‘I definitely needed a lie-down after that!’ The most intense television episodes ever
The 2003 Spooks episode I Spy Apocalypse
The episode begins with the MI5 agents restricted as part of a simulation 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 tension ratchets up as reports reveal a disaster happening externally, and escalates when the leader seems contaminated, and the two Home Office officials attempt to leave, compelling the character played by Matthew Macfadyen to decide between shooting them or letting them go and potentially infecting the secure MI5 headquarters. This being Spooks, his decision is predictable.
The 1984 production Threads
Threads had minimal funding but arguably the most terrifying series I have ever watched due to its harsh realism and dismal official figures. Watched it about a month ago after seeing the first airing; I frequently went to the Sheffield pub from the programme that highlighted the truth and the glib matter-of-fact official information that aired. Still absolutely terrifying after three and a half decades.
Severance – The We We Are (2022)
The first season finale of Severance ranks highly as a tense chapter. I spent the entire episode quite literally on the edge of my seat, exerting with Dylan to keep his hands on the levers that kept the Innies on overtime, while yelling at the Innies to disclose their facts. The final climactic moment – “she’s alive!” – felt like an explosion.
Industry – White Mischief from 2024
Installment five in Industry’s third series made my pulse quicken. I needed to stop and stand and exit the space repeatedly owing to the vast degree of the deliberate ruin I was witnessing. Rishi Ramdani is in deep shit professionally and personally – up to his eyeballs in debt to loan sharks owing to his uncontrollable gaming, engaging in dangerous ventures on a wager involving sterling that might cost his firm millions. Inevitably, he starts a gaming binge, uses copious drugs and alcohol and alternates between success and failure, is brutally attacked. Every time you think it can’t get any worse, it worsens. There’s hope of redemption as the installment closes but he squanders the opportunity, with horrifying consequences during the season’s final episode. Absolutely had to relax following that!
Peep Show – Holiday (2007)
Peep Show itself isn’t necessarily a stressful show. Yet the installment Holiday features such degrees of awkwardness that it can cause you to stand the whole episode, filled with nervousness. It all ramps up once Jeremy and Mark find themselves having to lie about the dog they unintentionally hit and following tries to eliminate it. You subsequently use the rest of the installment doubting if it can actually be more terrible than burning, and it can be!
The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals from 2001
Nothing I’ve watched has been more intense as when I first saw the second season finale of The West Wing. 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 fallout from the non-disclosure of the president’s MS diagnosis, along with affirmation of his plan to pursue re-election. Excellent TV. Unsurpassed.
The 2018 Bodyguard premiere episode
The beginning of the UK show Bodyguard, featuring the main character on a train accompanied by his small son, is for me one of the most intense episodes ever. He spots a Muslim woman entering the restroom and knows something is off. The explosive disposal specialists are summoned, get on the train, and attempt to convince the woman to discard her bomb jacket. Tension escalates to a practically unendurable point, until yes, the vest is diffused.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body from 2001
Buffy comes into her home to realize her mom has deceased of natural causes, which is the least common kind of passing in this paranormal series. 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 from 2007
The final scene of the final episode of the series was extremely nerve-wracking. And if you watched it when it originally aired, you – at the start – didn’t understand the cause. Tony’s adversaries, actual and perceived, were all vanquished. Doesn’t this resemble the season one conclusion? “Remember the little things.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Almost Twin Peaks levels of terror. The clan sits in an eatery. Meadow finds a parking spot. Tony sadly tells Carmela problems are brewing with an additional associate collaborating with the authorities. Meadow secures a parking space. Odd persons arrive at the eatery. Stare at Tony(?) Meadow continues to park. Tony plays a track on the music machine. Meadow parks. The bell rings, someone enters the restaurant. It cannot be Meadow, she is still parking. Tony looks up. Keep going. It halts. My heart dropped from my mouth about 20 minutes later.
The 2016 The Walking Dead episode The Last Day on Earth
I stayed up to watch this episode in the early morning. It was incredibly tense after the establishment of antagonist Negan finding the group, mercilessly mocking his targets 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
