‘I truly required a break after that!’ Your most nerve-wracking television episodes ever
Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse from 2003
The show kicks off with the MI5 agents locked down during a training exercise concerning a fictional terrorist event, monitored by two government representatives. As the situation develops, it becomes clear a real incident has taken place and a chemical agent deployed. The suspense builds as incoming communications show a catastrophe taking place outside, and intensifies as the boss appears to be infected, with the two officials trying to exit, compelling the character played by Matthew Macfadyen to choose between firing at them or permitting their exit and potentially infecting the secure MI5 headquarters. Given it’s Spooks, the outcome is expected.
Threads from 1984
Threads was low budget but arguably the most terrifying series I have ever watched owing to its grim authenticity and grim official statistics. Viewed it recently having watched the original; I often attended the bar in Sheffield featured in the show which emphasised the reality and the casual, straightforward government details that were transmitted. Still absolutely terrifying 35 years later.
Severance – The We We Are (2022)
The first season finale of Severance has to be right up there among intense episodes. I remained for the whole show actually sitting tensely, straining every sinew with Dylan to keep his hands on the levers that sustained the Innies’ extended time, while yelling at the Innies to get their truths out there. The ultimate peak – “she is living!” – resembled a outburst.
Industry – White Mischief (2024)
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 owing to the vast degree of the wanton self-destruction I observed. Rishi Ramdani faces serious trouble professionally and personally – buried in financial obligations to loan sharks because of his compulsive gambling, assuming hazardous chances on a wager involving sterling that might cost his firm millions. Inevitably, he starts a gaming binge, uses copious drugs and alcohol and experiences wins and losses, gets beaten to a pulp. Every time you think the situation cannot deteriorate further, it does. There’s hope of redemption at the end of the episode yet he wastes the chance, leading to terrible outcomes in the season finale. Definitely needed a lie-down after that!
Peep Show – Holiday (2007)
Peep Show is not inherently a tense series. Yet the installment Holiday contains such levels of cringe that it’ll have you standing up throughout the entire episode, permeated with worry. The situation intensifies when Jeremy and Mark realize needing to deceive regarding the dog they accidentally run over and subsequent attempts to dispose of it. You then spend the rest of the episode doubting if it can actually be more terrible than burning, and it turns out to be!
The 2001 The West Wing episode The Two Cathedrals
Nothing I’ve watched has been more intense as when I first saw the concluding episode of The West Wing’s second season. The installment begins with the consequences of the passing (in a road incident) of the president’s confidential aide and reaches a crescendo involving a Haitian emergency, and the fallout from the non-disclosure regarding the president’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis, coupled with verification of his aim to run for another term. Wonderful television. Unsurpassed.
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 spots a Muslim woman heading to the toilet and senses something is wrong. The bomb diffuser experts are called, board the train, and endeavor to coax the woman to take off her suicide 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 realize her mom has deceased due to natural factors, which is the least common kind of passing in this supernatural show. The episode has no background music, a sullen tone, and we see the episode through the experience of Buffy’s shock of discovering her mother.
The Sopranos – Made in America from 2007
The ultimate sequence of the series finale of the series was extremely nerve-wracking. And for those who saw it during its initial broadcast, you – at the start – didn’t understand the cause. Tony’s enemies, real and imagined, had all been defeated. Surely this has the feel of the season one ending? “Remember the little things.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Almost Twin Peaks levels of terror. The family gathers in a diner. Meadow finds a parking spot. Tony gloomily informs Carmela difficulties are arising with yet another of his crew working with the government. Meadow secures a parking space. Strange people enter the restaurant. Gaze at Tony(?) Meadow parks. Tony selects a song on the jukebox. Meadow finds a spot. The bell rings, someone enters the restaurant. It cannot be Meadow, she is still parking. Tony glances upward. Continue. It stops. My spirit fell about 20 minutes later.
The 2016 The Walking Dead episode The Last Day on Earth
I kept late hours to see this show in the early morning. It was incredibly tense after the buildup of bad guy Negan locating the survivors, cruelly taunting his victims then not knowing who he killed (ended on a cliffhanger). The point-of-view shot from the victim and the muted audio – ugh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season