History Tearjerker / DegrassiTheNextGeneration

* Emma's bio father Shane. After taking an LSD that lead to him falling off a bridge and being permanently brain-damaged, he now resides in a living assistance home, which Emma only finds out when she gets there.

* Campbell's suicide in the episode "Bittersweet Symphony." Credit must be given to all the cast members for portraying such a wide range of realistic reactions to the suicide, with particular praise for Demetrius Joyette showing Dallas' guilt.

* That freaking ending to #OMFG from Degrassi:
** Next Class. After the girls win the volleyball match and everything seems to be going well, it turns out half the cast ended up in a bus crash. The image they show of the crashed bus alone can send a viewer into tears, but what really hits the nail is when Shay tries calling Tiny, holding back tears and his voicemail picks up. The mere fact half of the characters we got to know and love or hate are probably dead, most with an arc in the show. Plus knowing this show next season could very well have all the characters on the bus die, half or a couple. Either way this was an incredible cliffhanger.

* In season 9 episode 16, when Sav breaks up with Anya [[spoiler: after learning she lied to him about being being on the pill before they had sex]]. Anya looks equally heartbroken and ashamed as she watches her and Sav’s interview about their future run during the morning announcements.

* [[spoiler: Campbell's suicide in the episode "Bittersweet Symphony." Credit must be given to all the cast members for portraying such a wide range of realistic reactions to the suicide, with particular praise for Demetrius Joyette showing Dallas' guilt]].
* This exchange from part 2 of "Bittersweet Symphony" between Jake and Eli, as they discuss [[spoiler:Eli discovering Cam's body in the greenhouse:]]
--> [[spoiler:'''Jake''']]:[[spoiler: Is my garden gonna be haunted now?]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Eli''']]:[[spoiler: Nah... Just me...]]
** Doubles as NightmareFuel, ESPECIALLY in the episodes that follow...

* [[spoiler: Maya finally breaking down after Campbell's suicide]] towards the end of "Zombie".
--> '''Maya:''' [[spoiler: He broke up with me by ''killing himself''! '''I ''HATE'' HIM!''' I HATE HIM! I feel like I'm never gonna be happy again! And everyday, it just gets worse and worse-- I can't miss him anymore! I can't, I don't want to! ''[beat]'' He never even said goodbye...]]
* [[spoiler:Drew's reaction to finding out about Adam's death. He says Adam's name and collapses into his mom's arms sobbing.]]
** [[spoiler:Dallas's reaction is just as bad. [[ThousandYardStare He gives a kind of traumatized stare]] and just backs away. Especially sad when you realize that this is the second time a friend of his has died, meaning he is probably remembering Cam's death all over again.]]
** [[spoiler:Becky, Drew, and Clare all have extremely heartbreaking moments in the next episode. Drew is completely torn up about his death, first blaming Becky and then himself for Adam's death then falling apart completely in front of Bianca at one point. Clare's cancer goes into remission, but [[SurvivorGuilt she feels guilty about going to Adam's memorial because she got to live and he didn't]]. Becky tries to throw a bonfire in honor of Adam, but believes that all of his friends absolutely hate her and tries so hard to make it perfect. Of course, a large amount of people show up, leading to the most devastating speech that she gives while in tears.]]
---> [[spoiler:'''Becky''']]:[[spoiler:So many people came. Just not the one I wanted... I'm so lost without you. Bye Adam Torres... I love you.]]
* "Unbelievable" is basically a two-part, nonstop tearjerker. Nearly every moment Zoe's onscreen during this episode is devastating. Then we have the scenes when [[spoiler:Becky finds out that her brother Luke was one of the players who raped Zoe, and then decides the right thing to do is turn him into the authorities at the end despite knowing that it will likely destroy her family.]]

* That freaking ending to #OMFG from Degrassi: Next Class. [[spoiler: After the girls win the volleyball match and everything seems to be going well, it turns out half the cast ended up in a bus crash. The image they show of the crashed bus alone can send a viewer into tears, but what really hits the nail is when Shay tries calling Tiny, holding back tears and his voicemail picks up. The mere fact half of the characters we got to know and love or hate are probably dead, most with an arc in the show. Plus knowing this show next season could very well have all the characters on the bus die, half or a couple. Either way this was an incredible cliffhanger.]]
** The impact of [[spoiler:the bus crash]] is also a major TearJerker. Multiple characters are affected: [[spoiler:Miles is worried about Tristan, Zoe about Grace, Shay and Lola about Tiny, Frankie about Jonah, and so many major characters are in danger.]]

