murdered by Nimrod, leaving her son an orphan; finally, Evelyn is [[HeroicBSOD deeply shaken]] and [[WhatTheHellHero not at all happy at the Doctor's attempts to bounce back from the disaster]]. Worse still, it's also revealed that Evelyn is [[SecretlyDying actually suffering from a serious heart condition]] - one of the reasons why she decided to go travelling with the Doctor in the first place - and might not be around much longer. Meanwhile, the ''Seventh'' Doctor's story ends with the Forge's base in ruins and the Huldran able to escape without being dissected... but Nimrod is still alive and setting up a new base in London, [[AlasPoorVillain the clone of Six died in despair with the rest of his brothers]], and the few [[PunchClockVillain sympathetic base personnel]] were either murdered by Nimrod or [[HeroicSacrifice died saving the Doctor]]. Seven, needless to say, is left shell-shocked by this incident and decides that [[Recap/DoctorWhoTVMTheTVMovie it's time to return home...]]
** The [[WhatIf Unbound]] story "[[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWhoUnboundE4HeJestsAtScars He Jests At Scars]]" ends with the [[EnemyWithout Valeyard]]'s efforts to alter history in his favour [[HoistbyHisOwnPetard blowing up in his face]], resulting in a cascade of temporal paradoxes that force him to retreat to his TARDIS full time in order to escape the collapse of the universe. In order to prevent him from doing even potential damage to history while the universe recovers, the TARDIS effectively paralyzes him, leaving him trapped in the console room with only a [[LotusEaterMachine virtual reality scenario]] to keep him occupied... until power drain forces the TARDIS to shut down that, too. Worse still, Mel - having been sent to stop the Valeyard - ends up trapped along with him, [[ShaggyDogStory leaving her mission to bring back the Doctor's personality a failure]]. In a final jab to the heart, it's revealed that the TARDIS will soon have to mute the two of them so their speech can't cause any potential damage either, leaving the Valeyard and Mel [[AndIMustScream paralyzed and speechless for all eternity]]. The story ends with Mel using her last few seconds of speech to whisper that she just wants to go home, and the Valeyard [[HeelRealization futilely apologizing for everything]] before he too falls silent forever.
* ''Radio/DimensionX'''s "[[Recap/DimensionX37PebbleInTheSky Pebble in the Sky]]": Because Joseph Schwarz and the Synapsifier are [[AdaptedOut removed]] from this adaptation of ''Literature/PebbleInTheSky'', the happy ending of the original cannot occur and Dr Arvardan predicts that all humanity will die, except for those native to Earth, and the science needed for interstellar travel will be lost.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Sports]]
* UsefulNotes/TheHolocaust is the setting of Canadian figure skater Roman Sadovsky's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EybhBi5TsHc long program]] from the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 competitive seasons, which features music from ''Film/SchindlersList''. His costume evokes the filth and blood of a concentration camp prisoner, and the jumps represent hard labour. It's the darkest program in the sport to date because Sadovsky maintains a haunting, grim tone throughout his performance. It ends on a hopeless note, as his character doesn't get rescued. His final pose consists of looking up to the sky (or the ceiling of his cell) with his arms outstretched as if pleading for help from the heavens, but the only response he receives is an ominous-sounding wind gust. It's TruthInTelevision because for nearly all victims of genocide, there is no happy ending.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* Though ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' ends with Gehenna, a vampire apocalypse, most of the potential Gehenna scenarios end on a surprisingly hopeful note. However, "The Crucible of God" scenario has three alternative endings, one of which is specifically intended for [[NightmareFetishist players who enjoy downers]]: "The Rest Is Silence" features the [[PhysicalGod Antediluvians]] draining all life from the face of the planet in their respective quests for godhood; every single species ''on the planet'' is driven into extinction, leaving Earth completely barren and lifeless. The only survivors are the players, and now that humanity is dead as the rest of the world, they have nothing left to feed on except each other; from there, they either commit suicide via sunlight, or sink into [[DeepSleep Torpor]] for all eternity. For added misery points, the instructions suggest that this final decision should be made in the decaying remains of the Garden of Eden, the only safe haven from the Antediluvians' death-throes.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'': No matter how you look at it, the human race is screwed: The GodEmperor's life support is failing, the Necrons are waking up, the Orks are everywhere, the Eldar are dying/being eaten by a GodOfEvil, Chaos can't be beaten as long as emotion still exists, and of course, the Tyranids will eat everything.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' has the aptly named "The End Times" series, which each book the heroes take a progressive beating, and it ''starts out'' with Chaos forces overrunning almost everyone and the Lizardmen pulling a "Screw this we're outta here". [[spoiler: The final book in the series, Archaon, apparently pulls an ApocalypseHow on the setting, destroying the very universe itself at the behest of the Chaos Gods.]]
* The storylines of some ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' sets and blocks have particularly nasty Downer Endings, since the next one will typically take place in an entirely different world anyway. In particular, "Scars of Mirrodin" ends with Mirrodin losing and Phyrexia's rebirth, "Khans of Tarkir" actually ends up with Tarkir a worse place after Sarkhan's temporal meddling leads to the clans being conquered by dragons instead of exterminating them, and "Theros" ends with Elspeth's needless death at the hands of Heliod.
* The board game {{Defictionalization}} of ''Franchise/{{Jumanji}}'' can have this happen in some playings. Each time a player lands on a space, the rest of the players have a limited amount of time to use their "rescue die" to save the player from the game's hazard they drew, otherwise said hazard manages to escape into the real world. Failure to do this ten times results in an automatic loss for all players.
* The Purist play mode of ''Trail of Cthulhu'' is meant to emulate your average CosmicHorrorStory in its most austere and bleak mood. The Purist scenario The Final Revelation ends with the [=PCs=] discovering that horrible alien gods have ALREADY devoured their reality before the scenario even began. The [=PCs=] immediately go insane as their world dissolves into surreal nightmares.
