Five Movie Characters We Felt Most Sorry For In 2020
Emily Chen
Let's face it, 2020 was a rollercoaster for everyone, and our favorite characters on screen were no exception. While some heroes soared and villains got their comeuppance, others were left in a heap of emotional rubble. Diving into the characters who tugged at our heartstrings is a surprisingly cathartic and entertaining pastime. It reminds us of the power of storytelling to evoke empathy and connect us, even with fictional beings. Plus, who doesn't love a good dose of shared commiseration over a fictional character's plight? It's a popular topic because it taps into our innate human desire to connect with others, to understand their struggles, and to feel that pang of "Oh, you poor thing!" It’s a testament to great acting and writing when a character can make us feel so deeply for their fictional woes. This exercise is useful because it highlights memorable performances and poignant storytelling. It's a chance to reflect on the emotional impact of cinema and to appreciate the nuances that make us care. So, buckle up, grab your virtual tissues, and let's revisit some of the cinematic souls who truly earned our deepest sympathies in the unprecedented year of 2020.
The Quintet of Our Compassion
The year 2020, despite its real-world challenges, delivered some truly gut-wrenching character arcs on the silver screen. These characters, through their trials, tribulations, and sheer bad luck, managed to etch themselves into our collective empathy. They reminded us that even in fictional worlds, suffering is palpable, and sometimes, all a character needs is a good old-fashioned virtual hug from the audience.
Tony Stark (Avengers: Endgame) - While Endgame technically landed in 2019, its lingering emotional impact and the sheer weight of Tony's sacrifice continued to resonate deeply throughout 2020. We'd watched him evolve from a billionaire playboy to a weary, selfless hero, and his final act of heroism, while necessary, was devastating. The thought of his daughter, Morgan, growing up without him, and the immense personal cost of saving the universe, left us with a profound sense of sorrow. He finally found peace, but at the ultimate price, and that's something we couldn't help but feel deeply for.
Our first contender for most pitiable is a character whose journey culminated in a sacrifice that echoed throughout the cinematic universe. We followed his evolution, his triumphs, and his crippling anxieties. When the final moment arrived, it wasn't just the end of a character; it was the end of an era, leaving a void filled with the bittersweet ache of his noble, but heartbreaking, choice.
Joanna (Extraction) - In the relentless action-thriller Extraction, Joanna, the abducted daughter of Ovi Mahajan, was a pawn in a brutal game. We saw her through the eyes of Tyler Rake, the hardened mercenary tasked with her rescue. Her innocence contrasted sharply with the violence surrounding her, and her helplessness was a constant source of unease. The sheer terror and desperation she must have felt, trapped and alone, made her a compelling figure to root for, and her fate, while ambiguous at the end, was a heavy burden to carry for any audience member invested in her survival.
Movie Characters We Felt Really Bad For
Next, we delve into the murky depths of a film where survival was the only currency. This character, young and caught in a maelstrom of adult conflict, embodied the vulnerability that makes us instinctively want to protect. Her plight served as a stark reminder of the collateral damage inflicted in the pursuit of power and greed, and her emotional arc was a silent scream for reprieve.
The titular character in The Invisible Man (2020) - Cecilia Kass endured a horrifying ordeal. After escaping her abusive and controlling tech mogul boyfriend, she found herself terrorized by an unseen force, convinced he had discovered a way to make himself invisible and torment her. The psychological manipulation and gaslighting were relentless, and the film masterfully depicted her descent into paranoia and desperation as no one believed her. The sheer isolation and fear she experienced, constantly questioning her sanity, made her plight incredibly difficult to watch, and we genuinely felt her struggle for survival and vindication.
This character's narrative was a masterclass in psychological horror. We felt her fear, her isolation, and her desperate fight for credibility. The unseen antagonist amplified her vulnerability, turning her own mind into a battleground. Her journey was a stark portrayal of enduring abuse and the arduous path to reclaiming one's agency, leaving us with a profound sense of unease and sympathy for her relentless struggle.
Seven Movie Characters We Felt Really Sorry For – TVovermind
Peni Parker (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) - Though Spider-Verse was a 2018 release, its enduring popularity and Peni's unique charm continued to resonate. While not strictly a 2020 release, her story carries a weight that felt relevant. Her orphaned status, her dedication to her robotic spider companion, SP//dr, and the sheer burden of responsibility placed on her young shoulders were incredibly endearing and, at times, heartbreaking. She faced death and the weight of saving the multiverse at a tender age, and her quiet resilience in the face of such immense pressure made her a character many viewers felt a deep, protective sympathy for.
This young hero, with her adorable robotic sidekick, embodies a different kind of struggle – the burden of responsibility thrust upon innocent shoulders. Her journey, while visually spectacular, was underscored by a poignant sense of loss and an unwavering commitment to duty. We saw her courage, her intelligence, and her inherent goodness, all wrapped in the bittersweet reality of her solitary mission, making her a character who evoked a strong sense of protective empathy.
Five Movie Characters We Felt Most Sorry for in 2020 - TVovermind
Thomas (The Son) - In this quiet, devastating drama, Thomas grappled with the profound grief of losing his young son. The film explored the raw, unvarnished pain of parental loss, and Thomas's struggle to navigate a world that felt hollow without his child was palpable. His attempts to maintain composure, his moments of quiet despair, and the sheer emptiness he faced made him a deeply sympathetic figure. It was a stark and honest portrayal of a pain no parent should ever have to endure, and it left a lasting impression of sorrow.
Finally, we turn to a character whose grief was a silent, crushing weight. This character's story was an unflinching look at the deepest human sorrow – the loss of a child. His journey through the desolation of bereavement was portrayed with such raw honesty that it was impossible not to feel the echo of his pain. His quiet suffering and the struggle to simply exist in a world devoid of his most precious light made him a profoundly pitiable figure, resonating with the universal fear of such immeasurable loss.
These five characters, each in their own unique way, managed to capture our hearts and our sympathies in 2020. They remind us that compelling storytelling isn't just about epic battles or triumphant victories; it's also about acknowledging the pain, the struggle, and the quiet moments of despair that make us human, and ultimately, make us care.
