‘I truly required a break after that!’ Your most intense television episodes ever
Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse from 2003
This installment starts with the MI5 agents locked down as part of a simulation concerning a fictional terrorist event, supervised by two Home Office agents. As the situation develops, it seems an actual attack has occurred with a chemical weapon released. The tension ratchets up as reports reveal a disaster happening externally, and escalates when the leader seems contaminated, with the two officials trying to exit, pushing the protagonist portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen to decide between shooting them or allowing them to leave and risking contaminating the sealed MI5 offices. This being Spooks, it is unsurprising which one he chooses.
The 1984 production Threads
Threads had minimal funding yet among the scariest shows I have ever watched because of the stark reality and bleak government data. Saw it not long ago following the initial broadcast; I frequently went to the Sheffield pub featured in the show which emphasised the reality and the glib matter-of-fact official information that were transmitted. Remaining completely frightening after three and a half decades.
Severance – The We We Are (2022)
The concluding episode of Severance’s debut season has to be right up there among intense episodes. I remained for the whole show literally perched nervously, pushing alongside Dylan to maintain his grip on the controls that kept the Innies on overtime, while yelling at the Innies to reveal their realities. The concluding高潮 – “she’s alive!” – was like an eruption.
The 2024 Industry episode White Mischief
Episode five of the third series of Industry had my heart racing. I needed to stop and stand and depart the area multiple times due to the immense extent of the wanton self-destruction I observed. Rishi Ramdani is in major difficulty in his job and domestic life – overwhelmed by debt to illegal creditors owing to his uncontrollable gaming, engaging in dangerous ventures with a bet on sterling which may result in huge losses for his employer. Inevitably, he starts a gaming binge, consumes excessive substances and alcohol and alternates between success and failure, is brutally attacked. Every time you think it can’t get any worse, it worsens. There is a chance for salvation at the end of the episode yet he wastes the chance, leading to terrible outcomes in the concluding part of the season. Certainly required a rest afterward!
The 2007 Peep Show episode Holiday
Peep Show is not inherently a tense series. However, the Holiday episode contains such levels of cringe that it will make you rise throughout the entire episode, permeated with worry. The tension escalates as Jeremy and Mark discover having to lie about the dog they unintentionally hit and subsequent attempts to dispose of it. You then spend the rest of the episode wondering if it might be more awful than cremation, and it turns out to be!
The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals (2001)
No other viewing has been as gripping as when I first saw the season two finale to The West Wing. The episode starts with the aftermath of the death (in a traffic accident) of the president’s personal secretary and builds to a peak involving a Haitian emergency, and the fallout from the non-disclosure regarding the president’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis, with confirmation of his intention to seek re-election. Superb programming. Never bettered.
Bodyguard – episode one (2018)
The opening of the British series Bodyguard, featuring the main character on a train with his young son, is personally a top tense installment. He notices a Muslim female entering the restroom and senses something is wrong. The explosive disposal specialists are summoned, board the train, and try to persuade the woman to discard her bomb jacket. Suspense rises to a practically unendurable point, until, finally, the vest is neutralized.
The 2001 Buffy episode The Body
Buffy arrives at her residence to realize her mom has deceased due to natural factors, which is the most unusual type of death in this paranormal series. The episode has no background music, a sullen tone, and we witness the episode via the perspective of Buffy’s shock of discovering her mother.
The Sopranos – Made in America from 2007
The ultimate sequence of the series finale of the series was extremely nerve-wracking. And if you watched it when it originally aired, you – initially – were uncertain of the reason. Tony’s foes, genuine and fictional, were all overcome. This seems similar to the first season’s finale, right? “Recall the minor details.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Approaching Twin Peaks-esque horror. The clan sits in an eatery. Meadow parks. Tony sadly tells Carmela problems are brewing with an additional associate working with the government. Meadow parks. Strange people enter the restaurant. Look at Tony(?) Meadow is parking. Tony selects a song on the jukebox. Meadow parks her car. The bell rings, someone enters the restaurant. It isn’t Meadow, she remains parking. Tony raises his gaze. Continue. It ceases. My heart dropped from my mouth about 20 minutes later.
The 2016 The Walking Dead episode The Last Day on Earth
I kept late hours to see this show during the night. It was so intense following the introduction of villain Negan finding the group, mercilessly mocking his targets and then leaving the victim unknown (finished with an unresolved situation). The victim’s POV shot and the muffled sounds – argh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season