[[/folder]]
----
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Art]]
* As of the last painting of ''Art/MarriageALaMode'', the Earl has been killed in a duel, Silvertongue has been hanged for his murder, and the Countess has committed suicide. The title cannot pass to their now orphaned daughter, and the circumstances of her parents' deaths also mean she cannot inherit what remains of their money; she has, however, inherited her father's case of syphilis (the braces on her legs also indicate a case of rickets), so she'll be lucky if she lives long enough to have children of her own (who will also have syphilis).
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Asian Animation]]
* The Chinese short film ''Animation/MissDaizi'' ends with the main character surviving suicide attempts in the state of depression in a future, landfilled Earth.
* [[Animation/QinsMoon Qin's Moon]] ends nearly all of their seasons with one.
** The OVA, ''Birdsong in Hollow Valley'' ends with Ink Crow dying from his wounds protecting White Phoenix and Nong Yu from Ji Wuye and helping them escape from his palace. However, Nong Yu, who poisoned herself, reveals to White Phoenix that there was never an antidote, causing her to die as well. White Phoenix, all alone, gets approached by Crimson Snake and Wei Zhuang, only to be told that he can only blame himself for being unable to do anything to prevent his friends's deaths.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Audio Drama]]
* At the end of the ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'' story ''Pretty Lies'', the Doctor and Cardinal Ollistra leave the planet Beltox, assured that they saved as many people from the Dalek destruction of the city of Fergill as they could and that, now they're no longer harbouring Time Lords, the Daleks have no reason to continue threatening the Beltoxians. The last scene is the Daleks, [[OmnicidalManiac being Daleks]], blowing up the entire planet out of sheer spite.
* Creator/StanFreberg's musical AudioPlay "Green Christmas" is a protest against CommercializedChristmas starring updated versions of characters from ''Literature/AChristmasCarol''. Bob Cratchet is an HonestCorporateExecutive who tries to convince his greedy boss Scrooge that Christmas is [[TrueMeaningOfChristmas more than just another opportunity to make money]]. But this time, Scrooge does ''not'' do a HeelFaceTurn, and the story ends with Cratchet sadly accepting that Scrooge will never change.
-->'''Cratchet:''' But don't you realize Christmas has a significance, a meaning?!\\
'''Scrooge:''' A sales curve! Wake up, Cratchet, it's later than you think.\\
'''Cratchet:''' I know, Mr. Scrooge, I know.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comic Strips]]
* Japanese Slice-of-Life comic strip ''Webcomic/ThisCrocWillDieIn100Days'', [[SpoilerTitle as you see in the title]], [[https://twitter.com/yuukikikuchi/status/1240946299467259905?s=21 in the last episode]], after having a springtime picnic event with The Crocodile and his friends, The Mouse went home using his motorbike. He stopped when the traffic light went red, taking a picture of beautiful cherry blossom trees using his smartphone and send it to The Crocodile. Then a chick crossed the road, but then the traffic light went green while the chick was on the middle of the zebra-cross road, so The Crocodile bursts in and saved the chick from getting hit by a car, but instead, it was vaguely implied he got killed off-screen after his HeroicSacrifice.
* ''ComicStrip/DickTracy'': The Model Jones story in the 1950s. It is a story of Junior Tracy's first love, a lovely girl whose homelife is a total wreck with drunken parents and a bullying small time hood brother named Larry. As Junior and Model's relationship grows, Larry murders a police officer while robbing parking meters. Model learns of this crime and tries to keep Junior out of her life by pretending to reject him with a sneering façade. However, Junior learns the truth, is profoundly touched by her concern and seeks her out to try to resolve the situation by bringing Larry to justice. Unfortunately, Model impulsively tries to confront Larry herself to convince him to give himself up, but Dick Tracy and troopers arrive before the argument could be resolved. The siblings struggle, Larry's gun goes off and Model is mortally wounded. While Larry is chased and caught by Tracy while Sam Catchem quickly radios medics, her condition is hopeless. Eventually, Model dies in Junior's arms and the only tarnished silver lining is Model's family, the ones who responsible for this tragedy, are utterly destroyed by the consequences of their actions with Larry facing murder and resisting arrest charges.
* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'': [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2022/04/17 The April 17, 2022 strip]] gives a bad ending to Garfield.[[note]] To elaborate: Garfield is thoroughly annoyed with a fly that keeps buzzing around him and won't leave him alone, and all of Garfield's efforts in swatting it amounts to swatting air instead, so he decides to don a fly costume in the hope of sneaking up on the fly. The attempt, however, draws the attention of a large swarm of spiders, which promptly traps him in their spider silk. To add insult to injury, the fly Garfield intended to lure with his costume comes back to annoy him yet again with the buzzing at the end, after Garfield is immobilized and the spiders had already left.[[/note]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Fairy Tales]]
* ''Literature/TheYellowDwarf''. The titular villain ends up murdering the hero, and the bereaved heroine [[DeathByDespair dies of grief]] not long after.
* ''The Ram'' (also known as ''The Wonderful Sheep''), by Creator/MadameDAulnoy (who also wrote ''The Yellow Dwarf''). The titular ram, who has previously declared that losing his beloved princess, Merveilleuse, would cost him his life, waits for her in town, but is forbidden from entering the palace. Merveilleuse told her father that the ram was actually a prince, but she was so excited in telling him that she lost track of time. The ram waits such a long time that by the time Merveilleuse sees him, he has died, leaving Merveilleuse with a broken heart.
** Some retellings have Merveilleuse die as well.
* ''Babes in the Wood'' is usually known as a pantomime in which the two titular children, having been abandoned in the woods by their wicked uncle, are rescued by either fairies or by friends of Robin Hood. The original ballad has a far less pleasant scenario: after being abandoned in the wild wood, the two children starve to death.
* ''Literature/FrauTrude'' by the Brothers Grimm. The titular witch turns the protagonist into a block of wood and throws her into the fire.
* ''The Poor Boy in the Grave''. The protagonist is killed, and his abusive master and his wife lose their home.
* ''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/beautybeast/stories/maidenbeast.html The Maiden and the Beast]]'', a Portuguese version of ''Beauty and the Beast''. It ends with the beast dying, the heroine dying soon afterwards, and her sisters being reduced to poverty.
