Nothing feels better than a cathartic sob at a group of fictional characters who are going through it. TV fans have already got their fix this week with Amazon Prime Video’s heartfelt new drama, Every Year After, set across two timelines as lifelong friends Percy and Sam figure out what their love for one another truly means. It’ll make you laugh, cry, smile and everything in between, according to fans, as all the best shows do.
Of course, you have your indisputable classics like Fleabag, Normal People and Maid that will tear your heart out. Meanwhile, if you’re simply looking to get misty-eyed, then shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend might do the job.
So if you’re looking for your next good ol’ cry with a side of swoonworthy romance, heartwarming friendship or inspiring self-empowerment – then look no further. Here are some of the very best out there.
Firefly Lane
Starting off strong, we have Firefly Lane, which is a tale of friendship between two fiercely devoted women spanning 30 years as they navigate coming-of-age, finding yourself in your 20s and 30s and family life in their later years. This series stars Katherine Heigl as Tully and Sarah Chalke as best friend Kate – and it is a guaranteed tearjerker. From the hardships they face together to the highs and lows of their precious bond, you’ll be reeled in hook, line and sinker. Firefly Lane is available to stream on Netflix now.
One Day
If there’s one thing Netflix is in the business of doing, it’s making you cry. Enter, One Day – starring Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall – as friends with a very complicated dynamic. As the title suggests, we check in on the duo on the same day every year and see how it evolves over the years. (You might be sensing a theme here). Love, loss and right person, wrong time, this show has it all, and then some. One Day is available to stream on Netflix now.
Daisy Jones and the Six
In yet another show based on a book (which is loosely based on the real-life drama of Fleetwood Mac), we have Amazon hit, Daisy Jones and the Six, adapted from Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel. The series follows a band whose central two figures (played by Sam Claflin and Riley Keough) have a tumultuous relationship over the course of several years. The drama will keep you on the edge of your seat, and you’ll be reaching for your tissues before the end. Daisy Jones and the Six are available to stream now.
This Is Us
Now, a warning, this is probably the most consistently devastating drama on the list. This Is Us follows Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) over several decades (yes, again) from their first meeting all the way through to the very end. It’s a magnificent odyssey of life and all the messy components that make it up – especially when it comes to family (chosen or otherwise). As one Rotten Tomatoes user, Hum T, aptly put it: ‘I cried just about every episode! I love this show! If I write a list of why this show is incredible, the list would go on forever!’ This Is Us is available to stream on Channel 4 now.
Everything I Know About Love
Last but not least, we have Everything I Know About Love, based on Dolly Alderton’s book of the same name. This is the ultimate mirror to the dizzying highs and even more dizzying lows that define your 20s – with friendship at the very heart of it. Emma Appleton portrays the chaotic Maggie, and Bel Powley her steadfast friend Birdy. But as growing up is wont to do, nothing can stay the same forever. It’s a bittersweet watch that will have you going on your own walk down memory lane and holding all the people in your life slightly closer. Everything I Know About Love is available to stream on Disney Plus.
