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Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse from 2003

The episode begins with the MI5 agents locked down during a training exercise concerning a fictional terrorist event, overseen by two Home Office officials. As the situation develops, it seems an actual attack has occurred with a chemical weapon released. The tension ratchets up as messages indicate a crisis unfolding beyond their walls, and intensifies as the superior shows signs of exposure, and the two Home Office officials attempt to leave, 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, the outcome is expected.

Threads from 1984

Threads had minimal funding yet among the scariest shows I have ever watched because of the stark reality and grim official statistics. Saw it not long ago after seeing the first airing; I often attended the bar in Sheffield shown in the series which emphasised the reality and the casual, straightforward government details that aired. Still absolutely terrifying after three and a half decades.

The 2022 Severance episode The We We Are

The season one finale of Severance ranks highly among intense episodes. I remained for the whole show quite literally on the edge of my seat, pushing alongside Dylan to maintain his grip on the controls that kept the Innies on overtime, while shouting to the Innies to get their truths out there. The final climactic moment – “she survives!” – felt like an explosion.

The 2024 Industry episode White Mischief

The fifth episode of Industry’s third season had my heart racing. I was compelled to halt and rise and leave the room several times due to the immense extent of the deliberate ruin I saw. Rishi Ramdani faces serious trouble professionally and personally – overwhelmed by debt to loan sharks owing to his uncontrollable gaming, taking such risks on a wager involving sterling which may result in huge losses for his employer. Inevitably, he starts a gaming binge, consumes excessive substances and alcohol and wins, loses, wins, is severely assaulted. Each instance you believe it can’t get any worse, it worsens. There is a chance for salvation by the episode’s conclusion but he squanders the opportunity, resulting in dreadful effects during the season’s final episode. Certainly required a rest afterward!

Peep Show – Holiday from 2007

Peep Show itself isn’t necessarily a stressful show. Yet the installment Holiday contains such levels of cringe that it can cause you to stand for the full show, filled with nervousness. It all ramps up as Jeremy and Mark discover having to lie about the dog they accidentally run over and subsequent attempts to dispose of it. You subsequently use the rest of the installment doubting if it can actually be more terrible than burning, and it turns out to be!

The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals (2001)

No other viewing has been as gripping than the first time I watched the concluding episode of The West Wing’s second season. The episode starts with the aftermath of the demise (in a car crash) of the president’s confidential aide and builds to a peak with a situation in Haiti, and the repercussions of the secrecy regarding the president’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis, with confirmation of his intention to run for another term. Superb programming. Unequaled.

Bodyguard – episode one from 2018

The opening of the British series Bodyguard, featuring the main character on a train accompanied by his small son, ranks among the most gripping episodes I’ve seen. He spots a Muslim woman going into the loo and realizes something is amiss. The bomb squad is alerted, get on the train, and endeavor to coax the woman to remove her explosive vest. Suspense rises to a practically unendurable point, until, finally, the vest is neutralized.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body (2001)

Buffy comes into her home to discover her mother has died of natural causes, which is the rarest form of demise in this mystical program. The installment lacks any soundtrack, a sullen tone, and we see the episode through the experience of Buffy’s shock of discovering her mother.

The Sopranos – Made in America (2007)

The concluding moment of the last installment of the program was incredibly anxious. And if you viewed it when it first premiered, you – at the start – didn’t understand the cause. Tony’s adversaries, actual and perceived, had all been defeated. This seems similar to the first season’s finale, right? “Think about the small elements.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Approaching Twin Peaks-esque horror. The clan sits in an eatery. Meadow stops the car. Tony gloomily informs Carmela there’s trouble afoot with an additional associate working with the government. Meadow parks. Odd persons arrive at the eatery. Look at Tony(?) Meadow is parking. Tony puts a record on the jukebox. Meadow parks her car. The door chimes, a person comes in. Can’t be Meadow, she’s still parking. Tony raises his gaze. Keep going. It ceases. My heart sank roughly 20 minutes after.

The Walking Dead – The Last Day on Earth (2016)

I remained awake to view this installment at 2am. It was so intense after the buildup of bad guy Negan discovering the characters, cruelly taunting his victims and then leaving the victim unknown (finished with an unresolved situation). The victim’s POV shot and the muffled sounds – ugh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season