‘I absolutely had to rest after that!’ The most nerve-wracking television episodes of all time
Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse (2003)
The show kicks off with the Spooks team restricted while undergoing a drill relating to a hypothetical terrorist attack, monitored by two government representatives. As the situation develops, it seems an actual attack has occurred and a chemical weapon has been unleashed. The suspense builds as messages indicate a catastrophe taking place outside, and gets worse when the leader seems contaminated, and the two Home Office officials attempt to leave, forcing Matthew Macfadyen’s character to opt for either shooting them or permitting their exit and endangering the sterile MI5 environment. This being Spooks, the outcome is expected.
The 1984 production Threads
Threads was low budget but one of the most frightening programmes I’ve ever seen because of the stark reality and dismal official figures. Viewed it recently following the initial broadcast; I frequently went to the Sheffield pub shown in the series which underscored the actuality and the casual, straightforward government details which was broadcast. Continuing to be utterly horrifying 35 years later.
Severance – The We We Are (2022)
The season one finale of Severance ranks highly among intense episodes. I spent the entire episode literally perched nervously, exerting with Dylan to maintain his grip on the controls that kept the Innies on overtime, while shouting to the Innies to disclose their facts. The final climactic moment – “she’s alive!” – felt like an explosion.
The 2024 Industry episode White Mischief
Installment five in Industry’s third series caused my heart to pound. I was compelled to halt and rise and leave the room several times owing to the vast degree of the reckless self-harm I saw. Rishi Ramdani is in major difficulty in his job and domestic life – up to his eyeballs in debt to loan sharks due to his addictive betting, taking such risks with a gamble on the pound which could lose his company millions. Inevitably, he starts a gaming binge, uses copious drugs and alcohol and experiences wins and losses, is severely assaulted. Every time you think it can’t get any worse, it does. There’s hope of redemption by the episode’s conclusion but he squanders the opportunity, resulting in dreadful effects in the season finale. Absolutely had to relax following that!
Peep Show – Holiday (2007)
Peep Show itself isn’t necessarily a stressful show. However, the Holiday episode contains such levels of cringe that it can cause you to stand throughout the entire episode, riddled with anxiety. It all ramps up when Jeremy and Mark realize needing to deceive regarding the dog they by chance collide with and subsequent attempts to dispose of it. You then spend the rest of the episode doubting if it can actually be more terrible than burning, and it turns out to be!
The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals (2001)
Nothing I’ve watched has been more intense compared to my initial viewing the season two finale to The West Wing. The show opens with the fallout of the death (in a traffic accident) of the president’s confidential aide and reaches a crescendo involving a Haitian emergency, and the fallout from the non-disclosure of the president’s MS diagnosis, coupled with verification of his aim to pursue re-election. Wonderful television. Unsurpassed.
Bodyguard – episode one (2018)
The start of the British program Bodyguard, with the hero aboard a train alongside his juvenile boy, ranks among the most gripping episodes I’ve seen. He observes a woman in Islamic attire going into the loo and realizes something is amiss. The bomb diffuser experts are called, enter the train, and attempt to convince the woman to remove her explosive vest. Tension escalates to a practically unendurable point, until, finally, the vest is neutralized.
The 2001 Buffy episode The Body
Buffy enters her house to realize her mom has deceased of natural causes, which is the most unusual type of death in this mystical program. The show features no musical score, a sullen tone, and we view the installment through the lens of Buffy’s dismay upon uncovering her mother.
The 2007 The Sopranos finale Made in America
The final scene of the final episode of the program was incredibly anxious. And for those who saw it during its initial broadcast, you – initially – were uncertain of the reason. Tony’s enemies, real and imagined, were all vanquished. This seems similar to the first season’s finale, right? “Think about the small elements.” Yet the atmosphere is strangely foreboding. Approaching Twin Peaks-esque horror. The clan sits in an eatery. Meadow stops the car. Tony sorrowfully notifies Carmela there’s trouble afoot with yet another of his crew working with the government. Meadow secures a parking space. Strange people enter the restaurant. Gaze at Tony(?) Meadow is parking. Tony selects a song on the jukebox. Meadow parks her car. The bell rings, someone enters the restaurant. It isn’t Meadow, she remains parking. Tony glances upward. Continue. 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 during the night. It was incredibly tense following the introduction of villain Negan finding the group, mercilessly mocking his targets and then keeping the death a mystery (finished with an unresolved situation). The point-of-view shot from the victim and the muted audio – oh no! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season
