Please explain - why are sad endings actually a good watch?

Hi guys, I am trying to get myself to finally watch Scarlet Heart (even though the halfbold hairsyle still puts me off, lol). But I know it is going to have a sad ending. And there are quite a few dramas out there with sad endings I always don't start watching because of that. 

I am wondering and maybe one of you sad ending lovers can explain to me why a drama with a sad ending is a good watch?

I love crying inbetween, but why watch something and invest your time in it, if you feel depressed or devastated at the end? Especially if the feeling doesn't go away for a while? I like it when you go through hardships and in the end all is good...

I would like to change my way of seeing this, as I love to be more open minded.

But how can something sad add to beauty? I don't understand... How can sad be beautiful? You know what I mean?

I don't cry easily and I prefer sad endings over happy and forced endings. I watched the original Chinese adaptation and it had a bittersweet ending. What I liked about tragic endings is (1) they make sense, (2) you know it's good when it is able to make me feel for the characters, and (3) has layered of emotions that gives a stronger impression. 

i just.... love being emotionally destroyed lmao

even your casual rom-coms can make me cry but there is something different about sad endings. maybe its because i bottle up my feelings in real life so sad dramas just help me let it out all or perhaps it is the fact the sad endings keep it real - not everything in rl is happy and sad endings are more realistic sometimes

I don’t really know about dramas, but in literature ( guess it’s basically the same kind of ideas), tragedy elicits a kind of catharsis amongst their audience. In the rising action, we become emotionally involved and feel sympathy for the main characters as they face complications outside of their control- we may see some parallels to our own lives. Additionally, generally the story is written or viewed in a highly personal, intimate way, we are a weird third or second part of this character/s life or journey. Therefore, we can experience a range of emotions and vivid experiences through the story, and as the tragic end occurs, it normally happens in a release of emotion ( perhaps the character morally redeems them-self/partner in death or a romantic couple find a way to be together in death etc.). There is a sense of resolvement, possibility, and ultimately makes us feel better about our own lives; it allows us to experience a such a large range of poignant emotion, free from responsibility or consequence. Also, in psychology, there is evidence that empathy makes us feel happier- understanding someone else’s pain, relating somewhat to them, and releasing any toxic emotions- guilt, sadness etc. in again the idea of catharsis, outside the story.

God, I have literally just written in one huge paragraph what people have said the same already in two lines, I have literally written a fricking essay... :/ this is why I study English- long lines of BS :) I appreciate anyone who actually reads this, have a good day.

Hm... I get what you guys are saying. Using them to vent off our suppressed emotions sure is a good way. No matter what the reason behind it is, it is better to cry every now and then...

I've watched 1 Litre of Tears and Nirvana in Fire - both very beautiful dramas, which I wouldn't want to miss out on. It's the journey that becomes unforgettable. 

And true, reality is not always a happy ending. Still, sometimes reality is so harsh that I'm a little fearful of watching an ending which leaves me devastated afterwards. 

Like @ysi said, 

 ysi:

you know it's good when it is able to make me feel for the characters

that is so true and exactly what I am looking for when I watch dramas. I want to get emotionally involved, laugh and cry with them.

But I don't want to end up feeling sad days after...

Maybe I should just grow up and have the guts to face reality, lol. 

So, @Shadow

 Shadow:

I get some dramas in mind that would be a good example but since they are not in your WL i don't want to risk spoiling.

I always look in the comments if the ending is going to be a happy or sad one before I start watching it. If you would, please spoil me. I would appreciate it very much on my now new discovery journey of: How to love dramas with sad endings :-)

 PrettyCarEye:

I've read where people have said sad endings are therapeutic. When they cry because of a drama, it helps them release other pain & trauma they might be experiencing otherwise in real life. 

I have to say I am the complete opposite. I am with the OP on this one. I thoroughly hate sad endings (though I don't always avoid them). If there's romance I definitely want and need a happy ending. If I know beforehand there is no happy ending I won't watch, and I always check to make sure. Sad endings are not therapeutic for me. They can be devastating. At best, they make me melancholic and pensive ... at worse, they may trigger depression. 

I personally am of the belief that life is disappointing & depressing enough. Entertainment is an escape. To be confronted with more tragedy and disappointment here as well would just be too much.

That's exactly how I was feeling. A friend and collegue of mine who was sexually abused always watched horror movies and cried throughout the whole movie. I know she was releasing pressure and found it easier to cry about that than her life. Even though I have the same trauma, I couldn't really relate. 

Sad endings, no matter if drama, movies, animes, did trigger depression. I felt like falling even deeper into an abyss than I was already anyhow. Took days sometimes to get over it. That's why I was so curious as to why some say: Sad ending: no worries... Lol

I will try to turn the focus away from devastation in a sad ending and engulf myself on their journey. And maybe willing to face sadness will help me get emotional stronger in a way. I wonder.

 Eternal Flame:

I've watched 1 Litre of Tears and Nirvana in Fire - both very beautiful dramas, which I wouldn't want to miss out on. It's the journey that becomes unforgettable.

I've heard so much good things about the former, but I've vowed never to watch it. Aside from any potential sad endings, I just don't see the purpose in watching someone gradually deteriorate and suffer. Again, this happens in real life every day. If I want tragedy, all I have to do is turn on the news or even walk out my house. I don't need more of it in my entertainment.

The latter, on the other hand, is a drama I do plan to watch. I've heard lots of great stuff about it and I've been kind of saving it for just the right moment but I wasn't aware that it has a sad ending?