History TearJerker / Dinosaurs

* The BittersweetEnding of Endangered Species. The episode brings us the Grapdelites who are an extraordinarily delicious species of mammal that Earl buys for his anniversary with Fran. They are the last of their kind. While they're waiting to be eaten, they manage to befriend Robbie and help him understand why consuming food in moderation is important. Robbie manages to convince Earl not to sell them to Mr.Richfield so they can repopulate and preserve their species. Unfortunately, Earl brings the Grapdelites to Mr. Richfield's office to explain that they aren't for sale anymore and return the money that Mr. Richfield paid for them. After Earl's explanation, he pretends to be on board with the idea of preserving the species and promises that the corporation will help. He states that all Earl has to do is leave the box behind and that he can even take the money and buy himself something nice. [[TooDumbToLive Earl takes his word for it and immediately leaves the office.]] [[LethallyStupid All the while blathering about how he never knew corporations could be so kind and caring.]] We hear a nauseating crunch and only then does Earl realize his mistake. The episode ends with a HopeSpot in which the Grapdelites leave a couple of eggs in Robbie's room.

*** Many previous episodes had shown that Robbie, Charlene, and even Baby are more environmentally conscious than their parents. Their generation could have easily been better stewards of the environment than the previous one had... but now they'll never get the chance.

* The BittersweetEnding of Endangered Species. The episode brings us the Grapdelites who are an extraordinarily delicious species of mammal that Earl buys for his anniversary with Fran. They are the last of their kind. While they're waiting to be eaten, they manage to befriend Robbie and help him understand why consuming food in moderation is important. Robbie manages to convince Earl not to sell them to Mr.Richfield so they can repopulate and preserve their species. Unfortunately, Earl brings the Grapdelites to Mr. Richfield's office to explain that they aren't for sale anymore and return the money that Mr. Richfield paid for them. After Earl's explanation, he pretends to be on board with the idea of preserving the species and promises that the corporation will help. He states that all Earl has to do is leave the box behind and that he can even take the money and buy himself something nice. [[TooDumbToLive Earl takes his word for it and immediately leaves the office.]] [[LethallyStupid All the while blathering about how he never knew corporations could be so kind and caring.]] We hear a nauseating crunch and only then does Earl realize his mistake. The episode ends with a HopeSpot in that the grapdelites left a couple of eggs in Robbie's Room.

** The BittersweetEnding of Endangered Species. The episode brings us the Grapdelites who are an extraordinarily delicious species of mammal that Earl buys for his anniversary with Fran. They are the last of their kind. While they're waiting to be eaten, they manage to befriend Robbie and help him understand why consuming food in moderation is important. Robbie manages to convince Earl not to sell them to Mr.Richfield so they can repopulate and preserve their species. Unfortunately, Earl brings the Grapdelites to Mr. Richfield's office to explain that they aren't for sale anymore and return the money that Mr. Richfield paid for them. After Earl's explanation, he pretends to be on board with the idea of preserving the species and promises that the corporation will help. He states that all Earl has to do is leave the box behind and that he can even take the money and buy himself something nice. [[TooDumbToLive Earl takes his word for it and immediately leaves the office.]] [[LethallyStupid All the while blathering about how he never knew corporations could be so kind and caring.]] We hear a nauseating crunch and only then does Earl realize his mistake. The episode ends with a HopeSpot in that the grapdelites left a couple of eggs in Robbie's Room.

* What Fran goes through in "Switched at Birth" is hard not to feel sympathy for. In spite of alarming evidence proving that it is more than likely the case, Fran just can't bring herself to accept that the child she raised isn't her real child. [[spoiler: Fortunately, it turns out in the end that there was never a mix-up in the first place and that the doctor flubbed the DNA test, so Baby actually was the Sinclairs' child all along.]]

-->'''Earl Sinclair''': ''(crying)'' They took him away to a beautiful place on a wonderful life where he'll get everything he'll ever need! And I'm not gonna be the one who gives it to him!

* What Fran goes through in "Switched at Birth" is hard not to feel sympathy for. In spite of alarming evidence proving that it is more than likely the case, Fran just can't bring herself to accept that the child she raised isn't her real child. [[spoiler: Fortunately, it turns out in the end that there was never a mix-up in the first place and that the doctor flubbed the DNA test, so Baby actually was the Sinclairs' child all along.]]
* Similarly, in "The Golden Child", the entire family missing Baby (with Earl eventually breaking down), after giving him away to the ancient dinosaurs, due to a prophecy.
-->'''Earl Sinclair''': ''(crying)'' They took him away to a beautiful place on a wonderful life where he'll get everything he'll ever need! And I'm not gonna be the one who gives it to him!
* The culmination of "Driving Miss Ethyl". After routine shenanigans as two characters who hate each other are forced to share the small space of a car as Earl drives Ethyl to her 60th high school reunion, they finally arrive at the celebration. Except no one is there. In fact, Ethyl is the ''only'' person they were expecting: all the others, including all of Ethyl's closest friends, have passed away.