* Maya's depression and isolation from her friends in season three, culminating in Maya [[spoiler: attempting suicide.]]
* Esme's backstory is surprisingly tragic; [[spoiler: when she was ''ten'' she found her mom [[DrivenToSuicide overdosed]] and couldn't save her, which resulted in her father blaming Esme for her mother's death.]]
** Esme in general, really. While she is a force of chaos and self-destruction, it's hard not to feel some sympathy for her. She clearly has some lingering trauma from the above mentioned, and definitely seems to suffer from a psychological disorder of some sort. (While it's not said on-screen, many fans believe she shows traits of borderline personality disorder or manic depression, if not a terrible combination of both.) Next Class season 4 really shows how unhinged she's become, [[spoiler: especially in the wake of discovering Maya's unconscious body. Her actions this season include manipulating Frankie into a three-way relationship with her and Zig, faking an allergy attack for attention, calling in a bomb threat to prom, accidentally pushing Zig down a hill in a fit of panic and breaking his leg, buying a motorcycle for him to get him back...]] While none of her actions are truly excusable or sympathetic, it is hard to watch her spiral downward. It all comes to a head in the season finale when she completely breaks down crying in Zig's arms as other characters look on in sorrow.

* ''Everyone'''s reactions to [[spoiler: Maya's suicide attempt]]. Grace and Zig especially, as they brushed her off when she needed help and blame themselves for it. Ultimately it's Esme, of all people, who tries to keep them calm, saying that they can never know what someone is really thinking or what they might do.
** It's also hard to not think of [[HistoryRepeats Cam's suicide]], especially when you compare [[spoiler: [[https://degrassitv.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/photo-jan-22-2-06-56-am.png?w=900&h=506 these]] [[https://degrassitv.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/camparallel.jpg?w=900&h=498 two]] pictures]]. [[spoiler:Maya]] even mentions his death during her struggle at one point, showing that it still hasn't stopped affecting her even years later.
* Zoe's reaction on graduation day when [[spoiler: her stepfather delivers a box of the documents she needs for college (birth certificate, etc.), which is her mother's way of decisively saying she doesn't want Zoe in her life anymore. She clearly is broken by this, trying to smile and assure Rasha she's fine. However when she tries to give her valedictorian speech, she breaks down in tears and runs off stage when she gets to the part thanking families for their support.]]
* Meta-wise, the death of Creator/JahmilFrench sent shockwaves across the fandom and cast and crew, and most of them, even those that didn't work with Jahmil during his tenure, posted heartfelt tributes to him and how he impacted their lives.

Since Degrassi is a drama, Tearjerkers are a given.

* In season 9 episode 16, when Sav breaks up with Anya [[spoiler: after learning she lied to him about being being on the pill before they had sex]]. The look on her face is equal parts heartbreaking and shameful. Anya looks equally heartbroken and ashamed as she watches her and Sav’s interview about their future run during the morning announcements.

*** Oddly enough, [[NotSoDifferent Maya is not much different from her in such a regard]]. She went through [[BreakTheCutie a depression episode during which she also felt lost and alone]]. However, [[BrokenBird Esme had been broken for much longer time]], and while everyone (thanks to and including Esme) flocked to Maya's side when she went over the edge, [[InTheEndYouAreOnYourOwn nobody cared when Esme did it too]] (at least, until the season finale proper, and even then it was by 2 staffers and the guy who deserted her), which only made it worse!

*** Oddly enough, [[NotSoDifferent Maya is not much different from her in such a regard]]. She [[spoiler:went through [[BreakTheCutie a depression episode during which she also felt lost and alone]]. However, [[BrokenBird Esme had been broken for much longer time]], and while everyone (thanks to and including Esme) flocked to Maya's side when she went over the edge, [[InTheEndYouAreOnYourOwn nobody cared when Esme did it too]] (at least, until the season finale proper, and even then it was by 2 staffers and the guy who deserted her), which only made it worse!

** The worst part is that despite it being clear that [[AndIMustScream she's all but flat-out screaming for help]], nobody wants to do anything but [[QuitYourWhining label her a shallow]] [[YoureInsane psychopath]], [[TruthInTelevision which mirrors real life quite tragically]], as many people with mental ailments are marked by society as [[PutThemAllOutOfMyMisery "bad people who need to be put away"]]. It's especially bad when you realize that even a lot of fans choose to see Esme as a terrible character despite knowing of her mental disorder!
*** Oddly enough, [[NotSoDifferent Maya is not much different from her in such a regard]]. She [[spoiler:went through [[BreakTheCutie a depression episode during which she also felt lost and alone]]. However, [[BrokenBird Esme had been broken for much longer time]] ([[StartOfDarkness again, the above tragedy happened when she was only 10]]), and while everyone (thanks to and including Esme) flocked to Maya's side when she went over the edge]], [[InTheEndYouAreOnYourOwn nobody cared when Esme did it too]] (at least, until the season finale proper, and even then it was by 2 staffers and the guy who deserted her), which only made it worse!

* Zoë's closeted self loathing and SelfHarm storyline in the same season. Especially this line, after Grace urges her to come out and not resort to self harm.
--> '''Zoë:''' Why? So some stupid girl can break my heart again?

