‘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 Spooks team confined during a training exercise about a potential terror incident, supervised by two Home Office agents. As things progress, it becomes clear a real incident has taken place and a chemical weapon has been unleashed. The suspense builds as reports reveal a disaster happening externally, and escalates when the leader seems contaminated, and the government agents endeavor to depart, forcing Matthew Macfadyen’s character to choose between firing at them or permitting their exit and risking contaminating the sealed MI5 offices. As this is Spooks, the outcome is expected.
The 1984 production Threads
Threads was low budget but arguably the most terrifying series I’ve ever seen because of the stark reality and grim official statistics. Saw it not long ago after seeing the first airing; I used to visit the pub in Sheffield from the programme which emphasised the reality and the glib matter-of-fact official information which was broadcast. Remaining completely frightening 35 years later.
Severance – The We We Are (2022)
The season one finale of Severance deserves a top spot as a tense chapter. I remained for the whole show literally perched nervously, pushing alongside Dylan to hold the switches that allowed the Innies to remain active, while shouting to the Innies to reveal their realities. The ultimate peak – “she’s alive!” – resembled a outburst.
The 2024 Industry episode White Mischief
Installment five in Industry’s third series had my heart racing. I had to pause and get up and depart the area multiple times owing to the vast degree of the wanton self-destruction I was witnessing. Rishi Ramdani is in deep shit professionally and personally – overwhelmed by debt to loan sharks because of his compulsive gambling, taking such risks with a bet on sterling which could lose his company millions. So of course, he goes on a gambling spree, consumes excessive substances and alcohol and wins, loses, wins, gets beaten to a pulp. Each instance you believe the situation cannot deteriorate further, it deteriorates. There’s hope of redemption as the installment closes but he squanders the opportunity, resulting in dreadful effects during the season’s final episode. Absolutely had to relax following that!
Peep Show – Holiday from 2007
The series Peep Show isn’t typically anxiety-inducing. Yet the installment Holiday contains such levels of cringe that it can cause you to stand for the full show, riddled with anxiety. The situation intensifies once Jeremy and Mark find themselves being compelled to falsify about the canine they unintentionally hit and following tries to eliminate it. You then spend the rest of the episode doubting if it can actually be more terrible than burning, and it is possible!
The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals (2001)
Nothing I’ve watched has been more intense than the first time I watched the second season finale of The West Wing. The show opens with the fallout of the passing (in a road incident) of the president’s confidential aide and reaches a crescendo with a situation in Haiti, and the repercussions of the secrecy regarding the president’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis, coupled with verification of his aim to seek re-election. Superb programming. Never bettered.
The 2018 Bodyguard premiere episode
The beginning of the UK show Bodyguard, with the protagonist on a train alongside his juvenile boy, is for me one of the most intense episodes ever. He notices a Muslim female entering the restroom and realizes something is amiss. The bomb squad is alerted, enter the train, and try to persuade the woman to take off her suicide vest. Anxiety builds to a nearly intolerable level, until yes, the vest is diffused.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body from 2001
Buffy enters her house to realize her mom has deceased due to natural factors, which is the most unusual type of death in this mystical program. The show features no musical score, a somber mood, and we see the episode through the experience of Buffy’s astonishment upon finding her mother.
The Sopranos – Made in America from 2007
The ultimate sequence of the series finale of the show was pants-wettingly tense. 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 overcome. Doesn’t this resemble the season one conclusion? “Think about the small elements.” Yet the atmosphere is strangely foreboding. Nearly Twin Peaks-like fear. The family sit in a restaurant. Meadow stops the car. Tony sorrowfully notifies Carmela problems are brewing with yet another of his crew cooperating with the officials. Meadow secures a parking space. Strange people enter the restaurant. Look at Tony(?) Meadow parks. Tony plays a track on the music machine. Meadow parks. The bell sounds, an individual enters. It cannot be Meadow, she is still parking. Tony glances upward. Keep going. It halts. My heart dropped from my mouth roughly 20 minutes after.
The 2016 The Walking Dead episode The Last Day on Earth
I kept late hours to see this show at 2am. It was so intense following the introduction of villain Negan locating the survivors, savagely teasing his prey and then keeping the death a mystery (finished with an unresolved situation). The point-of-view shot from the victim and the muted audio – ugh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season
