# Shows you never thought would make you cry... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 22, 2010, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-you-never-thought-would-make-you-cry/561493 "2010-11-22T00:14:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-you-never-thought-would-make-you-cry/561493/41 "2010-11-22T23:19:00Z")
TNG episode “the Offspring” where Data makes a child android. Something goes wrong with her and they can’t repair the problem and so she dies - Data apologizes to her that he could not save her, but she thanks him for her creation and the opportunity to live, and lets him know she loved him and will feel the emotion of her death for both them, before her system collapses. Watched it several times, cried each time, ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-you-never-thought-would-make-you-cry/561493/42 "2010-11-23T01:57:52Z")
> [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](#): > > Buffy’s _The Body_ Earlier in the series, Buffy’s Becoming. I was bawling at the end of that episode. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-you-never-thought-would-make-you-cry/561493/43 "2010-11-23T02:03:08Z")
“The Body” doesn’t count for me, because I sort of expect “Buffy” to run roughshod with my emotions. But I don’t expect that kind of throat-tightening heartstring-tugging emotional complexity from Star Trek. So my answer to this question are: “The Inner Light” from TNG and “The Visitor” from DS9. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-you-never-thought-would-make-you-cry/561493/44 "2010-11-23T14:13:49Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Also the scene where Uncle Phil made Will the family that Carlton got the uppers he OD’ed on from Will’s locker. Will TELL the family. Definitely one of Smith’s better scenes. ---
**Author:** ![czarcaztic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@czarcaztic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/czarcaztic)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-you-never-thought-would-make-you-cry/561493/45 "2010-11-23T20:56:48Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > …but I cried like a baby when Mrs. Landingham died. This. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-you-never-thought-would-make-you-cry/561493/46 "2010-11-24T00:38:35Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > ST:TNG, _The Inner Light_. Near the end when Eline shows back up and Picard has his epiphany, I always tear up a little. He’s surrounded by his family and here is the woman he came to love over the years suddenly before him again. And then back on the ship when Riker hands him the flute and you can see all those memories and feelings rushing back at him, it’s just incredibly moving. Hands down, my favorite Star Trek episode. And my canonical example of the artistic significance of science fiction. The episode is about the choices Picard has made - to pursue a career in Starfleet, to remain unmarried, to have no fixed home. In this story, he is shown how his life would be had he made different choices. Science fiction/fantasy is the only genre that could tell that particular story in that way. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-you-never-thought-would-make-you-cry/561493/47 "2010-11-24T03:34:21Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Hands down, my favorite Star Trek episode. And my canonical example of the artistic significance of science fiction. The episode is about the choices Picard has made - to pursue a career in Starfleet, to remain unmarried, to have no fixed home. In this story, he is shown how his life would be had he made different choices. > > Science fiction/fantasy is the only genre that could tell that particular story in that way. For me, TNG’s “Haven”, a story of lovers of destiny, and DS9’s “The Visitor”, quite possibly the best father/son story I’ve seen on TV. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-you-never-thought-would-make-you-cry/561493.md?page=2)