12 Most Emotional TV Show Monologues

While a TV show can be funny, dramatic, or even scary, from time to time, a show will see an incredibly emotional monologue from one of its characters. These speeches can often be unexpected or a build-up of underlying upset or hurt that a character has to voice finally, but how it is executed can vary. Anger, upset, and even fear can send a character into a monologue, and depending on the context, it’s often rightfully so.

Some of the best TV dramas have had brilliant emotional monologues, but they’re not exclusive to this subgenre. Even sitcoms and general comedies have their touching moments, taking a break from the jokes to make a serious point. Although TV has produced some brilliant lines of dialogue over the years, an emotional monologue can be incredibly impactful, grabbing the audience’s attention for a sole focus on a character’s thoughts and feelings.

12
Kitty’s Goodbye To The 1970s

That ’70s Show

In the final episode of That ’70s Show, the Foremans invite their friends to join them to celebrate the beginning of the 1980s. Expecting Eric (Topher Grace) to return home, Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) tries to put on a brave face, instead refocusing on those who are with her. One by one, Kitty talks of her memories with each of the characters and how much she loves them, including her second, adopted son Hyde (Danny Masterson).

However, the most heartwrenching part of Kitty’s speech is to Donna (Laura Prepon). It was difficult for Kitty to witness Donna and Eric’s relationship end, watching them grow up together, fall in love, fail to marry, and then be separated across continents. Regardless of Eric being her son, Kitty loved Donna like a daughter, hoping deep down that the two would make their way back to each other.

11
Rose Tyler’s Exit

Doctor Who

In the opening moments of the Doctor Who episode “Army of Ghosts,” Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) takes center stage, providing a voice-over reflecting on her life before meeting the Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) and her time with him and the Tenth (David Tennant). This eerie commentary set up the two-part season 2 finale while managing to avoid any major spoilers, with Rose finishing with the chilling line of dialogue, “This is the story of how I died.“

10
Vincent Van Gogh Visits A Museum

Doctor Who

One of Doctor Who‘s best episodes saw the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) and Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) cross paths with the legendary painter Vincent Van Gogh (Tony Curran). Considered to be one of the most emotional moments in the show, the Time Lord brings Van Gogh to the present day to show him just how much of a success he’d one day be. Van Gogh ends up bawling, along with audiences, at Bill Nighy guest starring as museum curator Dr. Black, who refers to him as “one of the greatest men who ever lived.”

9
Will Is Abandoned By His Father

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Although sitcoms don’t tend to see too many emotional monologues, Will’s (Smith) rant about his father in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is very well-remembered. Upset that his dad had failed to come through him for what felt like the thousandth time in his life, Will breaks down to his Uncle Phil (James Avery). Despite his anger, Will makes a point to be vocal about what he’ll do differently than his father, such as being a better and more present parent, before collapsing into Phil’s arms, asking, “Why don’t he want me?“

8
Fleabag’s Confession

Fleabag

Phoebe Waller Bridge’s Fleabag took the world by storm for its use of breaking the fourth wall, but especially for the relationship between Fleabag and the Hot Priest (Andrew Scott) in season 2. Never too outspoken about her feelings, the Hot Priest completely threw Fleabag off as she started to fall for him, despite knowing he was unattainable as a member of the Clergy. This didn’t stop her from going to confession, though, in which she blurted out a string of thoughts to him about her struggles with life, ending with, “Just tell me what to f*cking do, Father!“

7
Castiel Confesses His Love To Dean

Supernatural

Supernatural‘s Castiel (Misha Collins) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) had one of the strongest bonds in the show. Dean and Castiel’s relationship is one that kept audiences engaged for many seasons, and in season 15, Castiel finally confessed his feelings for the demon hunter. This emotional moment saw the angel admit that love had been his motivation for a long time and how pulling Dean out of Hell had changed Castiel, those three little words escaping his lips moments before yet another Dean Winchester death.