* Zoë's closeted self loathing and SelfHarm storyline in the same season. Especially this line, after Grace urges her to come out and not resort to self harm.
--> '''Zoë:''' Why? So some stupid girl can break my heart again?

* Although the entirety of "Whisper to a Scream" is heartbreaking due to Ellie's stress in dealing with school, her co-op job, and her alcoholic mother leading her to SelfHarm, the scene where Paige is forced to confront Ellie about it is especially hard to watch partially due to the great acting on the part of Lauren Collins and Stacey Farber. Paige isn't even a friend of Ellie's yet, but is concerned for her safety to the point of telling a counselor.

* Clare forced to confront that her parents are divorcing. As any child, [[CrisisOfFaith she doesn't take it well]].

** [[spoiler:Becky, Drew, and Clare all have extremely heartbreaking moments in the next episode. Drew is completely torn up about his death, blaming himself for Adam's death and falling apart completely in front of Bianca at one point. Clare's cancer goes into remission, but [[SurvivorGuilt she feels guilty about going to Adam's memorial because she got to live and he didn't]]. Becky tries to throw a bonfire in honor of Adam, but believes that all of his friends absolutely hate her and tries so hard to make it perfect. Of course, a large amount of people show up, leading to the most devastating speech that she gives while in tears.]]

** JT's service at the school.

* A close second is "My Body is a Cage," seeing all that Adam went through and how difficult it is for a transgender person.
* Another contender is "Time Stands Still" and the aftermath of the shooting. Seeing different people's reactions to the shooting is heartbreaking, and it's set to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHf6H7QRn3c Melissa McClelland's Rooftop]]. By the time it shows the vigil for Jimmy and then gets to the final shot of Emma and Toby, it's pretty difficult to remain dry-eyed.
* After Alli loses her virginity, and they show her sitting alone in her ridiculously girly kiddy bedroom, being kissed goodnight by her mom, and making it all too clear that she was ''not'' ready for this.
* Jane Says.
* Emma's real father.

* Liberty giving up her baby.
* Clare being sexually harassed by Asher.
* Rick being bullied.
* KC leaving at the end of "Rusty Cage".
* [[spoiler: Campbell's suicide in the episode "Bittersweet Symphony." Credit must be given to all the cast members for portraying such a wide range of realistic reactions to the suicide, with particular praise for Demetrius Joyette showing Dallas' guilt]].
* Sean breaking down in front of his parents because he killed Rick.
* Craig's abuse storyline in "When Doves Cry," and then its conclusion in "Tears Are Not Enough".
* [[spoiler: Maya finally breaking down after Campbell's suicide]] towards the end of "Zombie".
--> '''Maya:''' [[spoiler: He broke up with me by ''killing himself''! '''I ''HATE'' HIM!''' I HATE HIM! I feel like I'm never gonna be happy again! And everyday, it just gets worse and worse-- I can't miss him anymore! I can't, I don't want to! ''[beat]'' He never even said goodbye...]]
* Darcy realizing she was raped and the fallout from it, especially in "Live to Tell"

* Fiona breaking down in "Take a Bow," with her fears of being alone and lingering feelings for Charlie driving her to relapse and start drinking again.

* This exchange from part 2 of "Bittersweet Symphony" between Jake and Eli, as they discuss [[spoiler:Eli discovering Cam's body in the greenhouse:]]
--> [[spoiler:'''Jake''']]:[[spoiler: Is my garden gonna be haunted now?]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Eli''']]:[[spoiler: Nah... Just me...]]
** Doubles as NightmareFuel, ESPECIALLY in the episodes that follow...
* Darcy's reaction to finding out she was raped. She breaks down in front of Manny, and cuts her wrists in the school showers in an attempted suicide. Manny finds her, but it takes her a very long time to truly recover.

* This exchange between Lola and Saad
-->'''Saad:''' A lot of people are dying in the world. It feels wrong to pick and choose who gets help.
-->'''Lola:''' Sounds like a bad buffer line when you put it like that.
-->'''Saad:''' My village was bombed. My house. Our farm, my school...gone. My friends...gone. It happens all over the world. I can't wear one shirt and not the other.
-->'''Lola:''' I had no idea.
-->'''Saad:''' Because it happened in Syria. Not in Paris. Not in Belgium. Not in America.
* Although the entirety of "Whisper to a Scream" is heartbreaking due to Ellie's stress in dealing with school, her co-op job, and her alcoholic mother leading her to SelfHarm, the scene where Paige is forced to confront Ellie about it is especially hard to watch partially due to the great acting on the part of Lauren Collins and Stacey Farber. Paige isn't even a friend of Ellie's yet, but is concerned for her safety to the point of telling a counselor.
-->'''Paige:''' Ellie, please. Show me your arm.

-->'''Saad:''' Because it happened in Syria. Not in Paris. Not in Belgium. Not in America