‘I absolutely had to rest after that!’ The most intense episodes of TV you’ve seen
Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse from 2003
The episode begins with the MI5 agents 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 suspense builds as incoming communications show a disaster happening externally, and intensifies when the leader seems contaminated, 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.
The 1984 production Threads
The production was inexpensive yet among the scariest shows I have viewed because of the stark reality and grim official statistics. Saw it not long ago following the initial broadcast; I frequently went to the Sheffield pub shown in the series that highlighted the truth and the casual, straightforward government details which was broadcast. Continuing to be utterly horrifying decades on.
The 2022 Severance episode The We We Are
The concluding episode of Severance’s debut season deserves a top spot in terms of gripping installments. I spent the entire episode actually sitting tensely, straining every sinew with Dylan to hold the switches that allowed the Innies to remain active, while yelling at the Innies to disclose their facts. The final climactic moment – “she’s alive!” – was like an eruption.
Industry – White Mischief from 2024
Installment five in Industry’s third series caused my heart to pound. I had to pause and get up and depart the area multiple times due to the immense extent of the wanton self-destruction I observed. Rishi Ramdani is in deep shit professionally and personally – up to his eyeballs in debt to loan sharks due to his addictive betting, assuming hazardous chances on a wager involving sterling that might cost his firm millions. 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. Whenever you assume the situation cannot deteriorate further, it worsens. Redemption seems possible 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 is not inherently a tense series. But the episode Holiday features such degrees of awkwardness that it will make you rise for the full show, permeated with worry. The situation intensifies as Jeremy and Mark discover 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 questioning whether it truly can be worse than incineration, and it turns out to be!
The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals from 2001
No other viewing has been as gripping compared to my initial viewing 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 builds to a peak with a crisis in Haiti, and the effects of the withheld information of the president’s MS diagnosis, along with affirmation of his plan to run for another term. Excellent TV. Unequaled.
The 2018 Bodyguard premiere episode
The start of the British program Bodyguard, with the hero aboard a train alongside his juvenile boy, is for me one of the most intense episodes ever. He observes a woman in Islamic attire entering the restroom and realizes something is amiss. The bomb diffuser experts are called, get on the train, and attempt to convince the woman to remove her explosive vest. Suspense rises to an almost unbearable degree, until, indeed, the vest is disarmed.
The 2001 Buffy episode The Body
Buffy enters her house to find her mum has passed away due to natural factors, which is the most unusual type of death in this mystical program. The installment lacks any soundtrack, a sullen tone, and we witness the episode via the perspective of Buffy’s shock of discovering her mother.
The Sopranos – Made in America (2007)
The final scene of the final episode 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, were all overcome. Doesn’t this resemble the season one conclusion? “Remember the little things.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Approaching Twin Peaks-esque horror. The family gathers in a diner. Meadow stops the car. Tony gloomily informs Carmela problems are brewing with an additional associate working with the government. Meadow parks the vehicle. Strange people enter the restaurant. Look at Tony(?) Meadow continues to park. Tony puts a record on the jukebox. Meadow parks. The bell sounds, an individual enters. Can’t be Meadow, she’s still parking. Tony glances upward. Continue. It halts. My heart sank about 20 minutes later.
The 2016 The Walking Dead episode The Last Day on Earth
I remained awake to view this installment at 2am. It was so intense following the introduction of villain Negan finding the group, mercilessly mocking his targets and then leaving the victim unknown (ended on a cliffhanger). The first-person perspective of the victim and the muted audio – argh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season
