‘I absolutely had to rest after that!’ The most intense TV episodes ever
The 2003 Spooks episode I Spy Apocalypse
The show kicks off with the MI5 agents locked down while undergoing a drill relating to a hypothetical terrorist attack, overseen by two Home Office officials. As the situation develops, it appears that there really has been an attack with a chemical weapon released. The anxiety increases as reports reveal a catastrophe taking place outside, and escalates as the superior shows signs of exposure, with the two officials trying to exit, compelling the character played by Matthew Macfadyen to opt for either shooting them or allowing them to leave and risking contaminating the sealed MI5 offices. As this is Spooks, the outcome is expected.
Threads (1984)
The production was inexpensive yet among the scariest shows I have viewed owing to its grim authenticity and bleak government data. Watched it about a month ago after seeing the first airing; I often attended the bar in Sheffield from the programme that highlighted the truth and the casual, straightforward government details that were transmitted. Still absolutely terrifying decades on.
Severance – The We We Are from 2022
The concluding episode of Severance’s debut season deserves a top spot among intense episodes. I spent the entire episode actually sitting tensely, pushing alongside Dylan to keep his hands on the levers that kept the Innies on overtime, while yelling at the Innies to get their truths out there. The final climactic moment – “she is living!” – felt like an explosion.
Industry – White Mischief from 2024
Installment five in Industry’s third series made my pulse quicken. I needed to stop and stand and exit the space repeatedly because of the sheer scale of the reckless self-harm I observed. Rishi Ramdani is in major difficulty professionally and personally – up to his eyeballs in debt from unscrupulous lenders owing to his uncontrollable gaming, assuming hazardous chances with a gamble on the pound that might cost his firm millions. Naturally, he embarks on a betting frenzy, does tons of drugs and drink and wins, loses, wins, is brutally attacked. Whenever you assume things cannot decline more, it does. There is a chance for salvation at the end of the episode but he squanders the opportunity, leading to terrible outcomes in the concluding part of the season. Absolutely had to relax following that!
Peep Show – Holiday (2007)
The series Peep Show isn’t typically anxiety-inducing. Yet the installment Holiday features such degrees of awkwardness that it’ll have you standing up for the full show, filled with nervousness. The situation intensifies once Jeremy and Mark find themselves being compelled to falsify about the canine they accidentally run over and following tries to eliminate it. You then spend the rest of the episode doubting if it can actually be more terrible than burning, and it can be!
The 2001 The West Wing episode The Two Cathedrals
No other viewing has been as gripping compared to my initial viewing the concluding episode of The West Wing’s second season. The show opens with the fallout of the death (in a traffic accident) of the president’s private assistant and builds to a peak with a crisis in Haiti, and the repercussions of the secrecy about the president’s MS condition, along with affirmation of his plan to run for another term. Wonderful television. Never bettered.
Bodyguard – episode one (2018)
The opening of the British series Bodyguard, with the protagonist on a train alongside his juvenile boy, ranks among the most gripping episodes I’ve seen. He notices a Muslim female heading to the toilet and realizes something is amiss. The bomb squad is alerted, board the train, and attempt to convince the woman to take off her suicide vest. Suspense rises to a nearly intolerable level, until yes, the vest is diffused.
The 2001 Buffy episode The Body
Buffy enters her house to find her mum has passed away of natural causes, which is the most unusual type of death in this mystical program. The installment lacks any soundtrack, a gloomy atmosphere, and we view the installment through the lens of Buffy’s dismay upon uncovering her mother.
The Sopranos – Made in America from 2007
The concluding moment of the last installment of the show was pants-wettingly tense. And if you watched it when it originally aired, you – at first – weren’t sure why. Tony’s foes, genuine and fictional, had all been defeated. Surely this has the feel of the season one ending? “Think about the small elements.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Approaching Twin Peaks-esque horror. The family sit in a restaurant. Meadow finds a parking spot. Tony sorrowfully notifies Carmela there’s trouble afoot with yet another of his crew working with the government. Meadow secures a parking space. Odd persons arrive at the eatery. Look at Tony(?) Meadow is parking. Tony plays a track on the music machine. Meadow finds a spot. The bell sounds, an individual enters. Can’t be Meadow, she’s still parking. Tony glances upward. Continue. It ceases. My spirit fell roughly 20 minutes after.
The Walking Dead – The Last Day on Earth (2016)
I stayed up to watch this episode at 2am. It was incredibly tense after the establishment of antagonist Negan finding the group, savagely teasing his prey then not knowing who he killed (concluded with a suspenseful moment). The victim’s POV shot and the muffled sounds – oh no! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season
