Some endings are more realistic than others. When a couple reuniting or girl getting her dream job doesn’t feel like a viable ending to a story, it shouldn’t be thrown in to make the reader happy. The story won’t feel complete if the ending is unbelievable. The biggest reason why sad endings are better than others at times is because it simply makes more sense. Happiness isn’t always the answer.

Sometimes sadness can strike a chord in an audience. If a movie or book wants to leave off on a memorable note, then a sad ending can be just the way to do that. A happy ending is more commonplace and commercial. In order to evoke an emotional response, sadness might have to be added. It doesn’t have to be purely depressing, of course. It can be a bittersweet ending that both saddens and leaves off with hope.

You’re supposed to learn from mistakes, right? If something bad happens in a character’s life, they can learn from the experience. Even if the character remains the same, it might teach the audience something about life. Having an unhappy ending can show you all of the wrong things to do in a situation. Make sure to fully digest what you read and watch, because it could teach you something worth learning.

Sometimes endings can feel rushed and thrown together. Most of the time, this happens when the author creates a magical circumstance that leads to all of the characters getting what they want. If someone is fighting to win a gold medal in the Olympics, but doesn’t have enough talent throughout the entire book or film, then they shouldn’t win in the end. They can accomplish a great feat, but within limits. Don’t make the ending entirely, unrealistically happy.

The saddest endings can be the most memorable. Don’t you always tell your family and friends about the book that made you cry? You’ll never forget the sad moments in your favorite characters' lives, because they feel like a part of you. You might not remember the beginning or middle of the book, but you’ll always remember how it ended up. So why avoid sadness?

Some people don’t identify with true happiness, because they think that they’ve never felt it. However, everyone can understand sadness. There are pieces of everyone’s lives that are depressing to think about. When you read or watch a sad ending, it can feel familiar. And when you connect with characters, it can make a story a whole lot better.

Whether or not you prefer sad endings, it’s ultimately the author’s choice. They’re the ones who know the characters better than anyone and have the power to decide how their lives end up. If you have faith in your favorite writer, then it shouldn’t matter whether the ending is happy or sad. You should be confident that they’ll make whatever ending they decide on as amazing as possible. So just sit back and enjoy.

The next time you read or watch something, keep these facts in mind. Do you prefer happy endings to sad ones? Or does it depend on the story?