‘I absolutely had to rest after that!’ The most nerve-wracking TV episodes of all time
The 2003 Spooks episode I Spy Apocalypse
This installment starts with the intelligence unit locked down while undergoing a drill about a potential terror incident, overseen by two Home Office officials. As events unfold, it seems an actual attack has occurred and a chemical agent deployed. The tension ratchets up as incoming communications show a crisis unfolding beyond their walls, and escalates as the superior shows signs of exposure, with the two officials trying to exit, compelling the character played by Matthew Macfadyen to opt for either shooting them or allowing them to leave and endangering the sterile MI5 environment. This being Spooks, his decision is predictable.
Threads (1984)
The production was inexpensive but one of the most frightening programmes I have ever watched owing to its grim authenticity and dismal official figures. Viewed it recently following the initial broadcast; I often attended the bar in Sheffield featured in the show which emphasised the reality and the offhand factual official statements which was broadcast. Remaining completely frightening 35 years later.
Severance – The We We Are from 2022
The first season finale of Severance ranks highly in terms of gripping installments. I remained for the whole show literally perched nervously, straining every sinew with Dylan to hold the switches that kept the Innies on overtime, while shouting to the Innies to get their truths out there. The concluding高潮 – “she is living!” – resembled a outburst.
Industry – White Mischief (2024)
Installment five in Industry’s third series had my heart racing. I was compelled to halt and rise and exit the space repeatedly because of the sheer scale of the reckless self-harm I saw. Rishi Ramdani faces serious trouble in his job and domestic life – buried in financial obligations to loan sharks due to his addictive betting, engaging in dangerous ventures 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 wins, loses, wins, is severely assaulted. Whenever you assume the situation cannot deteriorate further, it does. Redemption seems possible as the installment closes but he squanders the opportunity, resulting in dreadful effects in the concluding part of the season. Definitely needed a lie-down after that!
Peep Show – Holiday from 2007
Peep Show itself isn’t necessarily a stressful show. However, the Holiday episode includes such amounts of embarrassment that it can cause you to stand the whole episode, riddled with anxiety. The tension escalates when Jeremy and Mark realize having to lie about the dog they by chance collide with and later efforts to get rid of it. You then spend the rest of the episode wondering if it might be more awful than cremation, and it is possible!
The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals (2001)
Nothing I have seen has been as tense as when I first saw the season two finale to The West Wing. The installment begins with the consequences of the death (in a traffic accident) of the president’s personal secretary and escalates to a高潮 with a crisis in Haiti, and the repercussions of the secrecy of the president’s MS diagnosis, with confirmation of his intention to run for another term. Excellent TV. Never bettered.
Bodyguard – episode one (2018)
The start of the British program 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 going into the loo and senses something is wrong. The explosive disposal specialists are summoned, enter the train, and try to persuade the woman to remove her explosive vest. Anxiety builds to a nearly intolerable level, until, finally, the vest is neutralized.
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 supernatural show. The show features no musical score, a gloomy atmosphere, and we view the installment through the lens of Buffy’s shock of discovering her mother.
The Sopranos – Made in America (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 first – weren’t sure why. Tony’s adversaries, actual and perceived, were all overcome. This seems similar to the first season’s finale, right? “Remember the little things.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Nearly Twin Peaks-like fear. The clan sits in an eatery. Meadow stops the car. Tony sadly tells Carmela difficulties are arising with yet another of his crew cooperating with the officials. Meadow secures a parking space. Unfamiliar individuals come into the diner. Look at Tony(?) Meadow continues to park. Tony selects a song on the jukebox. Meadow finds a spot. The bell sounds, an individual enters. It cannot be Meadow, she is still parking. Tony looks up. Continue. It ceases. My spirit fell around 20 minutes subsequently.
The Walking Dead – The Last Day on Earth (2016)
I stayed up to watch this episode at 2am. It was incredibly tense after the buildup of bad guy Negan finding the group, mercilessly mocking his targets and then leaving the victim unknown (ended on a cliffhanger). 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