* Although it's gone through {{Disneyfication}} over the years, the original ''Little Red Riding Hood'' definitely falls under this: the little girl is devoured, rather messily, by the wolf, who [[KarmaHoudini gets off scot-free]] and wanders away. No brave hunter in this version, nope!
* The original version of Hans Christian Andersen's ''The Little Mermaid''. No happy ending for you.
** Many other of Andersen's works do not end well. ''The Little Match Girl'' ends with a girl freezing to death, and the princess in ''The Swineherd'' does not learn her lesson and is rejected by the prince.
* The Slavic fairy tale ''[[http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/135.htm The Three Treasures of the Giants]]'' sets up a happy ending where Jack, the hero, receives a magic table, cornet, and bag from giants, marries a princess, and becomes a wise king. However, the story continues, and Jack's descendants [[{{Pride}} grow proud]] and neglect the king's treasures. One king thrusts the treasures into a cellar. Years later, the king's grandson searches for the treasures to defend himself from an invading army. He finds the treasures, but all the magic has faded from them due to neglect.
* The Romanian fairy tale ''[[http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/016.htm The Death of the Sun-Hero]]'' ends with its protagonist having his tongue ripped out by a crab and dying soon afterwards. For no good reason as well! He was supposed to protect a tree for nine days and nine nights from wolves and actually managed to stay awake for eight days, before succumbing to slumber and falling asleep. A lady in black appears and condemns him, ignoring that humans have to sleep!
* Many fairy tales from sub-Saharan Africa feature sad endings. A prime example is ''[[http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/134.htm The Rover of the Plain]]'', where a husband loses his wife and fortune due to her laziness and neglect of her buffalo, and the husband feeling humiliated for not obeying his parents.
* ''Anguillette'' by Henriette-Julie de Murat. Hebe, the heroine, is warned by the fairy Anguillette that her love life may be fatal. She falls in love with a prince named Atimir, who later falls in love with her sister Ilerie. Hebe marries another prince, while Atimir marries Ilerie, but Hebe and Atimir still pine for each other, despite Anguillette's warnings that Hebe must never see Atimir again. Eventually, Atimir duels with Hebe's husband. Atimir dies, and when Hebe sees the lifeless bodies, she commits suicide. [[NotQuiteDead Hebe's husband turns out to have survived the duel]].
* ''The Palace of Revenge'', also by Murat. The protagonist, Imis, and her lover Philax are shut up in the Palace of Revenge by the evil spirit Pagan because Imis had rejected him in favor of Philax. Imis and Philax eventually find a way out, but have grown so sick of each other that they do not marry. (A rare fairy tale example of a sad ending where the protagonists do not die.)
* ''Joliette'' by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. The protagonist, Joliette, has a penchant for gossiping and tattling. Eventually, her gossiping gets her in serious trouble when a gentleman overhears her gossiping to his wife that her husband told her that the man was dishonorable. The man later proceeds to kill Joliette's husband. Upon seeing her husband's dead body and realizing what a horrible mistake she made, Joliette impales herself on the sword that killed him. Joliette's mother dies right afterwards.
* ''Judar and His Brethren'', a story from the Arabian Nights. Judar is poisoned by his brothers after he becomes sultan.
* In the anthology book ''Ask the Bones: Scary Stories from Around the World'', there's a story titled ''Nowhere to Hide'' about a princess who [[EngagementChallenge refuses to marry anyone who doesn't beat her at a three-day game of hide-and-seek]]. Anyone who challenges her but loses [[OffWithHisHead gets his head cut off]]. The protagonist wants to marry her, but isn't good at hiding. So he asks for the help of a djinn... then when he challenges the princess, on the first day the djinn turns into a fish and hides the man in his mouth. The princess doesn't find him. The second day, the djinn becomes a bird and hides the man under his wing; once again, the princess doesn't find him. On the third day, the djinn digs a hole under the princess's floorboards and hides the man there. The man listens to the princess magically search for him until the third day is nearly up, and [[HopeSpot is relieved that he won't get beheaded]]... [[DiabolusExMachina then the princess stomps her foot in tantrum and the floor breaks under her feet. She looks down the hole...]]
-->'''[[LastNoteNightmare I FOUND YOU!]]'''
* ''Literature/TheBlueberry'' ends with the heroine crying her heart out, forever away from home, and eventually turning into a blueberry.
* Creator/HansChristianAndersen's "Literature/TheLittleMatchGirl" is about a poor girl trying to sell matches on a freezing New Year's Eve. After failing to sell any matches and desperate to stay warm, the girl begins to light them to use them herself, all while hallucinating better times she's had with her late grandmother. In the end, she's used up all her matches and [[DeathOfAChild frozen to death]], with her body being found by passers-by the next morning on New Year's Day. Ameliorated by the epilogue showing she has gone to Heaven, where she becomes reunited with her grandmother and nothing can hurt her again]].
* Creator/AlexanderAfanasyev's "Literature/{{Kolobok}}": The main character -a sentient little bun- is eaten by a cunning fox. Meanwhile, the poor old couple who baked it is left with nothing to eat.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Podcasts]]
* ''Podcast/{{Disgraceland}}'': Mixed with ForegoneConclusion, any episode where the subject dies tragically young.
* ''Podcast/MyFavoriteMurder'': Many of the cases either become cold cases or only get solved decades later for various reasons including lack of evidence, PoliceAreUseless at best and DirtyCop at worst, the technology used not being available, MissingWhiteWomanSyndrome, DisposableSexWorker, miscommunication, evidence becoming tainted and DisposableVagrant. If they do get solved, there’s a chance that the killer is dead or too old for prison. And the loved ones still have to pick up the pieces.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
* Wrestling/TripleH's feud with [[Wrestling/MickFoley Cactus Jack]] ends with him retiring Mick Foley at No Way Out 2000. Mick Foley kinda gets a HopeSpot by being reinstated for one night to compete in the title match main event at Wrestling/WrestleMania 16 (or 2000 as it was also title in honor of the new millennium) but he just ends up getting eliminated in the middle of the match by Triple H.
