‘I absolutely had to rest after that!’ Your most gripping TV episodes you’ve seen
The 2003 Spooks episode I Spy Apocalypse
The show kicks off with the Spooks team locked down during a training exercise concerning a fictional terrorist event, monitored by two government representatives. As things progress, it seems an actual attack has occurred and a chemical weapon has been unleashed. The anxiety increases as messages indicate a disaster happening externally, and gets worse when the leader seems contaminated, with the two officials trying to exit, pushing the protagonist portrayed 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, his decision is predictable.
The 1984 production Threads
Threads was low budget yet among the scariest shows I have ever watched owing to its grim authenticity and dismal official figures. Viewed it recently following the initial broadcast; I used to visit the pub in Sheffield from the programme which underscored the actuality and the offhand factual official statements that aired. Still absolutely terrifying 35 years later.
Severance – The We We Are from 2022
The season one finale of Severance ranks highly among intense episodes. I was throughout the episode literally perched nervously, straining every sinew with Dylan to maintain his grip on the controls that allowed the Innies to remain active, while shouting to the Innies to get their truths out there. The ultimate peak – “she survives!” – resembled a outburst.
Industry – White Mischief from 2024
Episode five of the third series of Industry caused my heart to pound. I had to pause and get up and exit the space repeatedly due to the immense extent of the wanton self-destruction I saw. Rishi Ramdani is in deep shit at work and home – overwhelmed by debt to illegal creditors because of his compulsive gambling, taking such risks on a wager involving 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, gets beaten to a pulp. Every time you think things cannot decline more, it worsens. Redemption seems possible as the installment closes but he misses the opening, with horrifying consequences in the season finale. Absolutely had to relax following that!
Peep Show – Holiday from 2007
Peep Show itself isn’t necessarily a stressful show. Yet the installment Holiday features such degrees of awkwardness that it will make you rise for the full show, riddled with anxiety. It all ramps up when Jeremy and Mark realize needing to deceive regarding the dog they unintentionally hit and subsequent attempts to dispose of it. You then occupy the remainder of the episode doubting if it can actually be more terrible than burning, and it can be!
The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals (2001)
Nothing I have seen has been as tense than the first time I watched the second season finale of The West Wing. The installment begins with the consequences of the demise (in a car crash) of the president’s private assistant and builds to a peak with a situation in Haiti, and the repercussions of the secrecy about the president’s MS condition, coupled with verification of his aim to pursue re-election. Wonderful television. Unsurpassed.
The 2018 Bodyguard premiere episode
The start of the British program Bodyguard, featuring the main character on a train accompanied by his small son, is for me one of the most intense episodes ever. He notices a Muslim female going into the loo and knows something is off. The explosive disposal specialists are summoned, get on the train, and attempt to convince the woman to take off her suicide vest. Tension escalates to a nearly intolerable level, until, indeed, the vest is disarmed.
The 2001 Buffy episode The Body
Buffy arrives at her residence to discover her mother has died of natural causes, which is the most unusual type of death in this supernatural show. The installment lacks any soundtrack, a gloomy atmosphere, 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 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 adversaries, actual and perceived, had all been defeated. Doesn’t this resemble the season one conclusion? “Remember the little things.” Yet the atmosphere is strangely foreboding. Nearly Twin Peaks-like fear. The clan sits in an eatery. Meadow stops the car. Tony sorrowfully notifies Carmela difficulties are arising with an additional associate working with the government. Meadow secures a parking space. Odd persons arrive at the eatery. Look at Tony(?) Meadow parks. Tony plays a track on the music machine. Meadow finds a spot. The bell rings, someone enters the restaurant. It isn’t Meadow, she remains parking. Tony glances upward. Don’t stop. It ceases. My heart sank roughly 20 minutes after.
The Walking Dead – The Last Day on Earth (2016)
I kept late hours to see this show at 2am. It was extremely gripping following the introduction of villain Negan finding the group, mercilessly mocking his targets then not knowing who he killed (finished with an unresolved situation). The victim’s POV shot and the subdued noises – oh no! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season
