‘I definitely needed a lie-down after that!’ The most gripping TV episodes ever
Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse from 2003
This installment starts with the Spooks team restricted as part of a simulation concerning a fictional terrorist event, overseen by two Home Office officials. As the situation develops, it seems an actual attack has occurred and a chemical weapon has been unleashed. The anxiety increases as incoming communications show a disaster happening externally, and intensifies when the leader seems contaminated, and the two Home Office officials attempt to leave, forcing Matthew Macfadyen’s character to choose between firing at them or letting them go and risking contaminating the sealed MI5 offices. As this is Spooks, the outcome is expected.
The 1984 production Threads
Threads had minimal funding but arguably the most terrifying series I have viewed due to its harsh realism and grim official statistics. Viewed it recently following the initial broadcast; I frequently went to the Sheffield pub shown in the series which emphasised the reality and the casual, straightforward government details which was broadcast. Still absolutely terrifying 35 years later.
Severance – The We We Are (2022)
The concluding episode of Severance’s debut season ranks highly among intense episodes. I spent the entire episode actually sitting tensely, pushing alongside Dylan to keep his hands on the levers that kept the Innies on overtime, while yelling at the Innies to reveal their realities. The ultimate peak – “she is living!” – felt like an explosion.
Industry – White Mischief (2024)
The fifth episode of Industry’s third season made my pulse quicken. I was compelled to halt and rise and leave the room several times due to the immense extent of the deliberate ruin I was witnessing. Rishi Ramdani faces serious trouble professionally and personally – up to his eyeballs in debt to loan sharks because of his compulsive gambling, engaging in dangerous ventures 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 wins, loses, wins, gets beaten to a pulp. Every time you think it can’t get any worse, it worsens. There is a chance for salvation by the episode’s conclusion but he misses the opening, 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. But the episode Holiday features such degrees of awkwardness that it will make you rise throughout the entire episode, filled with nervousness. The tension escalates when Jeremy and Mark realize being compelled to falsify about the canine they accidentally run over and later efforts to get rid of it. You then spend the rest of the episode doubting if it can actually be more terrible than burning, and it can be!
The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals from 2001
No other viewing has been as gripping compared to my initial viewing the season two finale to The West Wing. The installment begins with the consequences of the demise (in a car crash) of the president’s private assistant and reaches a crescendo with a crisis in Haiti, and the repercussions of the secrecy of the president’s MS diagnosis, coupled with verification of his aim to run for another term. Wonderful television. Never bettered.
Bodyguard – episode one from 2018
The start of the British program Bodyguard, with the protagonist on a train accompanied by his small son, ranks among the most gripping episodes I’ve seen. He spots a Muslim woman going into the loo and senses something is wrong. The bomb diffuser experts are called, get on the train, and attempt to convince the woman to discard her bomb jacket. Tension escalates to a practically unendurable point, until, finally, the vest is neutralized.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body (2001)
Buffy enters her house to realize her mom has deceased from natural reasons, which is the rarest form of demise in this mystical program. The installment lacks any soundtrack, a gloomy atmosphere, 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 concluding moment of the last installment of the series was extremely nerve-wracking. And for those who saw it during its initial broadcast, you – at first – weren’t sure why. Tony’s enemies, real and imagined, were all vanquished. Doesn’t this resemble the season one conclusion? “Think about the small elements.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Approaching Twin Peaks-esque horror. The family gathers in a diner. Meadow parks. Tony gloomily informs Carmela there’s trouble afoot with an additional associate cooperating with the officials. Meadow secures a parking space. Strange people enter the restaurant. Stare at Tony(?) Meadow parks. Tony puts a record on the jukebox. Meadow finds a spot. The bell rings, someone enters the restaurant. It isn’t Meadow, she remains parking. Tony glances upward. Don’t stop. It halts. My spirit fell roughly 20 minutes after.
The 2016 The Walking Dead episode The Last Day on Earth
I remained awake to view this installment in the early morning. It was incredibly tense after the establishment of antagonist Negan discovering the characters, mercilessly mocking his targets then not knowing who he killed (concluded with a suspenseful moment). The first-person perspective of the victim and the muffled sounds – ugh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season