** Speaking of which up to this point all [=WrestleMania's=] ended with the babyface winning in the main event. However [=WrestleMania=] 16 ended with Triple H beating [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] thanks to Wrestling/VinceMcMahon turning on The Rock. Even though The Rock kinda got revenge by giving Wrestling/StephanieMcMahon the Rock Bottom and the People's Elbow at the end, Rock still lost the match. At least The Rock overall won the feud.
* [=WrestleMania=] 17 ended with Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin turning heel and teaming up with Vince [=McMahon=].[[note]]Though since it was in Steve Austin's hometown of Texas, the crowd loved it and treated it like a Vince [=McMahon=] face turn instead.[[/note]]
* Triple H's feud with Wrestling/BookerT in which he went on about how people like Booker T don't get to become champion and after all the build up to [=WrestleMania=] 19 with this story line-Triple H wins. This was hugely criticized by fans for a varied of reasons ranging from how Triple H came off as a huge racist in the feud and by beating Booker T essentially proved the racist was right, to how it took at least a minute for Triple H to pin Booker T after hitting the pedigree on him which in turn made Booker look really weak.[[note]]Worse, that wasn't even the plan. Triple H botched the move, hence causing the delay, but just went ahead with the follow-up pin despite that.[[/note]]
* Wrestling/TheUndertaker's legendary winning streak at [=WrestleMania=] tragically coming to a end when Wrestling/BrockLesnar beat him at [=WrestleMania=] 30.
* Wrestling/SurvivorSeries 1997, depending on whose side you are on could count for this. The Wrestling/MontrealScrewjob where Wrestling/BretHart legitimately got double crossed and screwed out of his belt and also humiliated in his home country.
* At Ultima Lucha in season 1 of Wrestling/LuchaUnderground, pretty much every heel won their match, with maybe only one or two exceptions.
** A year later at Ultima Lucha 2, Wrestling/PentagonJr had a big rematch against Matanza Cueto for the title where he trained intensely to beat him, yet Matanza still wound up winning against Pentagon Jr.
* Wrestling/DustyRhodes never got any revenge against Wrestling/TedDiBiase who pretty much beat Dusty in every match they had.
* Wrestling/KofiKingston's WWE Title reign came to an end when Brock Lesnar beat him on the first episode of [=SmackDown=] on FOX in less than ten seconds. Afterwards, Kofi never even ''tried'' to reclaim the belt, or showed any sign that the loss of what's supposedly the top championship in wrestling bothered him at all and was promptly shuffled back into the midcard tag team scene, which, if anything, attracted even more criticism than the squash loss itself.
* Every major main event of [=WrestleMania=] since 2021 has seen the company's top heel Wrestling/RomanReigns defeat the all-conquering white-hot babyface challengers.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Radio]]
* AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho:
** "Lucie Miller/To the Death" has one of the biggest Downer Endings in ''Doctor Who'', surpassing all the New Who endings. Tamsin is killed senselessly by the Daleks, upsetting the [[JerkassWoobie Monk]]. Alex and Lucy die defeating the Daleks, and by the end the Doctor is left broken.
** To make matters worse, and crossing into LiveActionTV, "The Night of the Doctor" short that serves as the sendoff for the Eighth Doctor confirms that the audios are canon in the context of the TV show. As it turns out, the Eighth Doctor hit the DespairEventHorizon afterward when his choice not to fight in the Time War and instead try to save lives didn't do much good. When he was fatally wounded and urged by the Sisterhood of Karn not to give up on his own life for the sake of the universe, he chose to give up his ideals instead, regenerating into the warrior responsible for the genocide of both the Daleks and his own people that brought the war to an end. The subsequent Doctors refuse to acknowledge this incarnation for centuries afterward, until the events of "The Day of the Doctor" allow for a happier outcome to the Time War -- which still doesn't make up for the Eighth Doctor's miserable descent into despair.
** Another spectacular example from Big Finish, [[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWho014TheHolyTerror "The Holy Terror,"]] concludes with the Doctor and Frobisher unable to save ''anyone.'' Frobisher's attempts to teach free will to the people of the Castle end with [[HumanoidAbomination The Child]] massacring them - the entire population of the world dying horrible while begging Frobisher for a miracle he can't provide. Though the Doctor manages to discover the truth behind the Castle and stop Eugene from carrying on [[EternalRecurrence the same cycle of murder and forgetting he's been stuck in for the last few thousand years]], he can't free him from his SelfInflictedHell: unwilling to spend another cycle in the prison dimension but [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone unable to forgive himself]], Eugene [[DrivenToSuicide allows the Child to kill him]]. In the end, the Doctor and Frobisher are the only survivors of the entire story, and both of them are horribly traumatized by what they've encountered.
** [[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWho045ProjectLazarus "Project Lazarus"]] has the rare distinction of having ''two'' downer endings: the Sixth Doctor's part in the story ends with the Doctor barely escaping the Forge alive, his attempts to cure Cassie having been AllForNothing; Cassie herself has been murdered by Nimrod, leaving her son an orphan; finally, Evelyn is [[HeroicBSOD deeply shaken]] and [[WhatTheHellHero not at all happy at the Doctor's attempts to bounce back from the disaster]]. Worse still, it's also revealed that Evelyn is [[SecretlyDying actually suffering from a serious heart condition]] - one of the reasons why she decided to go travelling with the Doctor in the first place - and might not be around much longer. Meanwhile, the ''Seventh'' Doctor's story ends with the Forge's base in ruins and the Huldran able to escape without being dissected... but Nimrod is still alive and setting up a new base in London, [[AlasPoorVillain the clone of Six died in despair with the rest of his brothers]], and the few [[PunchClockVillain sympathetic base personnel]] were either murdered by Nimrod or [[HeroicSacrifice died saving the Doctor]]. Seven, needless to say, is left shell-shocked by this incident and decides that [[Recap/DoctorWhoTVMTheTVMovie it's time to return home...]]
