‘I truly required a break after that!’ The most nerve-wracking television episodes ever
Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse (2003)
The episode begins with the MI5 agents locked down as part of a simulation relating to a hypothetical terrorist attack, supervised by two Home Office agents. As the situation develops, it becomes clear a real incident has taken place and a chemical weapon has been unleashed. The anxiety increases as reports reveal a catastrophe taking place outside, and escalates as the boss appears to be infected, with the two officials trying to exit, forcing Matthew Macfadyen’s character to choose between firing at them or allowing them to leave and potentially infecting the secure MI5 headquarters. This being Spooks, it is unsurprising which one he chooses.
The 1984 production Threads
Threads was low budget yet among the scariest shows I have ever watched due to its harsh realism and dismal official figures. 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 glib matter-of-fact official information that aired. Still absolutely terrifying 35 years later.
Severance – The We We Are (2022)
The concluding episode of Severance’s debut season deserves a top spot among intense episodes. I was throughout the episode actually sitting tensely, exerting with Dylan to hold the switches that sustained the Innies’ extended time, while shouting to the Innies to get their truths out there. The concluding高潮 – “she survives!” – resembled a outburst.
The 2024 Industry episode White Mischief
Installment five in Industry’s third series had my heart racing. I needed to stop and stand and leave the room several times because of the sheer scale of the wanton self-destruction I saw. Rishi Ramdani faces serious trouble at work and home – up to his eyeballs in debt to illegal creditors because of his compulsive gambling, engaging in dangerous ventures with a bet on sterling which may result in huge losses for his employer. So of course, he goes on a gambling spree, consumes excessive substances and alcohol and alternates between success and failure, is brutally attacked. Whenever you assume the situation cannot deteriorate further, it deteriorates. There’s hope of redemption by the episode’s conclusion but he squanders the opportunity, resulting in dreadful effects in the concluding part of the season. Definitely needed a lie-down after that!
Peep Show – Holiday from 2007
Peep Show is not inherently a tense series. But the episode Holiday features such degrees of awkwardness that it’ll have you standing up the whole episode, permeated with worry. The situation intensifies when Jeremy and Mark realize having to lie about the dog they accidentally run over and later efforts to get rid of it. You then spend the rest of the episode questioning whether it truly can be worse than incineration, and it is possible!
The 2001 The West Wing episode The Two Cathedrals
Nothing I’ve watched has been more intense than the first time I watched the concluding episode of The West Wing’s second season. The installment begins with the consequences of the demise (in a car crash) of the president’s personal secretary and reaches a crescendo with a situation in Haiti, and the fallout from the non-disclosure of the president’s MS diagnosis, along with affirmation of his plan to pursue re-election. Wonderful television. Never bettered.
Bodyguard – episode one from 2018
The opening of the British series Bodyguard, with the hero aboard a train accompanied by his small son, is for me one of the most intense episodes ever. He notices a Muslim female entering the restroom and senses something is wrong. The bomb squad is alerted, enter the train, and attempt to convince the woman to discard her bomb jacket. Anxiety builds to an almost unbearable degree, until, indeed, the vest is disarmed.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body from 2001
Buffy arrives at her residence to find her mum has passed away of natural causes, which is the rarest form of demise in this mystical program. The installment lacks any soundtrack, a somber mood, and we witness the episode via the perspective of Buffy’s dismay upon uncovering her mother.
The Sopranos – Made in America from 2007
The final scene of the final episode of the program was incredibly anxious. And if you watched it when it originally aired, you – initially – were uncertain of the reason. Tony’s adversaries, actual and perceived, had all been defeated. Doesn’t this resemble the season one conclusion? “Remember the little things.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Almost Twin Peaks levels of terror. The family sit in a restaurant. Meadow finds a parking spot. Tony gloomily informs Carmela problems are brewing with an additional associate cooperating with the officials. Meadow secures a parking space. Odd persons arrive at the eatery. Look at Tony(?) Meadow parks. Tony selects a song on the jukebox. Meadow parks. The bell rings, someone enters the restaurant. It cannot be Meadow, she is still parking. Tony looks up. Keep going. It stops. My heart dropped from my mouth around 20 minutes subsequently.
The Walking Dead – The Last Day on Earth from 2016
I remained awake to view this installment during the night. It was incredibly tense after the buildup of bad guy Negan locating the survivors, cruelly taunting his victims and then leaving the victim unknown (ended on a cliffhanger). The victim’s POV shot and the muffled sounds – argh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season
