paraka | Emotional Impact in Canon

Emotional Impact in Canon

I'll be the first to admit, I'm an easy crier. I have hormone issues, at certain times of the month, it's not pretty to be around me, because looking at me the wrong way can make me cry.

The thing is though, I don't often cry over TV, which is surprising, because I get so emotionally attached to my shows. I'm sure part of that is that I don't watch all that much TV, and the kinds of TV I do watch. There are only a few times that I can remember where the shows I love really made me cry.

The first time, was when I was a teenager and watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Before I knew about fandom, and could find fics that *fixed* things. I spent all summer watching the taped episode I had and simply bawling every time Buffy had to kill Angel. They way she he got his soul back, just as it was too late. How he looked at her in confusion and she told him to shut his eyes just before gutting him with her sword. It killed me, and I can't even tell you the number of times I cried over it.

The second time was because of Queer as Folk. Surprisingly it was because of the bashing. When I first discovered QaF s3 was airing, so when the bashing happened, I sat in shock for a moment, then threw the s2 DVD on and got a nice quick answer. No the time that really made me cry was in s5 when the bombing happened. I was one of the people that got my hands on the screener eps way before they aired, but because I was beginning to leave the fandom I didn't watch them till a long time later. I was in Guelph with

raxhel and we spent the day doing a QaF marathon. I had to head back to Ottawa that day so had to leave soon if I was going to get home at a decent hour, but we decided to watch one more episode. The episode with the bombing. I totally did not see that coming (which is surprising considering the spoilers that were abounding in fandom, and the fact that I was watching it after it aired). That was one of the longest drives home ever. I cried on and off for the whole 5 hour drive home.

The third time that I can remember it happening was when I was in China.

raxhel and I were watching all the SG-1 episodes, and despite the fact that season 9 was already being aired, I wasn't actually all that spoiled for the show. I knew that Daniel died and that he came back for season 8, so his dying didn't really make me cry. But no one told me about Janet. I remember kind of rolling my eyes at the episode, since they kept trying to imply that Jack was dead, and I knew that would never happen. I totally expected it to be the soldier. When they showed at the end that the soldier was still alive, I was confused but I still never suspected. When it turned out to be Janet... I was so heart broken about it. All night I couldn't help but think about it, and I couldn't help crying all over again whenever that happened.

The most recent time that happened to me was when I was watching Doctor Who. I never saw it coming (I didn't even think I *liked* Doctor Who that much). Donna was the first companion that I actually liked. What they did to her. OMG it just hurt so much. I have actually written essays on why it hurt so much when Donna lost her memories. She was just so awesome and others could see but she couldn't. She let her circumstances blind her to the strength she had within her and when she finally started to find it within herself it was ripped away from her. God, it just broke my heart.

I feel I should also mentioned that I cried after Sunday in Stargate Atlantis, but they were more bitter tears of anger directed at TPTB (exploding *tumours* seriously? WTF!). Also, I was spoiled for Carson's death so it didn't have the same emotional impact. I find surprise is a big part of what makes these things hit me so hard. It's one of the reasons I avoid spoilers whenever I can. When Vic died in QaF I didn't really feel anything because I had been spoiled for it and I decided I didn't really like that. I've avoided spoilers ever since.

Anyways, what about my flisters? Have you ever cried or been emotionally punched by one of your shows? Is it a common thing? Is it rare? Do you enjoy it? Do spoilers play a part for you?

ETA: As I read everyone's comments and they mention times they've cried, I keep realizing that, hey, I cried then too (OMG, how could I have forgotten Tosh's death! I totally cried for that! More than once even!). I'm beginning to think my crying at my TV shows is more common than I realized....

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Besides the fact I've never watch QaF, all those moments you mentioned I cried. I tend to stay away from spoilers towards the end of a season of something anyways, so I don't usually get spoiled (except for the whole "Rose comes back!" bit *rolls eyes*)

Anywho, Rose's "death" I think I cried a lot ever that 2/3 ep arc. And then with what the Master did to the Doctor. And, of course, Donna.

BSG too. But I don't remember what ep right now since I've only seen the eps like once.

One show that almost always makes me cry at least a third of the season (ok, fine, 3-4 eps) is Grey's Anatomy. OMG, sometimes the writing for that really sucks, but sometimes it's just really freaking amazing and heartbreaking.

