History TearJerker / DowntonAbbey

** [[spoiler: What's horrible about his death is that just before the accident, he looks so ''happy.'' For the first time since he's been at Downton, everything is going well, and then the truck...]]

* Poor old Sir Michael Reresby, the man Thomas goes to for a job interview. His wife has died, his two sons died in World War I. He like many BlueBloods are slowly going broke as most of his large house is empty he seems to live entirely in one room with his laundry drying by the fire place and old worn-out furniture. He has only a part time maid and gardener for staff. As he describes the good old days that he swears are going to come back.

* [[spoiler: Sybil's horrific death via eclampsia in 3x05, complete with seizures, Mary, Tom, and Cora begging her to stay with them, and a lingering shot of Tom looking out the window of Downton while holding their newborn daughter. If you weren't in tears by the end of the episode, you have no soul.]]

** Even worce is when Isobel does try to see George, the nanny sends her away.

* Admit it: you too felt sorry for Thomas when [[spoiler: he's forcefully and loudly rejected by Jimmy. Even worse: Alfred sees the whole thing and is then coerced into telling Carson by O'Brien.]] He just stands there in the middle of the hallway, tears brimming as he realizes that everything he's worked/schemed for is falling to pieces now that [[spoiler: his secret is out.]] Made even sadder by the fact that everyone (Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Patmore, Bates, Mary and even Robert) knew, and none of them cared. All of his worrying and scheming, not to mention the chip on his shoulder, could have been avoided. If he only knew that Robert was aware of his 'secret', the blackmailing scheme wouldn't have gone anywhere.

** Just how *broken* Thomas seems when Bates is up in his room. Much as we've loved to hate him, seeing him brought so low made this troper want to wrap him in blankets and give him a big hug.

** Arguably, he deserved being chewed out by Robert for such despicable behavior -- it's all very well being sad afterwards, but joining in with the burning of a family home is appalling, no matter how worthy he believes his political ideals to be. It can also be CrowningMomentOfAwesome on Robert's behalf, having endured endless tetchy politicking from Branson for half of the third series, and his incredulity at Branson's change of heart is understandable.

* The whole of episode 205: [[spoiler:William dies and marries Daisy on his deathbed, Matthew's spine is damaged and he cannot walk or be "properly married" to any woman, we see Ethel struggling to cope with her illegitimate child, Mary becomes engaged to Richard Carlisle despite still loving Matthew and Bates and Anna still can't get rid of Vera.]]

* After saving Jimmy from those thugs, and getting badly beaten in the process, Thomas is so surprised and grateful that Jimmy is willing to be his friend.

* Admit it: you too felt sorry for Thomas when [[spoiler: he's forcefully and loudly rejected by Jimmy. Even worse: Alfred sees the whole thing and is then coerced into telling Carson by O'Brien.]] He just stands there in the middle of the hallway, tears brimming as he realizes that everything he's worked/schemed for is falling to pieces now that [[spoiler: his secret is out.]]
** And later when he's outside, crouched in a corner, hat in hands, weeping and Mrs. Hughes asks him what's wrong...

** The look on Thomas's face every time Andrew turns down his offers to do things with him or teach him jobs. He really does just want friendship with the guy and every time he's turned away, he looks like he's trying so hard to mask over tears.

** What makes it even worse is that the reason Edith didn't want Mary to find out the truth about Marigold was because she was afraid Mary would use the information as a weapon against her. [[spoiler:She was right. After finding out, Mary uses the information to ruin the best chance of happiness her sister has had in the entire series.]]

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* In Series One, when Sybil insists on helping Gwen find a job as a secretary, Gwen gives a rather touching speech about how members of the working-class do not easily achieve their dreams as the Crawleys seem to:
-->'''Gwen''': Forgive me, m’lady, but you don’t get it. You’re brought up to think it’s all within your grasp, that if you want something enough it will come to you; but we’re not like that. We don’t think our dreams are bound to come true, because they almost never do.
** This turns into a heartwarming moment, as Sybil assures her that is precisely why they must keep at it. And sure enough Sybil is able to get Gwen an interview in the next episode.
* [[ManlyTears "It was a boy."]]

* Robert and Sybil's fight over Branson, who was being blamed for getting Sybil hurt in episode 6. She threatens to run away.
-->'''Robert''': [[SarcasmMode And where will you go?]]
-->'''Sybil''': [[LameComeback Well, I can't think now]], but I will go and you'll be sorry.
-->'''Robert''': I am sorry. Very sorry indeed.

* Ms O'Brien gets one actually. Thinking Cora is planning to dismiss her, in the heat of the moment she leaves soap on the bathroom floor. Immediately as soon as she's out of the room, she has a HeelRealization - "Sarah O'Brien, you are ''not'' like this" - and goes to warn Cora about the soap. Unfortunately she's too late and Cora suffers a miscarriage as a result.

