Catharsis

CATHARTIC

Is the term providing psychological relief for the audience through  the expression of strong emotion when they see something on screen (e.g. the villain is caught.)

The word comes from a Greek word Katharsis meaning 'purification' or 'cleansing' and is a sudden emotional breakdown or climax that constitutes overwhelming feelings of great pity, sorrow, laughter, or any extreme change in emotion that results in renewal, restoration and revitalization.