Does anyone like stories with unhappy endings? And if so, why?
By andy77e
@andy77e (5156)
United States
June 30, 2009 3:08pm CST
I happen to enjoy a good story. Always have. Something with neat plot line. But I have to admit, I'm a sucker for a happy ending. I want the bad guy to get mashed, the hardworking guy to open his business or get the promotion, the girl to win the big show, the newly weds to sip long Island Ice Tea on the shore watching a beautiful sun set.
In short, I want the good guys to win, the bad guys to lose, and everyone else to live happily ever after. Like I said, I am a sucker for a happy ending.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem bad things happening. Like the guy who gives his life to save the girl, or dog that dies saving it's master, or something to that effect. But in the end I want it to be happy. The girls moves on and uses the opportunity his sacrifice gave her, to enjoy life. (something to that effect)
But recently I watched an Anime, and the ending was absolutely horrible. All but one main characters died. And all the side characters ended up worse off. And at the very end, the bad guy is still alive. Absolutely no one in the story was happy at the end.
It was absolutely depressing! There was a movie out a few years back where at the end of the film the bad guy comes back to life, and kills the main characters. I also read a book not too long ago in which the father is telling his son that they will make it to the ocean. At the end of the book, the father catches a cold and dies before they make it, and that's the end of the book. Awful!
Is there anyone who actually likes these kinds of stories? And if so... why? How can anyone like these stories which end up sad and depressing??
4 people like this
12 responses
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
9 Jul 11
I wouldn't say sad but I do like a real ending. What I hate is a tacked on happy endings. In fact they make me angry. Very angry. Almost homicidal. All the great love stories have sad endings. Romantic films , true romantic films not romantic comedies , have sad endings. Romeo and Juliet, The Bridges Of Madison County, and my all time favorite Mayerling All have sad endings. I rather see a sad but real ending than a film where everything is forced to make the ending happy.
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
21 Jun 10
To be frank, I love stories with happy endings instead of unhappy endings because it will make me feel so sad at the end of the story if it so happens. A good ending is always a pleasant thing to me and it is what I expect while doing the reading or watching. I don't like the feeling of being depressed because of the unhappy endings. Enjoy yourself, andy.
@theborneodew (68)
• Malaysia
17 Apr 10
For the most part, i like happy endings too. But every story or movy that ended up with happy endings does not connect to the reality of life. Its only gives a beautiful imagination feeling ! For the sad ending stories, it will make me feel sad too but then yeah that can connect to the reality. Afterall, life is not always beautiful. So for me, i will like a sad endings too.
@Angelgirl16 (2171)
• United States
31 Jul 10
Hi ndy77e,
I too, love happy ends. I think everyone in the movie or the book should get their just reward. Bad guys should go to jail or die, the guys should get the girl or the guy they were pursuing. However, I do like the element of surprise, when the bad guy is really the good guy and is revealed at the ending of the book or movie. I enjoy writers who can surprise me in that way. I don't like stories where the bad guys are rewarded for their bad behave.
I have seen movies where there was a bank robbed and during the movie the robbers are doing all the can to not get caught. One or two may get wounded or killed, but the leader of the pack, in the end gets away with the money. I can't think of the name of this movie, but one of the characters was Angelica Houston. She wasn't the worse one,but she was no angel either. In the end, she drove off into the sunset with a suitcase full of money. Rewarded for bad behavior.
@parrot2010 (812)
•
31 Jul 10
yes and no. Yes because it makes the whole thing more realistic and depressing and gives you that really weird feeling for a few days after having watched the movie. And no because you keep thinking it could have been better but then again it's just a movie so it's okay and not real anyway.
@creationhub (3066)
• Malaysia
1 Jul 09
Well, I happened to be a normal guy with the right feelings. I just love stories with great happy endings. I think some writers would want to ruffle the emotions and feelings of readers by creating unhappy endings. Not their fault.
@underdogtoo (9579)
• Philippines
1 Jul 09
I do like happy endings and tragedies are not for me. I like life to be hopeful and full of chances and opportunities. cheers!!
@oyenkai (4394)
• Philippines
1 Jul 09
Like you, I really enjoy happy endings. Both in books and in movies. For one thing, the primary reason why I am reading a novel or am watching a movie is to relax and happy endings make them relaxing. Unhappy endings break my heart and I tend to get a bad mood after. I guess it's because I often feel like I'm letting too much of myself get involved in the movie :P
Thanks for the response on my discussion :)
@thedailyclick (3017)
•
17 Jan 10
Putting this into the context of movies which is what I know best I would say that 75% of the time I look forward to that happy ending even if it's all so very predictable. But then I do like movies which deliver an unexpected ending, maybe not the happy ever after tale you initially expected. A prime example of which is "Nights in Rodanthe" based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, it delivers and ending which quite literally can have you in tears.
I think I like unconventional endings, even those which are completely depressing because they are a break from the norm. But wouldn't want to have a continual barrage of unexpected and depressing endings beacuse it would have a negative effect on me.
@cubbiefan28 (36)
• United States
30 Jun 09
I actually like books and movies that don't always have a happy ending. I want something that is real. Something that would actually happen. Something with substance. Don't get me wrong, I'm a sucker for a good love story or a happily ever after story. But I think that the best movies and books end a little bit bittersweet. It leaves the reader/watcher thinking.
@healthbeauty (483)
• Philippines
20 Feb 10
No I don't like sad endings. I hate movies or story that ends with a sad situation. Because after watching you feel you are sad too so I don't really appreciate those movies that ends up with sad moments. :)