And, of course, Farscape. Aeryn's ep 'The Choice' was so emotional, Crichton's death too. Or Zhaan dying and Stark's reaction. Or even Crass's death, even though everyone hated him... until he did something so selfless.

Anywho... *virtual hugs*

Hmm, I don't think Docotor Who made me cry before Donna but I didn't really fall in love with the show until then either (I never liked Rose, and wanted to like Martha but couldn't) so I think that held me back. Although, the more people talk about parts that made them cry, the more times I remember that I cried, maybe I cried a little and just don't remember.

I haven't seen BSG, GA or F so I don't know those parts. Although one day (one day!) I will finish watching Farscape and will try and keep those parts in mind. :)

Let's see. "Sunday" and "The Shrine" were too positively gut-wrenching SGA eps for me to endure, especially Shrine. Rodney McKay in any type of pain just pushes my buttons. Back during my X-Files days, I bawled at Scully's reactions to Mulder's abduction and the following season that he was missing. Recently, I cried along with the remaining Torchwood members during "End of Days". Nobody does the tears better than John Barrowman!

Finally, the Winchesters usually reduce me to tears, at least twice a season. Examples include, John dying, Sam dying, Dean dying, the Christmas ep......and I have the feeling that Kripke has more of these gut twisters in store,as the brothers become more divided.

Sorry, that Torchwood ep was "Exit Wounds". I just know that as the ep where Tosh and Owen died. LOL. I also forgot to add, that as a fellow QAF fan, the bashing and a bloody, scarf-wearing Brian made me a sobbing mess, as well.

Let's see. "Sunday" and "The Shrine" were too positively gut-wrenching SGA eps for me to endure, especially Shrine.
Hmm, I'm trying to remember if I cried during Shrine. I can't remember specifically, but there's a very good chance I sobbed at that episode (my grandfather died of alzheimers, so I knew going in it would be a hard episode to watch).

Recently, I cried along with the remaining Torchwood members during "End of Days".
OMG, how could I forget Tosh's Death! I bawled like a baby both times I watched that ep!

Finally, the Winchesters usually reduce me to tears
Hmm, I don't think SPN has managed to make me cry yet. I think because I watched most of it all in one go (I watched season 1 and most of 2 all at once, then season 1-3 all in one go). I knew that as stars of the show neither of them would stay dead so it didn't hit me too hard. Granted, I have no idea where the show is going to end, so it still has a lot of potential to make me cry.

The more people mention parts they cried at, the more I realize that my crying at my TV shows isn't as uncommon as I thought... :S

Yep, definitely a crier. Buffy kiling Angel had me sobbing, as did Tosh's death in Torchwood. Funnily enough, while I liked Owen, I didn't cry until it was Tosh's turn.

I also cried over Donna. But my worst was the final episode of Forever Knight. That absolutely gutted me. A perfect way to end the series, considering Nick's struggles throughout the seasons, but it still broke me.

Mind you, I adore a good cry, and being spoiled doesn't negate that for me. I've cried at the end of The King And I every time I've seen the movie, and even cried at a high school performance of it! And a friend timed me at the end of The Last Of The Mohicans and I cried solidly for 11 minutes... even though I knew Uncas was about to die. After all, I'd bawled over the book decades earlier. *g*

as did Tosh's death in Torchwood. Funnily enough, while I liked Owen, I didn't cry until it was Tosh's turn.
OMG! I can't believe I forgot Tosh! I don't know if I cried specifically for Owen, but when he was raging and Tosh asked him to stop because he was breaking her heart, totally broke mine (I'm tearing up just thinking about it). Oh Tosh! I'm going to miss her so much! They try so hard on the show to paint Gwen as the "heart of Torchwood" but really she's just as big a jerk as the guys, to me Tosh was always the one with the most humanity in her.

But my worst was the final episode of Forever Knight
I've never watched Forever Knight, but I have a friend who was making noises about making me watch it this coming year.

Mind you, I adore a good cry and being spoiled doesn't negate that for me.
Hmm, I think being spoiled for something will only negate it for me the *first* time. When I go back and rewatch something that made me cry, chances are it'll make me cry. Often though that's because I'm remembering the emotional punch I experienced the first time I watched it. Some things are just too sad to not cry at, but really, if something can surprise me and get that punch in under my radar, that's what I find best. It's why I avoid spoilers whenever I can.