** The [[WhatIf Unbound]] story "[[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWhoUnboundE4HeJestsAtScars He Jests At Scars]]" ends with the [[EnemyWithout Valeyard]]'s efforts to alter history in his favour [[HoistbyHisOwnPetard blowing up in his face]], resulting in a cascade of temporal paradoxes that force him to retreat to his TARDIS full time in order to escape the collapse of the universe. In order to prevent him from doing even potential damage to history while the universe recovers, the TARDIS effectively paralyzes him, leaving him trapped in the console room with only a [[LotusEaterMachine virtual reality scenario]] to keep him occupied... until power drain forces the TARDIS to shut down that, too. Worse still, Mel - having been sent to stop the Valeyard - ends up trapped along with him, [[ShaggyDogStory leaving her mission to bring back the Doctor's personality a failure]]. In a final jab to the heart, it's revealed that the TARDIS will soon have to mute the two of them so their speech can't cause any potential damage either, leaving the Valeyard and Mel [[AndIMustScream paralyzed and speechless for all eternity]]. The story ends with Mel using her last few seconds of speech to whisper that she just wants to go home, and the Valeyard [[HeelRealization futilely apologizing for everything]] before he too falls silent forever.
* ''Radio/DimensionX'''s "[[Recap/DimensionX37PebbleInTheSky Pebble in the Sky]]": Because Joseph Schwarz and the Synapsifier are [[AdaptedOut removed]] from this adaptation of ''Literature/PebbleInTheSky'', the happy ending of the original cannot occur and Dr Arvardan predicts that all humanity will die, except for those native to Earth, and the science needed for interstellar travel will be lost.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Sports]]
* UsefulNotes/TheHolocaust is the setting of Canadian figure skater Roman Sadovsky's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EybhBi5TsHc long program]] from the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 competitive seasons, which features music from ''Film/SchindlersList''. His costume evokes the filth and blood of a concentration camp prisoner, and the jumps represent hard labour. It's the darkest program in the sport to date because Sadovsky maintains a haunting, grim tone throughout his performance. It ends on a hopeless note, as his character doesn't get rescued. His final pose consists of looking up to the sky (or the ceiling of his cell) with his arms outstretched as if pleading for help from the heavens, but the only response he receives is an ominous-sounding wind gust. It's TruthInTelevision because for nearly all victims of genocide, there is no happy ending.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* Though ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' ends with Gehenna, a vampire apocalypse, most of the potential Gehenna scenarios end on a surprisingly hopeful note. However, "The Crucible of God" scenario has three alternative endings, one of which is specifically intended for [[NightmareFetishist players who enjoy downers]]: "The Rest Is Silence" features the [[PhysicalGod Antediluvians]] draining all life from the face of the planet in their respective quests for godhood; every single species ''on the planet'' is driven into extinction, leaving Earth completely barren and lifeless. The only survivors are the players, and now that humanity is dead as the rest of the world, they have nothing left to feed on except each other; from there, they either commit suicide via sunlight, or sink into [[DeepSleep Torpor]] for all eternity. For added misery points, the instructions suggest that this final decision should be made in the decaying remains of the Garden of Eden, the only safe haven from the Antediluvians' death-throes.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'': No matter how you look at it, the human race is screwed: The GodEmperor's life support is failing, the Necrons are waking up, the Orks are everywhere, the Eldar are dying/being eaten by a GodOfEvil, Chaos can't be beaten as long as emotion still exists, and of course, the Tyranids will eat everything.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' has the aptly named "The End Times" series, which each book the heroes take a progressive beating, and it ''starts out'' with Chaos forces overrunning almost everyone and the Lizardmen pulling a "Screw this we're outta here". [[spoiler: The final book in the series, Archaon, apparently pulls an ApocalypseHow on the setting, destroying the very universe itself at the behest of the Chaos Gods.]]
* The storylines of some ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' sets and blocks have particularly nasty Downer Endings, since the next one will typically take place in an entirely different world anyway. In particular, "Scars of Mirrodin" ends with Mirrodin losing and Phyrexia's rebirth, "Khans of Tarkir" actually ends up with Tarkir a worse place after Sarkhan's temporal meddling leads to the clans being conquered by dragons instead of exterminating them, and "Theros" ends with Elspeth's needless death at the hands of Heliod.
* The board game {{Defictionalization}} of ''Franchise/{{Jumanji}}'' can have this happen in some playings. Each time a player lands on a space, the rest of the players have a limited amount of time to use their "rescue die" to save the player from the game's hazard they drew, otherwise said hazard manages to escape into the real world. Failure to do this ten times results in an automatic loss for all players.
* The Purist play mode of ''Trail of Cthulhu'' is meant to emulate your average CosmicHorrorStory in its most austere and bleak mood. The Purist scenario The Final Revelation ends with the [=PCs=] discovering that horrible alien gods have ALREADY devoured their reality before the scenario even began. The [=PCs=] immediately go insane as their world dissolves into surreal nightmares.
[[/folder]]
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# A similarly low-key or unhappy ending to an episode of a normally "happy" series. Also rare, due to the same reasons as above. Sometimes used in an attempt to get UsefulNotes/{{Emmy|Award}} nominations, or to at least surprise the viewer. When the series finale of an otherwise "happy" series is one of these, it's a SuddenDownerEnding.
to:
# A similarly low-key or unhappy ending to an episode of a normally "happy" series. Also rare, due to the same reasons as above. Sometimes used in an attempt to get UsefulNotes/{{Emmy|Award}} MediaNotes/{{Emmy|Award}} nominations, or to at least surprise the viewer. When the series finale of an otherwise "happy" series is one of these, it's a SuddenDownerEnding.
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# A similarly low-key or unhappy ending to an episode of a normally "happy" series. Also rare, due to the same reasons as above. Sometimes used in an attempt to get Emmy nominations, or to at least surprise the viewer. When the series finale of an otherwise "happy" series is one of these, it's a SuddenDownerEnding.
to:
# A similarly low-key or unhappy ending to an episode of a normally "happy" series. Also rare, due to the same reasons as above. Sometimes used in an attempt to get Emmy UsefulNotes/{{Emmy|Award}} nominations, or to at least surprise the viewer. When the series finale of an otherwise "happy" series is one of these, it's a SuddenDownerEnding.
