Mad Men is a lot of different things at once and that's part of what makes the show so spectacular. Of course, it's a wonderful period drama that accurately depicts American life in the 1960s. It's also a hilarious workplace comedy, filled with memorable one-liners and wacky occurrences. And, naturally, it's a heartbreaking meditation on loneliness and soul searching.

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As a result, Mad Men aired many heartbreaking episodes throughout its run. Some of these episodes contain just one devastating scene, and some are unrelentingly depressing. And, perhaps it's no coincidence that these are also among the best episodes of the series.

"Person To Person" (Season 7, Episode 14)

Betty Draper with a phone to her ear on Mad Men

"Person to Person" is one of many Mad Men episodes that helped the show become iconic, serving as the wonderful series finale. Person to Person is filled with sad moments, like Don hugging the lonely man at the retreat and the devastating phone call between Don and Betty.

As My_Purple_Toothbrush writes, "This show has made me cry so many times. But the most obviously sad scene to me is when Betty and Don are on the phone for the last time." Betty's life is coming to an end, and Don can't believe what he is hearing. The acting throughout the sequence is breathtakingly good.

"Hands And Knees" (Season 4, Episode 10)

Lane Pryce in glasses and period outfit on Mad Men

The fourth season is one of the darkest, and it contains a devastating episode in "Hands and Knees." Perhaps the hardest storyline involves Joan, as she considers having an abortion.

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Reddit user lo-fish finds it exceptionally sad, writing, "When Joan is at the abortion clinic and the other woman in the waiting room asks how old her daughter is, and she says 'fifteen'. I get teary every time." This episode's subplots involving Roger and Lane are also quite sad, as Roger loses Lucky Strike and Lane is physically abused by his own father.

"Commissions And Fees" (Season 5, Episode 12)

Lane Pryce looking smug on Mad Men

Season 5 slowly crescendos into a horrifying climax, as Lane Pryce takes his own life after getting fired from SCDP. Shalabadoo writes, "Lane killing himself because it was such a needless controversy."

The "needless controversy" they are referring to is Lane's stealing of company funds to pay for his taxes back in the UK. Lane is caught by Cooper and fired by Don, resulting in him taking his own life inside the office. It's easily one of the series' most emotional scenes.

"The Other Woman" (Season 5, Episode 11)

Herb putting a necklace on Joan in Mad Men

"The Other Woman" contains one of the most hated storylines in Mad Men, and it's this precise plot point that makes it so sad. Reddit user thematterasserted writes, "Something about seeing Joan, possibly the most painfully real character in the series, have to do something so utterly repugnant, but expected, absolutely tears me apart."

In order to land Jaguar, Joan prostitutes herself to Herb Rennet. And even though she clearly doesn't want to do it, all the other partners are reluctantly willing. It's a low point in a series full of them for poor Joan.

"The Suitcase" (Season 4, Episode 7)

Don and Peggy sleeping on the couch in The Suitcase

The Suitcase is one of the best episodes to rewatch if you miss Don and Peggy. Largely heralded as one of the series' greatest episodes, The Suitcase is also one of its saddest. Redditor c0quine writes, "Definitely when Don breaks and cries in front of Peggy when he finds out Anna dies."

The entire episode is building to that moment, as Don continuously pushes off making the phone call. But all the waiting was worth it, as Don's tearful embrace with Peggy served as the perfect culmination to a perfect bottle episode.

"In Care Of" (Season 6, Episode 13)

Don and his kids looking up at a house on Mad Men

Season 6 contains a wonderful ending with "In Care Of." Unfortunately, it signals the very end of Don Draper. Redditor drjsc states, "When Don breaks down during the Hershey pitch. I think a lot of Don's appeal comes from being dark, brooding, and successful...

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..But in that meeting when he talks about his real upbringing in a whorehouse and desiring to be wanted, you realize that his persona is nothing to romanticize about." The horrifically sad story helps to shatter the illusion of Don Draper, and it signals the beginning of his downfall as he is "fired" soon after. It also contains a beautifully touching ending, with Don showing his children the dilapidated house in which he was raised.

"5G" (Season 1, Episode 5)

Adam Whitman from Mad Men

The show was sad from the very beginning, as proven by the power of "5G." Serving as just the fifth episode of Mad Men, "5G" sees Don's half-brother Adam arriving in town and attempting to re-establish contact with his long-lost sibling. Believing that the presence of Adam will shatter his Don Draper illusion and ruin the life that he had built for himself, Don gives Adam $5,000 and tells him to get lost.

One Reddit user thinks this is the saddest moment in the series, writing, "There are a lot of sad moments, but imo when Don lays $5000 on the table and tells Adam to leave and never come back and seeing Adam so visibly hurt really hits hard."

"Waterloo" (Season 7, Episode 7)

Cooper dancing on Mad Men

Serving as the mid-season finale of season 7, Waterloo contains a lot of tough material. Chief among them was Cooper's sudden death. The office is left devastated by his unexpected passing, including Don himself, who proceeds to have a hallucinatory vision of a dancing Cooper.

Redditor WillieTheLittlePimp writes, "Don’s smile quivers away and he’s left there leaning on the desk, taking in what Bert told him, reflecting on his life - and understanding he will never get to make amends with an old mentor, much less even see him again."

"The Wheel" (Season 1, Episode 13)

Don sits on the stairs on Mad Men

Reddit user klug3 writes, "The ending of The Wheel, when he gets back home and Betty & the kids are gone." Season 1 ends in memorable, if emotionally shattering, fashion with the episode the "The Wheel."

After realizing the love he shares with his family, Don decides to return home in time for their Thanksgiving trip. Unfortunately, he is way too late and he is met with nothing but a dark and empty house. It serves as a wonderful summation of Don's character, and the empty house is a perfect symbol of his spiritual and romantic longing.

"The Arrangements" (Season 3, Episode 4)

Sally Draper smiling in Mad Men

One Redditor finds "The Arrangements" quite sad, writing, "Sally pitching a rage at her family for laughing right after Grandpa Gene's death, being dismissed and told to go watch tv, then laying on the floor and staring at the monk's self-immolation on the news...you can just feel the loss of innocence, of the childhood she once knew, and her realizing how scary the world really is."

With this one scene, viewers knew that Sally Draper would not grow up to be a well-adjusted individual. Sally was doomed from the start, having been raised in an unloving household with an abusive mother and an absentee father. This was just the cherry on top.

NEXT: Sally Draper's 10 Best Scenes In Mad Men