‘I definitely needed a lie-down after that!’ The most gripping television episodes of all time
Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse from 2003
The episode begins with the intelligence unit locked down as part of a simulation concerning a fictional terrorist event, overseen by two Home Office officials. As events unfold, it appears that there really has been an attack with a chemical weapon released. The tension ratchets up as incoming communications show a crisis unfolding beyond their walls, and escalates as the superior shows signs of exposure, and the two Home Office officials attempt to leave, pushing the protagonist portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen to decide between shooting them or permitting their exit and potentially infecting the secure MI5 headquarters. As this is Spooks, the outcome is expected.
Threads from 1984
The production was inexpensive but arguably the most terrifying series I have viewed because of the stark reality and grim official statistics. Viewed it recently having watched the original; I used to visit the pub in Sheffield from the programme that highlighted the truth and the casual, straightforward government details that aired. Remaining completely frightening 35 years later.
The 2022 Severance episode The We We Are
The season one finale of Severance deserves a top spot as a tense chapter. I spent the entire episode actually sitting tensely, pushing alongside Dylan to keep his hands on the levers that sustained the Innies’ extended time, while yelling at the Innies to disclose their facts. The ultimate peak – “she’s alive!” – resembled a outburst.
Industry – White Mischief (2024)
Episode five of the third series of Industry caused my heart to pound. I needed to stop and stand and depart the area multiple times due to the immense extent of the reckless self-harm I saw. Rishi Ramdani is in deep shit in his job and domestic life – buried in financial obligations from unscrupulous lenders owing to his uncontrollable gaming, taking such risks with a gamble on the pound that might cost his firm millions. Inevitably, he starts a gaming binge, does tons of drugs and drink and alternates between success and failure, gets beaten to a pulp. Each instance you believe things cannot decline more, it worsens. There is a chance for salvation by the episode’s conclusion but he squanders the opportunity, leading to terrible outcomes in the season finale. Certainly required a rest afterward!
Peep Show – Holiday from 2007
Peep Show itself isn’t necessarily a stressful show. But the episode Holiday includes such amounts of embarrassment that it can cause you to stand throughout the entire episode, permeated with worry. The tension escalates when Jeremy and Mark realize being compelled to falsify about the canine they accidentally run over and subsequent attempts to dispose of it. You subsequently use the rest of the installment questioning whether it truly can be worse than incineration, and it turns out to be!
The 2001 The West Wing episode The Two Cathedrals
Nothing I’ve watched has been more intense compared to my initial viewing the concluding episode of The West Wing’s second season. 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 crisis in Haiti, and the effects of the withheld information regarding the president’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis, with confirmation of his intention to pursue re-election. Excellent TV. 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 personally a top tense installment. He notices a Muslim female heading to the toilet and realizes something is amiss. The bomb diffuser experts are called, board the train, and try to persuade the woman to discard her bomb jacket. Tension escalates to a practically unendurable point, until, finally, the vest is neutralized.
The 2001 Buffy episode The Body
Buffy enters her house to discover her mother has died of natural causes, which is the least common kind of passing in this paranormal series. The episode has no background music, a gloomy atmosphere, and we witness the episode via the perspective of Buffy’s dismay upon uncovering her mother.
The Sopranos – Made in America from 2007
The concluding moment of the last installment of the show was pants-wettingly tense. 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. Surely this has the feel of the season one ending? “Recall the minor details.” Yet the atmosphere is strangely foreboding. Almost Twin Peaks levels of terror. The clan sits in an eatery. Meadow stops the car. Tony sorrowfully notifies Carmela difficulties are arising with yet another of his crew working with the government. Meadow parks. Unfamiliar individuals come into the diner. Look at Tony(?) Meadow parks. Tony puts a record on the jukebox. Meadow parks her car. The door chimes, a person comes in. It isn’t Meadow, she remains parking. Tony raises his gaze. Keep going. It ceases. My heart sank around 20 minutes subsequently.
The 2016 The Walking Dead episode The Last Day on Earth
I stayed up to watch this episode at 2am. It was so intense after the buildup of bad guy Negan finding the group, savagely teasing his prey then not knowing who he killed (ended on a cliffhanger). The victim’s POV shot and the muted audio – argh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season
