‘I absolutely had to rest after that!’ Your most gripping episodes of TV of all time
Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse (2003)
This installment starts with the intelligence unit confined during a training exercise concerning a fictional terrorist event, overseen by two Home Office officials. As things progress, it appears that there really has been an attack and a chemical agent deployed. The tension ratchets up as messages indicate a catastrophe taking place outside, and escalates when the leader seems contaminated, and the government agents endeavor to depart, forcing Matthew Macfadyen’s character to decide between shooting them or permitting their exit and endangering the sterile MI5 environment. As this is Spooks, the outcome is expected.
Threads (1984)
Threads had minimal funding but arguably the most terrifying series I have ever watched because of the stark reality and bleak government data. Viewed it recently having watched the original; I often attended the bar in Sheffield from the programme that highlighted the truth and the glib matter-of-fact official information that were transmitted. Continuing to be utterly horrifying decades on.
Severance – The We We Are from 2022
The first season finale of Severance ranks highly among intense episodes. I was throughout the episode literally perched nervously, pushing alongside Dylan to keep his hands on the levers that allowed the Innies to remain active, while shouting to the Innies to disclose their facts. The final climactic moment – “she survives!” – felt like an explosion.
Industry – White Mischief from 2024
Episode five of the third series of Industry made my pulse quicken. I was compelled to halt and rise and leave the room several times because of the sheer scale of the deliberate ruin I observed. Rishi Ramdani faces serious trouble in his job and domestic life – overwhelmed by debt to illegal creditors because of his compulsive gambling, taking such risks with a gamble on the pound that might cost his firm millions. So of course, he goes on a gambling spree, does tons of drugs and drink and wins, loses, wins, is brutally attacked. Whenever you assume things cannot decline more, it does. There’s hope of redemption as the installment closes but he misses the opening, leading to terrible outcomes during the season’s final episode. Absolutely had to relax following that!
Peep Show – Holiday from 2007
Peep Show is not inherently a tense series. But the episode Holiday contains such levels of cringe that it’ll have you standing up for the full show, permeated with worry. The situation intensifies once Jeremy and Mark find themselves needing to deceive regarding the dog they unintentionally hit and subsequent attempts to dispose of it. You then occupy the remainder of the episode wondering if it might be more awful than cremation, and it is possible!
The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals (2001)
Nothing I’ve watched has been more intense as when I first saw the season two finale to The West Wing. The show opens with the fallout of the passing (in a road incident) of the president’s confidential aide and escalates to a高潮 with a situation in Haiti, and the fallout from the non-disclosure regarding the president’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis, with confirmation of his intention to run for another term. Superb programming. Unsurpassed.
The 2018 Bodyguard premiere episode
The opening of the British series Bodyguard, with the protagonist on a train with his young son, is for me one of the most intense episodes ever. He spots a Muslim woman going into the loo and knows something is off. The explosive disposal specialists are summoned, board the train, and endeavor to coax the woman to remove her explosive vest. Anxiety builds to a practically unendurable point, until, indeed, the vest is disarmed.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body (2001)
Buffy comes into her home to discover her mother has died due to natural factors, which is the most unusual type of death in this supernatural show. The installment lacks any soundtrack, a somber mood, and we witness the episode via the perspective of Buffy’s astonishment upon finding her mother.
The Sopranos – Made in America from 2007
The concluding moment of the last installment of the series was extremely nerve-wracking. And for those who saw it during its initial broadcast, 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.” But the mood is bizarrely ominous. Approaching Twin Peaks-esque horror. The family sit in a restaurant. Meadow parks. Tony gloomily informs Carmela problems are brewing with another member of his team cooperating with the officials. Meadow secures a parking space. Strange people enter the restaurant. Stare at Tony(?) Meadow continues to park. Tony puts a record on the jukebox. Meadow finds a spot. The door chimes, a person comes in. It cannot be Meadow, she is still parking. Tony raises his gaze. Continue. It ceases. My heart sank about 20 minutes later.
The Walking Dead – The Last Day on Earth from 2016
I remained awake to view this installment at 2am. It was so intense after the buildup of bad guy 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 muted audio – oh no! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season