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# A finale to a movie, a TV series or an episode of that TV series, a video game, or some other form of media that ends things in a way that varies from sad to {{trag|edy}}ic. These tend to be rare, as there is overwhelming pressure to tie loose ends up in a "{{happy|Ending}}" way. Sometimes done as a way to assure that the show, once canceled, cannot be revived later (similar to the GrandFinale), but sometimes leaves the show on a {{cliffhanger}}.
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# A finale to a movie, a TV series or an episode of that TV series, a video game, or some other form of media that ends things in a way that varies from sad [[TearJerker sad]] to {{trag|edy}}ic. These tend to be rare, as there is overwhelming pressure to tie loose ends up in a "{{happy|Ending}}" way. Sometimes done as a way to assure that the show, once canceled, cannot be revived later (similar to the GrandFinale), but sometimes leaves the show on a {{cliffhanger}}.
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See also GainaxEnding, BolivianArmyEnding, LastBreathBullet, CrapsackWorld, YankTheDogsChain, and ItsAWonderfulFailure. Occasionally, part of a {{Tragedy}} or an {{Utsuge}}. Sometimes a ForegoneConclusion, either because of a historical setting or if the work is a {{Prequel}}. [[TheHeroDies The hero may or may not die]]. Some video games feature this as a NonStandardGameOver, and in games with MultipleEndings, it's not uncommon for at least one of them to be a total bummer- though it’s very uncommon (and downright spiteful) for ''all'' of them to be downers. [[EsotericHappyEnding Realization of]] an InferredHolocaust may turn even the happiest of "happy endings" into one. Compare DownerBeginning. Contrast HappyEnding.
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See also GainaxEnding, BolivianArmyEnding, LastBreathBullet, CrapsackWorld, YankTheDogsChain, and ItsAWonderfulFailure. Occasionally, part of a {{Tragedy}} or an {{Utsuge}}. Sometimes a ForegoneConclusion, either because of a historical setting or if the work is a {{Prequel}}. [[TheHeroDies The hero may or may not die]]. Some video games feature this as a NonStandardGameOver, and in games with MultipleEndings, it's not uncommon for at least one of them to be a total bummer- though it’s very uncommon (and downright spiteful) for ''all'' of them to be downers. [[EsotericHappyEnding Realization of]] an InferredHolocaust may turn even the happiest of "happy endings" into one. When it’s caused by the work being unfinished, it’s a AccidentalDownerEnding. Compare DownerBeginning. Contrast HappyEnding.
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* DownerEnding/VisualNovels
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See also GainaxEnding, BolivianArmyEnding, LastBreathBullet, CrapsackWorld, YankTheDogsChain, and ItsAWonderfulFailure. Occasionally, part of a {{Tragedy}} or an {{Utsuge}}. Sometimes a ForegoneConclusion, either because of a historical setting or if the work is a {{Prequel}}. [[TheHeroDies The hero may or may not die]]. Some video games feature this as a NonStandardGameOver, and in games with MultipleEndings, it's not uncommon for at least one of them to be a total bummer. [[EsotericHappyEnding Realization of]] an InferredHolocaust may turn even the happiest of "happy endings" into one. Compare DownerBeginning. Contrast HappyEnding.
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See also GainaxEnding, BolivianArmyEnding, LastBreathBullet, CrapsackWorld, YankTheDogsChain, and ItsAWonderfulFailure. Occasionally, part of a {{Tragedy}} or an {{Utsuge}}. Sometimes a ForegoneConclusion, either because of a historical setting or if the work is a {{Prequel}}. [[TheHeroDies The hero may or may not die]]. Some video games feature this as a NonStandardGameOver, and in games with MultipleEndings, it's not uncommon for at least one of them to be a total bummer.bummer- though it’s very uncommon (and downright spiteful) for ''all'' of them to be downers. [[EsotericHappyEnding Realization of]] an InferredHolocaust may turn even the happiest of "happy endings" into one. Compare DownerBeginning. Contrast HappyEnding.
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Sometimes, a downer ending can conclude the character arcs in a very satisfying way, despite (or because of) being dark, if the characters are [[VillainProtagonist Villain Protagonists]] and people feel that [[LaserGuidedKarma they got what was coming to them]] (unless the ending is a downer because the villain protagonists [[TheBadGuyWins win]]). This is not an absolute rule however and there are cases where the audience can have enough sympathy and pity for the characters in question especially if they sympathetic qualities and poignant moments that can lead more into an AlasPoorVillain perspective, [[ProtagonistJourneyToVillain especially when the character in question was once a hero]]. Other times, it can be overused to the point it feels like a MandatoryTwistEnding. If it comes out of nowhere or is the result of an AssPull, then it may be the result of the writers summoning DiabolusExMachina. If enough people consider it fundamentally unjust, it may acquire the FanonDiscontinuity and {{Snicket Warning Label}}s.
EverybodyDiesEnding, ShootTheShaggyDog and TheBadGuyWins are particularly cruel variations of this. A {{Prequel}} may require one, or both; the HappyEnding was DoomedByCanon. It can be resulted into this if [[DoomedProtagonist the protagonist is doomed since beginning and dies at the end]], except when they [[FindTheCure get a cure]] or [[DeusExMachina miracle for this]].
If the ending mixes elements of happiness and Downer Ending, then it's a BittersweetEnding. If the whole adventure leading up to it turned out to be meaningless, then it's ShootTheShaggyDog. The CliffHanger is often a Downer Ending, but one implicitly not final; tune in next time to see how they retrieve this one.
See also GainaxEnding, BolivianArmyEnding, LastBreathBullet, CrapsackWorld, YankTheDogsChain, and ItsAWonderfulFailure. Occasionally, part of a {{Tragedy}} or an {{Utsuge}}. Sometimes a ForegoneConclusion, either because of a historical setting or if the work is a {{Prequel}}. [[TheHeroDies The hero may or may not die]]. Some video games feature this as a NonStandardGameOver. [[EsotericHappyEnding Realization of]] an InferredHolocaust may turn even the happiest of "happy endings" into one. Compare DownerBeginning. Contrast HappyEnding.
