‘I absolutely had to rest after that!’ The most gripping television episodes you’ve seen
Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse (2003)
The episode begins with the intelligence unit restricted while undergoing a drill about a potential terror incident, monitored by two government representatives. As the situation develops, it seems an actual attack has occurred and a chemical agent deployed. The suspense builds as reports reveal a disaster happening externally, and gets worse as the boss appears to be infected, and the government agents endeavor to depart, compelling the character played by Matthew Macfadyen to choose between firing at them or permitting their exit and endangering the sterile MI5 environment. This being Spooks, his decision is predictable.
Threads from 1984
Threads was low budget yet among the scariest shows I have viewed because of the stark reality and dismal official figures. Viewed it recently after seeing the first airing; I often attended the bar in Sheffield featured in the show which underscored the actuality and the glib matter-of-fact official information that were transmitted. Still absolutely terrifying after three and a half decades.
Severance – The We We Are (2022)
The concluding episode of Severance’s debut season ranks highly among intense episodes. I spent the entire episode quite literally on the edge of my seat, straining every sinew with Dylan to maintain his grip on the controls that kept the Innies on overtime, while yelling at the Innies to disclose their facts. The final climactic moment – “she is living!” – felt like an explosion.
Industry – White Mischief (2024)
The fifth episode of Industry’s third season made my pulse quicken. I needed to stop and stand and exit the space repeatedly due to the immense extent of the wanton self-destruction I was witnessing. Rishi Ramdani is in deep shit at work and home – buried in financial obligations to loan sharks because of his compulsive gambling, engaging in dangerous ventures with a gamble on the pound which could lose his company millions. Naturally, he embarks on a betting frenzy, does tons of drugs and drink and wins, loses, wins, gets beaten to a pulp. Every time you think the situation cannot deteriorate further, it does. Redemption seems possible as the installment closes but he misses the opening, with horrifying consequences in the season finale. Certainly required a rest afterward!
Peep Show – Holiday from 2007
Peep Show is not inherently a tense series. However, the Holiday episode contains such levels of cringe that it’ll have you standing up throughout the entire episode, permeated with worry. The tension escalates once Jeremy and Mark find themselves needing to deceive regarding the dog they accidentally run over and later efforts to get rid of it. You then occupy the remainder of the episode questioning whether it truly can be worse than incineration, and it turns out to be!
The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals from 2001
Nothing I have seen has been as tense than the first time I watched 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 about the president’s MS condition, along with affirmation of his plan to run for another term. Excellent TV. Never bettered.
Bodyguard – episode one from 2018
The beginning of the UK show Bodyguard, with the protagonist on a train alongside his juvenile boy, is for me one of the most intense episodes ever. He observes a woman in Islamic attire entering the restroom and knows something is off. The explosive disposal specialists are summoned, board the train, and attempt to convince the woman to take off her suicide vest. 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 most unusual type of death in this supernatural show. The show features no musical score, a sullen tone, and we witness the episode via the perspective of Buffy’s shock of discovering 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 watched it when it originally aired, you – at first – weren’t sure why. Tony’s enemies, real and imagined, were all overcome. Doesn’t this resemble the season one conclusion? “Think about the small elements.” Yet the atmosphere is strangely foreboding. Approaching Twin Peaks-esque horror. The family gathers in a diner. Meadow stops the car. Tony sadly tells Carmela there’s trouble afoot with another member of his team collaborating with the authorities. Meadow parks. Odd persons arrive at the eatery. Gaze at Tony(?) Meadow parks. Tony plays a track on the music machine. Meadow finds a spot. The bell sounds, an individual enters. It isn’t Meadow, she remains parking. Tony raises his gaze. Continue. It halts. My heart dropped from my mouth around 20 minutes subsequently.
The Walking Dead – The Last Day on Earth (2016)
I remained awake to view this installment during the night. It was so intense after the establishment of antagonist Negan locating the survivors, savagely teasing his prey and then keeping the death a mystery (ended on a cliffhanger). The victim’s POV shot and the muted audio – ugh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season