One thing the show excelled at was creating emotional moments by making the audience feel for the characters.

Among the manyheartbreaking, upsetting moments fromOnce Upon a Time, a few still stand out as the saddest.

Cora’s return to Once Upon a Time season 5 was underwhelming and disappointing.

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She had the potential to help the heroes defeat Hades but she didn’t.

Before she dies, Cora tells Regina that she would have been enough.

The two “heroes” didn’t realize that the spell would also send Lily to the real world.

Regina Emma and Neal in Once Upon a Time surrounded by a blue background

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Regina also took a while to open herself up to love after her first fiance was killed by Cora.

Yet Regina finally gave Robin a chance, and they lived happily for a while until Robin’s death.

When Robin dies, Regina loses her true love.

Dark One Emma stabs Captain Hook with the unified Excalibur in Once Upon A Time

Once Upon a Time is an adventure fantasy-drama series created for ABC that features fairy tale characters and their Disney incarnations in a modern setting. When Emma Swan and her son Henry accidentally drive into the town of Storybrooke, they soon discover the inhabitants are those from fairy tales, and they have no knowledge of the modern world inhabited by Emma and Henry. Robbed of their pasts and given new identities by the Evil Queen known as Regina, the hope of the town’s residents lie solely in the hands of Emma, who has stronger connections to the town than she knows.

His spirit lingers for a few seconds after his passing, giving Regina a look that said goodbye.

The scene ends with Regina and Zelena on the floor in tears, comforting each other.

It is devastating to see Regina lose someone else she loved in such a terrible way.

Cora dies in Regina’s arms as Mr. Gold stands over her body in Once Upon a Time

Unfortunately, the character only lasted a season before being killed off.

Neal had cast a spell to bring Rumpelstiltskin back to life in exchange for his own life.

Luckily for Emma, Neal turns up just to be killed off in the same episode.

Cora as The Queen of Hearts in Wonderland OUAT

Neal had cast a spell to bring Rumpelstiltskin back to life in exchange for his own life.

One of them ends up creating one of the saddest scenes of the show’s first season.

The scene that follows with Snow walking through the woods somberly with the Dwarves just emphasizes the effect.

Maleficent begs Snow White not to take her baby away in Once Upon a Time

It takes a lot for Emma to trust someone after everyone in her life has abandoned her.

However, she finally kisses Graham, admitting her feelings to be stronger than something casual.

In Once Upon a Time season three, Rumpelstiltskin sacrificed himself to get rid of Peter Pan.

Maleficent Once Upon a Time

But when Rumpelstiltskin returned, Peter Pan didn’t.

It is one of the first times Belle properly stands up to Rumpelstiltskin in Once Upon a Time.

Robin Hood sacrifices himself to save Regina’s life from Hades in Once Upon A Time

Zelena realizes that Regina blames her for Robin Hood’s death in Once Upon a Time

Neal spends his final moments before death in Emma’s arms in Once Upon A Time

Snow White telling the Dwarves about how she had just told Prince Charming that she doesn’t love him in Once Upon a Time

Sherriff graham dies in Emma’s arms in Once Upon a Time

Rumplestiltskin and Baelfire portal scene in Once Upon A Time Rumplestiltskin is unable to honor his word and go through the portal with his son

Robbie Kay as Peter Pan in Once Upon a Time

Belle commands Rumpelstiltskin to leave Storybrooke forever in Once Upon a Time

Headshot Of Ginnifer Goodwin

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Once Upon a Time