16 TV Breakups That Felt Like Actual Real Life Heartbreak
Breakups suck at the best of times, but there’s something about watching it play out between characters on your fave TV shows that can make it feel especially devastating.
TV breakups can trigger you to think of a past broken relationship, or it can present an utterly devastating storyline you’re grateful you’ve never experienced. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to rewatch the scene when Cristina was left at the altar on Grey’s Anatomy or Ryan leaving Marissa to go be with Theresa on The O.C.
These breakups felt real and I’ll never get over them.
Here are 16 TV breakups that felt like actual real life heartbreak:
#1. Carrie & Aidan, Sex and the City
Some may argue that Carrie and Big’s breakups were worse, but I always knew they were going to end up together so their splits always felt temporary. Aidan was a much better boyfriend than Big (remember that time he rescued Miranda?! A saint!) and it was painful watching Carrie slowly realise she could never commit to him and finally break off their engagement.
#2. Cristina & Burke, Grey’s Anatomy
Burke left Cristina at the altar and I will never forgive him. The scene where Cristina realises he’s moved out and struggles to take her wedding dress off before collapsing into Meredith’s arms makes me want to vomit.
#3. Rory & Jess, Gilmore Girls
Many fans of Gilmore Girls reckon Rory and Jess were endgame, and while I’d argue Logan was actually a much better boyfriend, there’s no denying that their breakup was savage. Jess didn’t tell Rory he was leaving town and after catching the bus with her, he just vanished. Rory eventually called him to admit she was falling in love with him and he didn’t say a word back. Sure, Jess is hot but he treated Rory like absolute trash while they dated.
#4. Lorelai & Luke, Gilmore Girls
Even though they quickly got back together (yay!), I’d argue that Lorelai and Luke splitting in season five was even more devastating than Rory and Jess. We had waited so long for these two to realise they’re perfect for each other but it soon fell apart when Emily meddled. Rory visiting her bedridden mum who was inconsolable after the split never gets easy to watch.
#5. Joey & Pacey, Dawson’s Creek
Pacey is the perfect character but I will never forgive him for what he did to Joey at the prom in season four. After dating the whole season and being adorably loved-up, Pacey freaks out over feeling insecure and publicly dumps Joey in front of all their classmates. In return, Joey tells Pacey to “go to hell” and tbh, in that moment he deserved it.
#6. Brooke & Lucas, One Tree Hill
Lucas was a terrible boyfriend (and person) and the way he treated Brooke during their short relationship(s) was not OK. Brooke basically cries nonstop over him and it physically hurts to watch her get so distraught. Their breakup in season one after Lucas cheats with Peyton is beyond heartbreaking for Brooke — as well as us viewers watching it play out.
#7. Lily & Marshall, How I Met Your Mother
Anyone who watches this show knows that Lily and Marshall’s relationship is the glue that holds it all together. So when Lily up and left Marshall to move to San Francisco for art school, it was beyond shattering. Marshall sitting alone on his apartment’s steps, clutching Lily’s engagement ring still makes me ugly cry.
#8. Marissa & Ryan, The O.C.
While Ryan and Marissa didn’t have the healthiest of relationships, it was clear from the very first episode they were meant to be together. However, when Ryan’s ex Teresa becomes pregnant, Marissa selflessly tells Ryan to go support her and he leaves town. They shared a last dance at Julie and Caleb’s wedding to ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ and it doesn’t get much sadder than this.
#9. Santana & Brittany, Glee
As Glee’s ultimate couple, Santana and Brittany were endgame. But after Santana graduates, they end up breaking up and Santana sings Taylor Swift’s ‘Mine’ to Brittany to say goodbye. My emotions!
#10. Blair & Chuck, Gossip Girl
While these two would breakup and makeup over and over, their split at the end of season three cut the deepest. Blair finds out that Chuck was willing to sell her to his evil uncle Jack for a hotel (lol yep) so she dumps him.
#11. Jessica & Hoyt, True Blood
When Hoyt and Jessica were good together, they were great. But as the seasons went on, Hoyt became a selfish partner and eventually Jessica hooked up with Jason. As a way to make Hoyt move on with his life, Jessica wiped all of his memories of her. That scene still hurts to watch, with Jessica making the ultimate sacrifice so that Hoyt could have a better life.
#12. Jackie & Hyde, That 70s Show
Jackie and Hyde were true love and I still hold contempt for the series that those two didn’t end up together, instead Jackie somehow ended up with Fez which was a joke. It all came undone after Hyde thought Jackie cheated with Kelso, so he cheated on her. Jackie dumped Hyde and they were over before they even began. Tragic.
#13. Angela & Dwight, The Office
Angela dumping Dwight is one of the saddest scenes I’ve ever seen. They were perfect together and not gonna lie, I rooted for them more than I ever rooted for Pam and Jim. Thankfully, this wasn’t the end of their story.
#14. Jess & Nick, New Girl
Some of the saddest splits are because of reasons no one can control: when people are in different stages of their life. In season three, they are constantly fighting and Jess grows frustrated with Nick’s lack of motivation to succeed in life. They both agree to split, but it doesn’t make it less sad for viewers who had been hoping they’d get together for the previous two seasons.
#15. Buffy & Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Angel sucks (literally and figuratively haha) but I can’t say he’s not selfless. Him choosing to break up with Buffy and leave Sunnydale in season three so she could have a normal dating life was a heartbreaking decision. Their final dance to ‘Wild Horses’ at the prom still brings a salty tear to my eye, and that’s saying something as I’m a diehard Spike stan.
#16. Willow & Tara, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Angel breaking up with Buffy and leaving the show was sad, but Tara splitting up with Willow in season six was just straight-up traumatic — truly one of the most devastating TV breakups of all time. Unfortunately, this was only the beginning of the sad events to come for the iconic couple.
Thank you television for making me feel all the emotions.