Adolescence to The Virtues: the most heartbreaking TV of all time

The gut-wrenching crime drama is so poignant it will leave you in pieces. But it’s far from the only televisual masterpiece to deliver a devastating emotional punch …
Adolescence, as the world seems to agree, is a perfect piece of television. However, even perfection has its problems. Adolescence is the sort of show that needs some breathing space afterwards; it’s so comprehensively shattering, and will leave you in such a state of emotional despondency, that you can’t simply hop straight into the next show. I tried – after episode four, I had to watch a reality show for work – and it was horrible. It was like stumbling from a funeral straight into a circus.
Perhaps what we need here is an off-ramp. A bunch of shows that, while they might leave you in pieces, may not pack quite such a devastating punch as Adolescence. Here’s a selection of the most heartbreaking television.
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Adolescence review – the closest thing to TV perfection in decades
Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham’s drama about a teen accused of murder is astounding. Its dazzling performances, and the devastating questions it asks, will linger with you. In the late 80s, there ...The Guardian - Mar. 13 -
Netflix drama Adolescence hailed as 'flawless' TV
The show is called "an early contender for the best thing you will see on the small screen this year".BBC News - 3d -
‘Unnervingly on-the-nose’: why Adolescence is such powerful TV that it could save lives
The Netflix four-parter has touched many a nerve with its gut-punch power and staggering performances – but it’s also a vital call to action for parents and their teens. The arrival of searing new ...The Guardian - 3d -
With 'Adolescence,' Stephen Graham wants you to consider the unthinkable
The British actor wrote and stars in Netflix's new limited series, shot as a series of oners, that captures the aftermath of a child's violent crime.Los Angeles Times - Mar. 11 -
Happy Face: this drama about a serial killer’s daughter is so mind-boggling it’s hard to tell if it’s real or fantasy
At times, this true-crime drama feels like a meta satire of an industry that milks private pain for entertainment. It is, however, no such thing . You know the feeling: you’re watching a shocking ...The Guardian - 5d -
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Dylan Mulvaney's tell-all book and Netflix thriller Adolescence: What's coming out this week?
This week also sees the third season of The Wheel of Time come out, and WWE 2K25 is finally being released.BBC News - Mar. 9 -
PM reveals he watches Adolescence with family and backs call to tackle misogyny
The drama focuses on the impact of social media and misogynist influencers on some teenage boys.BBC News - 23h -
How toxic masculinity, Andrew Tate and the online 'manosphere' inspired 'Adolescence'
Netflix's “Adolescence" follows the fallout after a teenage boy is arrested for murdering his female classmate.NBC News - 6h
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