Top 10 Surprisingly Sweet TV Episodes

Donald Glover’s impending departure from “Community” left the show’s writers with a near-impossible task. They had to write a send-off for Troy that felt both appropriate and satisfying. As the episode begins, it seems as if the send off will be a big, action-packed finale akin to the show’s paintball wars in the first and second seasons. But, by the end, it becomes clear that this is all just a cover-up for Abed’s complicated feelings. In a quirky yet moving scene, Britta helps the once-inseparable pair “clone” themselves to better deal with the big life change, and Abed is finally able to let Troy go.

Daria isn’t exactly a people person. In fact, she expresses her low esteem for humanity in her solo series’ first episode. Because of this, it’s rare that she expresses any form of sentimentality — rare, but not unheard of. After struggling to write a non-derivative story featuring people she knows, Daria turns to her mother for help. Helen suggests that she write about what she’d like to see from the world rather than what she already observes, which Daria takes to heart. The misanthropic teen writes an uncharacteristically kind portrayal of her future relationship with her parents and sister, in which they all meet up for a family card game. It’s so sweet that it moves her mother to tears — much to Daria’s disappointment.

This two-part story from the first season of "Doctor Who"s reboot starts out pretty grim. It’s the middle of the London Blitz, and the Doctor has run into a woman who is being harassed by an unsettling child in a gas mask who she claims resembles her dead brother. Fortunately, not all is as it appears. The Doctor solves the mystery, reunites a family, and appeals to the logic of some nanogenes. For once, everybody lives! A few years later, “Vincent and the Doctor” would treat fans to another heartwarming ending, in which the Doctor shows Vincent van Gogh the impact his art will have in the years following his death.

Many words can be used to describe “Bojack Horseman.” “Cute” typically isn’t one of them. The adult animated series focuses on a washed up equine sitcom star, and frequently deals with heavy subjects such as abuse, addiction, and mental illness. But “Fish Out of Water” gave viewers a well-earned, if unexpected, reprieve from the darkness. The episode pairs the show’s downtrodden title character with a bubbly newborn seahorse. In the largely dialogue-free episode, Bojack attempts to return the seahorse to his father in a colorful underwater world. Although the pair eventually part ways, there’s a clear affection between them that’s uncharacteristically sweet for the series.

After its first season, “The Simpsons” was already a pop culture phenomenon, and at the center of that success was the family’s only son, Bart. To make him the focus of the second season’s premiere must have been a no-brainer. In the episode, Bart is told that he will have to repeat the fourth grade if he doesn’t get his grades up. He studies harder than ever before…just to get another “F.” The disappointment of failing after an honest attempt drives the kid to tears. But an obscure historical reference and a sympathetic move from Mrs. Krabappel winds up raising his F+ to a heaven-sent D-. “The Simpsons” isn’t typically sincere, but this episode had us feeling for Bart.

Ok, so this episode isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There’s still monsters to fight, and Angel ends up breaking things off with Buffy. But it’s nice to finally see some real appreciation for Sunnydale’s favorite slayer. At Buffy’s senior prom, one of her peers gets on stage to present her with a first of its kind award: Class Protector. It’s a rare, but very much deserved, public acknowledgement of everything Buffy has been through to save her classmates and the town. It also shows just how much things have changed, as students who once mocked Buffy for her strange interests now finally understand the importance of her knowledge and skills.

The competent yet self-conscious Leela grew up in an orphanage, and we learn that she’s desperate to connect to the birth parents she never knew. She initially believes herself to be an alien, but this is revealed to be a ruse of her parents’ making. Her mother and father are actually mutants, but left her in the hope that it would afford her a better life. In a touching sequence, it is revealed that, though they gave her up for adoption, Leela’s parents still loved her. From the shadows, they secretly helped Leela throughout her life, leaving her gifts on her birthday and tucking her in when she was cold.

Most of the time, a faithful adaptation is considered a better adaptation. But occasionally, a writer can transform the source material for the better. This was certainly the case for “Long, Long Time,” which took two of “The Last Of Us” video game’s most spiteful and tragic characters and put them at the center of a beautifully bittersweet love story. Although both characters still end up deceased, writer Craig Mazin hoped that the new ending felt more happy than sad. This isn’t just another tragedy, it’s two people who shared several years of happiness together and chose to go out together.

Art Carney plays an intoxicated but caring santa in this 1960 Christmas tale from “The Twilight Zone.” After being fired from his job as a department store Saint Nick, Corwin stumbles across a sack filled with presents. In true “Twilight Zone” fashion, this isn’t just a normal bag of gifts, but a magic sack able to conjure up whatever someone may desire. Henry spends the night dispensing gifts to everyone around him. Christmas stories were often more kindhearted than the average “Twilight Zone” story. This can also be seen in the holiday-set “Changing of the Guard,” where a teacher’s death is prevented by the ghosts of his former students.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“How the Ghosts Stole Christmas,” “The X-Files” (1993-2002; 2016-18)
An Episode That’s as Heartening as It Is Frightening

“Because You're My Sister,” “Parenthood” (2010-15)
Kristina Celebrates Life, While Joel & Julia Welcome a New Family Member

“Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story,” “Grey’s Anatomy” (2005-)
Meredith Grey Finally Gets Some Recognition in the Series’ 300th Episode

Set in a medical camp during the Korean war, “M*A*S*H” is certainly a comedy, but often a dark one. Sweet moments are few and far between, but the most heartwarming episodes often involve children. “Letters” fits this bill, featuring the protagonists responding to the letters of schoolchildren. But, when it comes to tugging on our heartstrings, we think “Death Takes a Holiday” can’t be topped. The Christmas-set episode sees a truce called on the battlefield, and the doctors and nurses decide to throw a party for a group of young orphans. The episode’s poignant ending really brings the bittersweet feels to the forefront.