No matter how light a TV series is, it always depicts reality to an extent. This means viewers can feel with the characters and relate to them, especially based on the viewers' own experiences. Given this, a younger viewer won't notice certain things in a TV show that more mature audiences do. This is especially true for shows with a sad undertone. Given this, it isn't uncommon to return to certain shows and notice new undertones that weren't evident before.
These TV shows' general vibe is far from sad. However, they often reveal hidden depths as their audiences mature. Whether it is because they include raw adult life reflections or because their characters go through way more than a kid or teenager would understand, any adult will find these shows quite sad on a rewatch.
10 Rocko's Modern Life Is A Social Satire That Got Too Real
Set in the fictional town of O-Town, Rocko's Modern Life follows the day-to-day of a wallaby named Rocko and his friends, an idiotic steer named Heffer and a depressed turtle, Filburt. The series depicts their interactions with the other citizens of O-Town, like Rocko's neighbors, the Bigheads.
Most of the writers admit that they targeted Rocko's Modern Life at both kids and adults, which led the show to have racy jokes and constant observations of society most absurd's elements. Many of its jokes, especially those focusing on the O-Towners' lack of common sense, sting harder as an adult in the 21st century.
9 Friends Takes A Lighthearted Approach To Dramatic Moments In Life
One of the most famous sitcoms ever, Friends centers on the lives of six friends living in New York. The series follows Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe as they go from their early 20s to their 30s, with everything good and bad that comes from growing up.
Friends has many emotional moments that can make anyone with a heart tear a little. However, it takes growing up to really notice the true extent of some of its saddest storylines. Some standouts include Monica's toxic relationship with her mother and the insecurities that come from it or Phoebe's gruesome backstory.
8 Anne With An E Has A Very Heartbreaking Backstory
Based on a series of books by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne with an E is a Canadian Netflix series that centers on Anne Shirley, a witty and imaginative orphan girl with a lot of love to give. After Matthew Cuthbert decides to adopt her instead of a boy who could help him on the farm, the lives of many Avonlea townees change forever.
Anne with an E was as wholesome as it gets — which explains why fans think it was canceled too soon. However, beyond the children's adventures, it's also a very tragic tale. From Anne's parents' death to the bullying she endures, it's difficult to digest given the fact that she's only 13 years old.
7 Ted Lasso Grows Darker Without Previous Warning
After winning her ex-husband's professional soccer team during the divorce, Rebecca Welton hires an American football coach, Ted Lasso, to mess up the team's record. To everyone's surprise, Ted's optimistic approach to life rubs on them, creating a true sense of community among the team.
Although Ted Lasso starts as a wholesome comedy, it slowly reveals Ted's poor mental health. Although he rarely loses his spark, he struggles to cope with his recent divorce and his father's suicide. Anyone would find this sad, but an adult who has gone through similar experiences could find it particularly difficult to watch.
6 CatDog Goes Through Some Disturbing Stuff
Created by Peter Hannah, CatDog tells the story of Cat and Dog, two conjoined twins who share a body but who couldn't be more different. Whether it is through Cat's manipulative side or Dog's impulsivity, the pair gets in all kinds of situations, which they often approach in very different ways.
CatDog strives for absurdity successfully. However, it only takes a rewatch to notice how disturbingly sad it is. For example, CatDog is always bullied or rejected due to their bizarre condition. With Cat, what kids often read as his bad karma adults will notice is a series of desperate attempts to belong in society.
5 Invincible Will Have Viewers Reflecting On Their Parental Relations
When Mark Grayson, the son of a Superman-like hero named Omni-Man, develops his own powers, he has to learn how to balance his private life with his duty, while also being forced to confront his father's approach to the super gig. Invincible, by Robert Kirkman, is based on the Image Comics series of the same name.
Invincible offers a powerful deconstruction of the superhero genre into something more human. While it starts as a regular animated series about superheroes, it turns into a sci-fi family drama when Omni-Man reveals his true intentions. The conflict between him and Mark will have adults thinking about their parental issues in no time, which can be depressing.
4 Rugrats Is A Wholesome Show Full Of Depressing Moments
Rugrats, by Arleen Klasky, Gabor Csupo, and Paul Germain, follows the regular days of a group of babies, full of experiences that become epic adventures in their imaginations. Tommy, Chuck, Phil, Lil, and Kimi often are antagonized by Angelica, Tommy's spoiled older cousin.
Since Rugrats is told from the babies' perspective, it usually takes a lighthearted approach to all kinds of situations. However, Rugrats also includes many tragic storylines that adults who know better can't help but notice when watching. For example, Chuckie's mother's homage during Mother's day or the emotional neglect Angelica's parents put her through.
3 WandaVision Being A Superhero Show Is Only The Tip Of The Iceberg
The first MCU television series, WandaVision follows the traumatic aftermath of the events of Avengers: Endgame. After losing Vision, Wanda recreates her life with him in the suburbs, using iconic sitcoms as inspiration. Unfortunately, this illusion can't last forever.
WandaVision sets the ground for Wanda's future character development. But it also explores Wanda's life, full of tragic losses, particularly delving into her grieving process. While most kids will only see the epic Marvel tale of WandaVision, an adult will understand the pain as she mourns the love of her life.
2 Hey Arnold! Had Some Truly Harrowing Moments
Craig Bartlett's Hey Arnold! is an often surrealistic animation about Arnold, a fourth grader orphan living with his grandparents in New York. The series depicts Arnold's life and adventures in the city together with his friends, his eccentric grandparents, and their tenants.
For a kid's cartoon, Hey Arnold! was often way too sad. Besides the obviously sad episodes, the series included tragic details that kids wouldn't understand, like Helga's mother's alcoholism or her father's constant emotional abuse. Learning that she only liked Arnold because he was the only person who had been kind to her was truly heartbreaking.
1 The Tick Deals With Mental Health Issues
Peter Serafinowicz and Griffin Newman star in The Tick as The Tick and Arthur, his mild-mannered sidekick, respectively. Together, they fight against The Terror, a mysterious villain who controls the city from the darkness. Created by Ben Edlund, it was canceled after its second season, but fans loved it.
Since The Tick is a standard superhero show, anyone in the family can enjoy it. However, only adults will notice the subtleties that make it tragic. For example, it often hints that The Tick is only a figment of Arthur's imagination, created to cope with his trauma.