EverybodyDiesEnding, ShootTheShaggyDog and TheBadGuyWins are particularly cruel variations of this. A {{Prequel}} may require one, or both; the HappyEnding was DoomedByCanon. It can be resulted into this if [[DoomedProtagonist the protagonist is doomed since beginning and dies at the end]], except when they [[FindTheCure get a cure]] or [[DeusExMachina miracle for this]].
If the ending mixes elements of happiness and Downer Ending, then it's a BittersweetEnding. If the whole adventure leading up to it turned out to be meaningless, then it's ShootTheShaggyDog. The CliffHanger is often a Downer Ending, but one implicitly not final; tune in next time to see how they retrieve this one.
See also GainaxEnding, BolivianArmyEnding, LastBreathBullet, CrapsackWorld, YankTheDogsChain, and ItsAWonderfulFailure. Occasionally, part of a {{Tragedy}} or an {{Utsuge}}. Sometimes a ForegoneConclusion, either because of a historical setting or if the work is a {{Prequel}}. [[TheHeroDies The hero may or may not die]]. Some video games feature this as a NonStandardGameOver. [[EsotericHappyEnding Realization of]] an InferredHolocaust may turn even the happiest of "happy endings" into one. Compare DownerBeginning. Contrast HappyEnding.
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Sometimes, a downer ending can conclude the character arcs in a very satisfying way, despite (or because of) being dark, if the characters are [[VillainProtagonist Villain Protagonists]] and people feel that [[LaserGuidedKarma they got what was coming to them]] (unless the ending is a downer because the villain protagonists [[TheBadGuyWins win]]). This is not an absolute rule however rule, however, and there are cases where the audience can have enough sympathy and pity for the characters in question question, especially if they sympathetic qualities and poignant moments that can lead more into an AlasPoorVillain perspective, [[ProtagonistJourneyToVillain especially when the character in question was once a hero]]. Other times, it can be overused to the point it feels like a MandatoryTwistEnding. If it comes out of nowhere or is the result of an AssPull, then it may be the result of the writers summoning DiabolusExMachina. If enough people consider it fundamentally unjust, it may acquire the FanonDiscontinuity and {{Snicket Warning Label}}s.
EverybodyDiesEnding,ShootTheShaggyDog ShootTheShaggyDog, and TheBadGuyWins are particularly cruel variations of this. A {{Prequel}} may require one, or both; the HappyEnding was DoomedByCanon. It can be resulted into this if [[DoomedProtagonist the protagonist is doomed since the beginning and dies at the end]], except when they [[FindTheCure get a cure]] or [[DeusExMachina miracle for this]].
If the ending mixes elements of happiness and Downer Ending, then it's a BittersweetEnding. If the whole adventure leading up to it turned out to be meaningless, then it's ShootTheShaggyDog. The CliffHanger is often a Downer Ending, but one that's implicitly not final; tune in next time to see how they retrieve this one.
See also GainaxEnding, BolivianArmyEnding, LastBreathBullet, CrapsackWorld, YankTheDogsChain, and ItsAWonderfulFailure. Occasionally, part of a {{Tragedy}} or an {{Utsuge}}. Sometimes a ForegoneConclusion, either because of a historical setting or if the work is a {{Prequel}}. [[TheHeroDies The hero may or may not die]]. Some video games feature this as aNonStandardGameOver.NonStandardGameOver, and in games with MultipleEndings, it's not uncommon for at least one of them to be a total bummer. [[EsotericHappyEnding Realization of]] an InferredHolocaust may turn even the happiest of "happy endings" into one. Compare DownerBeginning. Contrast HappyEnding.
EverybodyDiesEnding,
If the ending mixes elements of happiness and Downer Ending, then it's a BittersweetEnding. If the whole adventure leading up to it turned out to be meaningless, then it's ShootTheShaggyDog. The CliffHanger is often a Downer Ending, but one that's implicitly not final; tune in next time to see how they retrieve this one.
See also GainaxEnding, BolivianArmyEnding, LastBreathBullet, CrapsackWorld, YankTheDogsChain, and ItsAWonderfulFailure. Occasionally, part of a {{Tragedy}} or an {{Utsuge}}. Sometimes a ForegoneConclusion, either because of a historical setting or if the work is a {{Prequel}}. [[TheHeroDies The hero may or may not die]]. Some video games feature this as a
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* DownerEnding/ComicStrips
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* DownerEnding/ProfessionalWrestling
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Sometimes, a downer ending can conclude the character arcs in a very satisfying way, despite (or because of) being dark, if the characters are [[VillainProtagonist Villain Protagonists]] and people feel that [[LaserGuidedKarma they got what was coming to them]]. This is not an absolute rule however and there are cases where the audience can have enough sympathy and pity for the characters in question especially if they sympathetic qualities and poignant moments that can lead more into an AlasPoorVillain perspective, [[ProtagonistJourneyToVillain especially when the character in question was once a hero]]. Other times, it can be overused to the point it feels like a MandatoryTwistEnding. If it comes out of nowhere or is the result of an AssPull, then it may be the result of the writers summoning DiabolusExMachina. If enough people consider it fundamentally unjust, it may acquire the FanonDiscontinuity and {{Snicket Warning Label}}s.
to:
Sometimes, a downer ending can conclude the character arcs in a very satisfying way, despite (or because of) being dark, if the characters are [[VillainProtagonist Villain Protagonists]] and people feel that [[LaserGuidedKarma they got what was coming to them]].them]] (unless the ending is a downer because the villain protagonists [[TheBadGuyWins win]]). This is not an absolute rule however and there are cases where the audience can have enough sympathy and pity for the characters in question especially if they sympathetic qualities and poignant moments that can lead more into an AlasPoorVillain perspective, [[ProtagonistJourneyToVillain especially when the character in question was once a hero]]. Other times, it can be overused to the point it feels like a MandatoryTwistEnding. If it comes out of nowhere or is the result of an AssPull, then it may be the result of the writers summoning DiabolusExMachina. If enough people consider it fundamentally unjust, it may acquire the FanonDiscontinuity and {{Snicket Warning Label}}s.