** But the most harrowing part about this ending? Most (if not all) of the show's main cast had grown to be likable, sympathetic characters, and now, thanks to the [[ForegoneConclusion forthcoming]] Ice Age, they'll all eventually die from lack of food, and as Howard Handupme confirmed, the Sun will not shine upon Pangaea for millenniums to come. In short, we'll never get to see them, not even on TV, again. Not even Baby Sinclair has made a single appearance since the end of ''Dinosaurs'', and his puppet is, to date, the sole surviving one from the series.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/l5dmoue75wd21_0.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"I'm sure it will all work out OK. After all, dinosaurs have been on this earth for a hundred-fifty million years! And it's not like we're gonna just... disappear."]]

* The ending of the episode "If You Were a Tree", when the tree is blown up by the dynamite.

** But the most harrowing part about this ending? Most (if not all) of the show's main cast had grown to be likable, sympathetic characters, and now, thanks to the [[ForegoneConclusion forthcoming]] Ice Age, we'll never get to see them, not even on TV, again. Not even Baby Sinclair has made a single appearance since the end of ''Dinosaurs'', and his puppet is, to date, the sole surviving one from the series.

** But the most harrowing part about this ending? Most (if not all) of the show's main cast had grown to be likable, sympathetic characters, and now, thanks to the [[ForegoneConclusion forthcoming]] Ice Age, we'll never get to see them, not even on TV, again. Not even ''the Baby!''

** But the most harrowing part about this ending? Most (if not all) of the show's main cast had grown to be likable, sympathetic characters, and now, thanks to the [[ForegoneConclusion oncoming]] UsefulNotes/IceAge, we'll never see them, not even on TV, again. Not even ''the Baby!''

'''Earl:''' Well, little guy, what happened was... Daddy was put in charge of the world, and he didn't take real good care of it. And now it looks like there won't be much of a world left for you, and your brother and sister to live in. \\

-->'''Howard Handupme''': And taking a look at the long-range forecast: continued snow, darkness, and extreme cold. This is Howard Handupme. Goodnight... Goodbye.
** Special mention to the look Handupme makes during the pause between "Goodnight" and "Goodbye": he slightly lowers his head in a somber manner, perhaps knowing full well that he and all the other dinosaurs are not going to live on much longer due to the destruction the dinosaurs have inflicted, both directly and indirectly, on their world, and he is concluding his final broadcast, almost prepared to face his demise. Props to Handupme's performer, Kevin Clash, for pulling off the convincing expression.

-->'''Robbie Sinclair''': Well, I'm saying it's terrible that guy got killed and all, but you know we had those four-leggers on the run, we could've won it.
-->'''Earl Sinclair''': A boy died, It wasn't worth it. The fighting didn't solve anything don't you see that?

* The ending of "Charlene's Tale". Charlene's tail grows and she gets a date with a boy, to Earl's dismay. He stays up until late waiting for her and when she arrives, he yells she won't have a date again, to which she just mutters she is okay with it. Both Earl and Fran exchange glances, seeing there is something wrong. Charlene explains it was the ''most humiliating' experience she ever had as the boy met another girl with a bigger tail than hers and left Charlene to walk home alone. This is both a tearjerker (considering how happy she was with the whole deal) and heartwarming due to Earl's speech to Charlene on how the boy wasn't even truly dating her since he left her so easily. He completes saying how he will be there to protect her if she wants and Charlene tearfully replies that she does and hugs him.

-->'''Howard Handupme''': And taking a look at the long-range forecast: continued snow, darkness, and extreme cold. This is Howard Handupme. Goodnight... goodbye.

'''Earl:''' And I guess I owe the rest of you an apology too. You know, for bringing on the end of the world and civilization and everything. And I know I put too much faith in progress and technology, and had too little respect for nature. But it's so easy to take nature for granted because it's always there! And technology is so bright and shiny and new. \\

'''Robbie:''' But what ever it is, nobody's gonna leave you. \\
'''Charlene:''' That's right little guy. We'll all stay together. \\

-->'''Howard Handupme''': And taking a look at the long range forecast: continued snow, darkness, and extreme cold. This is Howard Handupme. Goodnight... goodbye.

*** Many previous episodes had shown that Robbie, Charlene and even Baby are more environmentally conscious than their parents. Their generation could have easily been better stewards of the environment than the previous one had... but now they'll never get the chance.
* What Fran goes through in "Switched at Birth" is hard not to feel sympathy for. In spite of alarming evidence proving that it is more than likely the case, Fran just can't bring herself to accept that the child she raised isn't her real child. [[spoiler:Fortunately, it turns out in the end that there was never a mix-up in the first place and that the doctor flubbed the DNA test, so Baby actually was the Sinclairs' child all along.]]

-->'''Earl Sinclair''': A boy died, don't you see the fighting didn't solve anything?