* The look on Matthew's face when [[spoiler: Lavina dies.]]
** The [[spoiler: funeral]] as well, when [[spoiler: Matthew says he and Mary are cursed is sooo sad if you consider [[HarsherInHindsight what will happen to Matthew]] in the second Christmas special.]]
*** Mr. Mason and Daisy at William's grave. Stop.

* Edith maintaining that the disfigured soldier really was their presumed dead cousin Patrick.
-->We're his family and we drove him away.
* ''"Go back with them then, if you think they can make you happier than I will"''. Branson's voice (and his heart) breaks when he says this.

** And all the servants are seen crying when they hear the news of [[spoiler: Sybil's death]]. Even Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes can't hold back their tears
-->'''Mr Carson''': I've known her since she was a baby.
-->'''Mrs Hughes:''' The sweetest spirit under this roof is gone.

* Thomas telling Bates, who is working on their new home with Anna, that he envies him for being a part of a happy couple everyone supports, while he will [[{{Gayngst}} never experience that]].

* The Dowager, in Episode 4.08, keeping quiet over the reveal of Edith's pregnancy.

* After Edna has taken advantage of Tom's loneliness and the fact that he was, by his own admission, ''very'' drunk to get him into bed, she tries to spring the rest of her [[BabyTrap Baby Trap]] on him by telling him that if he was good enough for Sybil, she's good enough for him, his knee-jerk response is to angrily forbid her from using his wife's name. But it's Edna's blink-and-miss-it response which really clinches it: "You were free enough with it last night." Oh, ''Tom''...
* Daisy putting on a brave face to congratulate Alfred, then breaking down in tears afterwards.

* Isis [[spoiler:dying of cancer, spending her last night nestled between Robert and Cora in their bed after Robert had spent the last few scenes carrying her around like a lost little boy.]]
* Mrs. Patmore's attempt to get her nephew, who was shot for cowardice during WWI, a place on the Downton war memorial is pretty heartrending; especially when she defends him to Robert telling him about how he could have stayed at home until he was conscripted but instead had joined up right away.

* A tragically horrifying meta example: Just after Downton wrapped up production, [[http://www.people.com/article/michelle-dockery-fiance-dead-at-34 Michelle Dockery's real life fiance was diagonsed with cancer and passed away at 34.]] She in fact cut her American promotional tour short so she could be by his side when he died. Damn...

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*** Hell, even ''Thomas'' breaks down.

* Matthew's [[spoiler: apparent ''death'' at the end of the second Christmas special has already sent fans into outrage.]]
** [[spoiler: What's horrible about his death (nothing 'apparent' about it, with Dan Stevens declining to return for series four) is that just before the accident, he looks so ''happy.'' For the first time since he's been at Downton, everything is going well, and then the truck...]]

* Isobel's reaction to [[spoiler:Mary getting friendly with Anthony. She knows full well that she can't expect Mary to pine after Matthew for the rest of her life, but it still hurts for her to watch.]]

* Edith maintaining that the disfigured soldier really was their presumed dead cousin Patrick.
-->We're his family and we drove him away.
* Mary's breakdown back in season 1 because of her father's [[LikeASonToMe attention to Matthew]]. She then lashes out at her mother who is no longer fighting the entail not because she's female but because she believes she's not worthy.
* Robert and Sybil's fight over Branson, who was being blamed for getting Sybil hurt in episode 6. She threatens to run away.
-->'''Robert''': [[SarcasmMode And where will you go?]]
-->'''Sybil''': [[LameComeback Well, I can't think now]], but I will go and you'll be sorry.
-->'''Robert''': I am sorry. Very sorry indeed.
** And, judging by Season 2's ending, she's probably not kidding here - the comeback may be lame... but she damn well means it.
* ''"Go back with them then, if you think they can make you happier than I will"''. Branson's voice (and his heart) breaks when he says this.
* The Dowager, in Episode 4.08, keeping quiet over the reveal of Edith's pregnancy.

* Mrs. Patmore's attempt to get her nephew, who was shot for cowardice during WWI, a place on the Downton war memorial is pretty heartrending; especially when she defends him to Robert telling him about how he could have stayed at home until he was conscripted but instead had joined up right away.

* Phyllis Baxter's face when [[spoiler:she realizes what Thomas has done]] in the series 6 finale. Whether Thomas knows it or not, there is ''one'' person in that household who gives a damn about him -- and [[spoiler:her heart is visibly breaking for him]].

* The fact that as of season six, 95% of the household is no longer bothering to disguise their contempt and loathing for Thomas. His bitter "You're wrong about me, Miss Baxter - I ''do'' care about what people think of me" is heartwrenching. He's gone from being one of the top dogs of the household to little more than a nuisance, and he knows it.

* Isis [[spoiler:dying of cancer, spending her last night nestled between Robert and Cora in their bed after Robert had spent the last few scenes carrying her around like a lost little boy.]]

** Even worse is that [[spoiler: she doesn't even get to say goodbye to Bates properly, unlike in season two where they were allowed to exchange endearments before Bates was arrested.]]