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Fairy tales has it's own section on other, i just moved those entries to there
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[[AC: Fairy Tales]]
* Creator/HansChristianAndersen's "Literature/TheLittleMatchGirl" is about a poor girl trying to sell matches on a freezing New Year's Eve. After failing to sell any matches and desperate to stay warm, the girl begins to light them to use them herself, all while hallucinating better times she's had with her late grandmother. In the end, she's used up all her matches and [[DeathOfAChild frozen to death]], with her body being found by passers-by the next morning on New Year's Day. Ameliorated by the epilogue showing she has gone to Heaven, where she becomes reunited with her grandmother and nothing can hurt her again]].
* Creator/AlexanderAfanasyev's "Literature/{{Kolobok}}": The main character -a sentient little bun- is eaten by a cunning fox. Meanwhile, the poor old couple who baked it is left with nothing to eat.
* Creator/HansChristianAndersen's "Literature/TheLittleMatchGirl" is about a poor girl trying to sell matches on a freezing New Year's Eve. After failing to sell any matches and desperate to stay warm, the girl begins to light them to use them herself, all while hallucinating better times she's had with her late grandmother. In the end, she's used up all her matches and [[DeathOfAChild frozen to death]], with her body being found by passers-by the next morning on New Year's Day. Ameliorated by the epilogue showing she has gone to Heaven, where she becomes reunited with her grandmother and nothing can hurt her again]].
* Creator/AlexanderAfanasyev's "Literature/{{Kolobok}}": The main character -a sentient little bun- is eaten by a cunning fox. Meanwhile, the poor old couple who baked it is left with nothing to eat.
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This page has a spoilers warning. As per Spoilers Off, it shouldn't have spoiler tags then.
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[[folder:Fairy Tales]]
* Creator/HansChristianAndersen's "Literature/TheLittleMatchGirl" is about a poor girl trying to sell matches on a freezing New Year's Eve. After failing to sell any matches and desperate to stay warm, the girl begins to light them to use them herself, all while hallucinating better times she's had with her late grandmother. At the end she's used up all her matches and [[DeathOfAChild frozen to death]], with her body being found by passerbies next morning on New Year's Day. [[spoiler:Ameliorated by the epilogue showing she has gone to Heaven, where she becomes reunited with her grandmother and nothing can hurt her again]].
* Creator/HansChristianAndersen's "Literature/TheLittleMatchGirl" is about a poor girl trying to sell matches on a freezing New Year's Eve. After failing to sell any matches and desperate to stay warm, the girl begins to light them to use them herself, all while hallucinating better times she's had with her late grandmother. At the end she's used up all her matches and [[DeathOfAChild frozen to death]], with her body being found by passerbies next morning on New Year's Day. [[spoiler:Ameliorated by the epilogue showing she has gone to Heaven, where she becomes reunited with her grandmother and nothing can hurt her again]].
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* Creator/HansChristianAndersen's "Literature/TheLittleMatchGirl" is about a poor girl trying to sell matches on a freezing New Year's Eve. After failing to sell any matches and desperate to stay warm, the girl begins to light them to use them herself, all while hallucinating better times she's had with her late grandmother.
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[[/folder]]
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[[folder:Fairy Tales]]
* Creator/HansChristianAndersen's "Literature/TheLittleMatchGirl" is about a poor girl trying to sell matches on a freezing New Year's Eve. After failing to sell any matches and desperate to stay warm, the girl begins to light them to use them herself, all while hallucinating better times she's had with her late grandmother. At the end she's used up all her matches and [[DeathOfAChild frozen to death]], with her body being found by passerbies next morning on New Year's Day. [[spoiler:Ameliorated by the epilogue showing she has gone to Heaven, where she becomes reunited with her grandmother and nothing can hurt her again]].
* Creator/AlexanderAfanasyev's "Literature/{{Kolobok}}": The main character -a sentient little bun- is eaten by a cunning fox. Meanwhile, the poor old couple who baked it is left with nothing to eat.
[[/folder]]
* Creator/HansChristianAndersen's "Literature/TheLittleMatchGirl" is about a poor girl trying to sell matches on a freezing New Year's Eve. After failing to sell any matches and desperate to stay warm, the girl begins to light them to use them herself, all while hallucinating better times she's had with her late grandmother. At the end she's used up all her matches and [[DeathOfAChild frozen to death]], with her body being found by passerbies next morning on New Year's Day. [[spoiler:Ameliorated by the epilogue showing she has gone to Heaven, where she becomes reunited with her grandmother and nothing can hurt her again]].
* Creator/AlexanderAfanasyev's "Literature/{{Kolobok}}": The main character -a sentient little bun- is eaten by a cunning fox. Meanwhile, the poor old couple who baked it is left with nothing to eat.
[[/folder]]
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-->-- "Literature/CaseyAtTheBat" by Ernest Thayer
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-->-- "Literature/CaseyAtTheBat" by The final lines of Ernest Thayer
Thayer's ''Literature/CaseyAtTheBat''
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Camel Case preferred to curly braces.
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Many stories have a {{happy ending}}. Sometimes, the characters [[EarnYourHappyEnding have to earn it]]. Sometimes, [[DeusExMachina a random last-minute swerve saves the day]]. And sometimes, [[BittersweetEnding things are kind of dark, but ultimately look like they'll work out]].
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Many stories have a {{happy ending}}.HappyEnding. Sometimes, the characters [[EarnYourHappyEnding have to earn it]]. Sometimes, [[DeusExMachina a random last-minute swerve saves the day]]. And sometimes, [[BittersweetEnding things are kind of dark, but ultimately look like they'll work out]].
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KillEmAll, ShootTheShaggyDog and TheBadGuyWins are particularly cruel variations of this. A {{Prequel}} may require one, or both; the HappyEnding was DoomedByCanon. It can be resulted into this if [[DoomedProtagonist the protagonist is doomed since beginning and dies at the end]], except when they [[FindTheCure get a cure]] or [[DeusExMachina miracle for this]].
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