6
John Watson Visits Sherlock Holmes’ Grave

Sherlock

Sherlock season 2 ended on a brilliant TV cliffhanger, but John’s (Martin Freeman) speech at Sherlock’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) grave was even more impactful than the Detective’s death. The strange friendship between the two had blossomed throughout the show, so much so that Dr. Watson himself didn’t realize how much of an effect Sherlock had on him until he was gone. John acknowledges how alone he was before meeting Sherlock, and despite knowing he won’t receive an answer, says, “Don’t be dead.“

5
BoJack’s Eulogy

BoJack Horseman

A brilliant example of a standalone TV episode, Bojack’s (Will Arnett) eulogy at his mother’s funeral in the BoJack Horseman episode “Free Churro,” provided a fascinating insight into the character. Throughout the show, it was made very clear that BoJack’s relationship with Eunice (Wendie Malick) was strained and that she had been far from a good mother to him growing up. However, BoJack’s speech was almost therapeutic for him, allowing him to reflect on his relationship with his mother, and that the opportunity for any sort of reconciliation was gone forever.

4
Buffy And Dawn Lose Their Mother

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

One of the most shocking moments in Buffy the Vampire Slayer was Joyce Summers’ (Kristine Sutherland) sudden death. While Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) finding Joyce’s corpse was difficult enough, she then had to tell her sister, Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg). The way Buffy’s voice cracks as she blubbers to Dawn about their futures, scared about who will care for them going forward, is nothing short of heartbreaking, easily making it one of Gellar’s best performances as the titular character.

3
Taystee Speaks Out About Poussey’s Death

Orange Is The New Black

The death of Poussey Washington (Samira Wiley) was a staple moment in Orange is the New Black, providing a hauntingly accurate commentary on the US prison system. Immediately following this, Taystee (Danielle Brittany Brooks) was particularly vocal about her friend’s death and the mistreatment she and her fellow inmates faced, and she even spoke on their behalf to the press after the events of the riot. Taystee’s speech was so incredibly important, both in the show and in the real world, calling the world out on racism and classism.

2
Bailey Breaks Down To Webber

Grey’s Anatomy

While Grey’s Anatomy has many emotional monologues, one that stands out is Miranda Bailey’s (Chandra Wilson). In season 16, Bailey has a miscarriage but doesn’t truly open up about it until the episode “Help Me Through the Night” to Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.). This devastating rant to Webber sees Bailey reflect on the experience of losing her child in the womb and how the long day they’d both faced after a freak car accident that injured several of their colleagues compared.

This speech was particularly impactful because, typically, Miranda Bailey had been the rock of Grey Sloan, usually in control of her emotions. Chandra’s performance in this scene was incredibly powerful, with Bailey breaking down about how she was unable to control her surroundings, and despite being able to save countless lives, she couldn’t save her unborn baby. This speech had a beautiful and strong ending, too, including one of Miranda Bailey’s best quotes, “I can’t do anything but just stand here — stand here and lose her.“

1
Monica Tries To Take Liam

Shameless

There’s no doubt that Fiona Gallagher (Emmy Rossum) held her family together in Shameless, which is why it was so emotional when her mother, Monica (Chloe Webb), returned and tried to take Liam. Both Monica and Frank (William H. Macy) had been terrible parents to their children, with Fiona taking the parental role for her siblings, something she made sure her mother knew. Fiona made sure to explain what she’d done as a parent that Monica hadn’t, including helping Debbie (Emma Kenney) become class president and how Lip (Jeremy Allen White) was at the top of his class.

Fiona’s angry rant at Monica was more than fair, informing her mother that she’d done “a great f*cking job,” which was simply the truth. What makes this moment even more painful, though, is Fiona’s hurt that Monica had abandoned her as well, telling her, “you were my mother, too.” While Fiona Gallagher was always tough in Shameless, this monologue proves that she put up with way more than she ever should have from her family.