‘I absolutely had to rest after that!’ The most intense episodes of TV ever
Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse (2003)
This installment starts with the Spooks team restricted as part of a simulation relating to a hypothetical terrorist attack, overseen by two Home Office officials. As the situation develops, it seems an actual attack has occurred with a chemical weapon released. The anxiety increases as messages indicate a disaster happening externally, and intensifies as the boss appears to be infected, and the government agents endeavor to depart, pushing the protagonist portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen to opt for either shooting them or letting them go and potentially infecting the secure MI5 headquarters. Given it’s Spooks, his decision is predictable.
Threads (1984)
Threads had minimal funding but one of the most frightening programmes I’ve ever seen because of the stark reality and dismal official figures. Saw it not long ago after seeing the first airing; I often attended the bar in Sheffield featured in the show that highlighted the truth and the offhand factual official statements that aired. Still absolutely terrifying 35 years later.
The 2022 Severance episode The We We Are
The concluding episode of Severance’s debut season has to be right up there among intense episodes. I remained for the whole show quite literally on the edge of my seat, straining every sinew with Dylan to keep his hands on the levers that sustained the Innies’ extended time, while shouting to the Innies to get their truths out there. The concluding高潮 – “she survives!” – was like an eruption.
The 2024 Industry episode White Mischief
The fifth episode of Industry’s third season made my pulse quicken. I was compelled to halt and rise and depart the area multiple times because of the sheer scale of the reckless self-harm I saw. Rishi Ramdani is in deep shit professionally and personally – overwhelmed by debt to illegal creditors owing to his uncontrollable gaming, taking such risks with a gamble on the pound which may result in huge losses for his employer. Naturally, he embarks on a betting frenzy, consumes excessive substances and alcohol and alternates between success and failure, gets beaten to a pulp. Every time you think it can’t get any worse, it worsens. There is a chance for salvation as the installment closes yet he wastes the chance, leading to terrible outcomes during the season’s final episode. Definitely needed a lie-down after that!
The 2007 Peep Show episode Holiday
Peep Show itself isn’t necessarily a stressful show. But the episode Holiday features such degrees of awkwardness that it will make you rise throughout the entire episode, riddled with anxiety. It all ramps up once Jeremy and Mark find themselves having to lie about the dog they accidentally run over and following tries to eliminate it. You subsequently use the rest of the installment wondering if it might be more awful than cremation, and it is possible!
The 2001 The West Wing episode The Two Cathedrals
Nothing I have seen has been as tense compared to my initial viewing the second season finale of The West Wing. The show opens with the fallout of the demise (in a car crash) of the president’s personal secretary and escalates to a高潮 involving a Haitian emergency, and the effects of the withheld information regarding the president’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis, with confirmation of his intention to run for another term. Excellent TV. Unequaled.
Bodyguard – episode one from 2018
The opening of the British series Bodyguard, with the protagonist on a train alongside his juvenile boy, is personally a top tense installment. He spots a Muslim woman going into the loo and knows something is off. The bomb squad is alerted, get on the train, and attempt to convince the woman to discard her bomb jacket. Anxiety builds to a nearly intolerable level, until yes, the vest is diffused.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body from 2001
Buffy comes into her home to discover her mother has died due to natural factors, which is the least common kind of passing in this mystical program. The episode has no background music, a somber mood, and we see the episode through the experience of Buffy’s astonishment upon finding her mother.
The 2007 The Sopranos finale Made in America
The final scene of the final episode of the program was incredibly anxious. And if you viewed it when it first premiered, you – at first – weren’t sure why. Tony’s enemies, real and imagined, were all overcome. Surely this has the feel of the season one ending? “Remember the little things.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Nearly Twin Peaks-like fear. The clan sits in an eatery. Meadow finds a parking spot. Tony gloomily informs Carmela problems are brewing with another member of his team working with the government. Meadow parks. Strange people enter the restaurant. Look at Tony(?) Meadow is parking. Tony plays a track on the music machine. Meadow parks. The bell rings, someone enters the restaurant. It cannot be Meadow, she is still parking. Tony raises his gaze. Continue. It stops. My heart dropped from my mouth roughly 20 minutes after.
The Walking Dead – The Last Day on Earth (2016)
I stayed up to watch this episode at 2am. It was extremely gripping following the introduction of villain Negan discovering the characters, savagely teasing his prey and then keeping the death a mystery (concluded with a suspenseful moment). The first-person perspective of the victim and the muffled sounds – oh no! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season