I admit: I'm one of those big butch dykes who totally bawls at certain scenes in episodes and movies.

I cried for Janet. I cried for Carson's funeral because those tend to get me. Pretty much any law enforcement or soldier funeral will get me. On CSI: Miami when Speed died and they had this final scene with the whole honour guard and police cars escorting the casket and the whole nine yards? Yeah, tears streaking down my face.

I admit: I'm one of those big butch dykes who totally bawls at certain scenes in episodes and movies.
Hee. Oddly enough, I think I'm far more likely to cry at a movie, or a show where I'm not in the fandom than I am for a show where I am. But then again, I generally can't get through watching the news without tearing up, so *points to hormone problem*

I cried like a baby during/after the bashing scene in QaF. I remember yelling at Brian to look over and then literally screamed when the bat hit Justin. And then seeing Brian in the hospital, with Justin's bloody scarf thingy around his neck, damn. Brian fucking Kinney crying his eyes out? Yeah, totally sobbed and sobbed.

I also cried during SGA's series finale. It wasn't really a cry-worthy episode but I couldn't help it. My show, ending! It was mostly during Ronon's death scene and then I just cried till the end.

And then I cried during a Law & Order SVU episode. The DA gets horribly beaten. I mean, it was fucking brutal. But I really started crying when she asks the investigator if she was raped and she starts crying and saying she can't remember and it's just so sad and powerful.

OK, I'm getting all teary just thinking about this stuff.

I cried like a baby during/after the bashing scene in QaF.
You know, I think I probably did cry after the bashing scene. It just doesn't stand out as much as the other scenes I mentioned since I watched the next episode right away rather than spending the whole night crying about it.

It was mostly during Ronon's death scene and then I just cried till the end.
Wait. What!? They kill Ronon! Man, I can't believe that! I've been putting off watching it because I don't really want the show to end but now I'm totally angry!

The DA gets horribly beaten. I mean, it was fucking brutal. But I really started crying when she asks the investigator if she was raped and she starts crying and saying she can't remember and it's just so sad and powerful.
Oddly enough, I actually cried over that. I say oddly not because I doubt it was a moving scene, but because I only saw about 5 minutes of it. My mom was watching the show, and I just walked into the room for the beating and for her question. I didn't want to stay because I cry so easily over casual things (I honestly cannot get through the news at night without tearing up, and sometimes it's over the silliest things, like a charity rally as well as the big things).

I get the emotional gut-punches all the time from good shows, but I usually express them by walking around in a detached daze for hours or days.

To get me crying, there's almost always death involved, and a character I'm invested in has to express my confusion and pain over the loss. Like in the BtVS episode The Body? I'm frozen through most of it, but Willow's panic over the sweater makes me tear up, and Anya's helpless confusion over juice and WHY? gets me weeping every single time.

Sam dying didn't make me cry, but Dean talking to his corpse? Gah.

This is pretty much the way I respond to death of RL loved ones, so at least I'm consistent.

I get the emotional gut-punches all the time from good shows, but I usually express them by walking around in a detached daze for hours or days.
See, I think that's it for me. The more people talk about the times they cried the more I realize "Oh yeah... I think I cried then too." I think the times that really stick out for me though are the ones that left me crying *and* in a daze where I just can't grasp the gravity of the situation.

I'm an easy crier, too, but I can't think of any shows that made me cry, though. However, the last book in a favorite series of mine reduced me to tears once, and still does whenever I reread it. I don't think I'd mind if a show did that to me, because then it means it has struck some kind of chord with me that nothing else has done before.

*nods* I cry at books too. I think more so with books actually because you'll have the character's narrative and you can hear them describing the punch in the gut instead of just seeing it.

Any time a character dies alone and/or scared, I'm gutted, but I usually don't cry as much if I'm spoiled for the death in advance.

*nods*
I think it's the surprise of the punch in the gut makes it stick with me for longer.
It can still be a punch in the gut when you know it's coming but you can brace yourself. Like in QaF when Vick died? That was the first time I was ever spoiled for a show, so when Debbie had that argument with Vick you just *knew* it was going to go horribly and she'd totally regret it. Whereas had I not known, I know I would have felt her pain so much more.

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Emotional Impact in Canon

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