‘I truly required a break after that!’ Your most gripping television episodes ever
Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse from 2003
This installment starts with the MI5 agents confined as part of a simulation relating to a hypothetical terrorist attack, overseen by two Home Office officials. As events unfold, it becomes clear a real incident has taken place with a chemical weapon released. The suspense builds as incoming communications show a crisis unfolding beyond their walls, and gets worse when the leader seems contaminated, with the two officials trying to exit, pushing the protagonist portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen to choose between firing at them or allowing them to leave and potentially infecting the secure MI5 headquarters. Given it’s Spooks, his decision is predictable.
Threads from 1984
The production was inexpensive but arguably the most terrifying series I have viewed because of the stark reality and dismal official figures. Saw it not long ago after seeing the first airing; I often attended the bar in Sheffield featured in the show that highlighted the truth and the casual, straightforward government details that were transmitted. Continuing to be utterly horrifying after three and a half decades.
Severance – The We We Are (2022)
The concluding episode of Severance’s debut season ranks highly among intense episodes. I was throughout the episode quite literally on the edge of my seat, straining every sinew with Dylan to hold the switches that allowed the Innies to remain active, while yelling at the Innies to reveal their realities. The ultimate peak – “she survives!” – resembled a outburst.
Industry – White Mischief (2024)
The fifth episode of Industry’s third season made my pulse quicken. I needed to stop and stand and depart the area multiple times because of the sheer scale of the wanton self-destruction I observed. Rishi Ramdani is in deep shit in his job and domestic life – overwhelmed by debt to illegal creditors due to his addictive betting, assuming hazardous chances on a wager involving sterling which could lose his company millions. Naturally, he embarks on a betting frenzy, does tons of drugs and drink and experiences wins and losses, gets beaten to a pulp. Every time you think it can’t get any worse, it does. There’s hope of redemption as the installment closes yet he wastes the chance, with horrifying consequences during the season’s final episode. Absolutely had to relax following that!
Peep Show – Holiday (2007)
The series Peep Show isn’t typically anxiety-inducing. However, the Holiday episode contains such levels of cringe that it’ll have you standing up throughout the entire episode, permeated with worry. It all ramps up when Jeremy and Mark realize being compelled to falsify about the canine 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 demise (in a car crash) of the president’s confidential aide and builds to a peak with a situation in Haiti, and the repercussions of the secrecy about the president’s MS condition, with confirmation of his intention to pursue re-election. Wonderful television. Never bettered.
The 2018 Bodyguard premiere episode
The opening of the British series Bodyguard, with the protagonist on 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 explosive disposal specialists are summoned, get on the train, and attempt to convince the woman to remove her explosive vest. Anxiety builds to a practically unendurable point, until, indeed, the vest is disarmed.
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 rarest form of demise in this paranormal series. The installment lacks any soundtrack, a sullen tone, and we see the episode through the experience of Buffy’s dismay upon uncovering her mother.
The Sopranos – Made in America from 2007
The concluding moment of the last installment of the series was extremely nerve-wracking. And if you viewed it when it first premiered, you – at the start – didn’t understand the cause. Tony’s enemies, real and imagined, had all been defeated. This seems similar to the first season’s finale, right? “Recall the minor details.” But the mood is bizarrely ominous. Approaching Twin Peaks-esque horror. The family sit in a restaurant. Meadow parks. Tony sadly tells Carmela difficulties are arising with another member of his team cooperating with the officials. Meadow secures a parking space. Odd persons arrive at the eatery. Stare at Tony(?) Meadow continues to park. Tony selects a song on the jukebox. Meadow finds a spot. The door chimes, a person comes in. It isn’t Meadow, she remains parking. Tony looks up. Continue. It stops. My heart sank roughly 20 minutes after.
The 2016 The Walking Dead episode The Last Day on Earth
I stayed up to watch this episode during the night. It was extremely gripping following the introduction of villain Negan finding the group, cruelly taunting his victims and then leaving the victim unknown (concluded with a suspenseful moment). The point-of-view shot from the victim and the subdued noises – ugh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season
