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Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse (2003)

The episode begins with the intelligence unit locked down as part of a simulation concerning a fictional terrorist event, monitored by two government representatives. As things progress, it seems an actual attack has occurred and a chemical weapon has been unleashed. The anxiety increases as reports reveal a catastrophe taking place outside, and intensifies as the boss appears to be infected, and the government agents endeavor to depart, forcing Matthew Macfadyen’s character to choose between firing at them or letting them go and potentially infecting the secure MI5 headquarters. This being Spooks, the outcome is expected.

The 1984 production Threads

The production was inexpensive but arguably the most terrifying series I have ever watched due to its harsh realism and grim official statistics. Viewed it recently having watched the original; I used to visit the pub in Sheffield from the programme which underscored the actuality and the casual, straightforward government details that aired. Remaining completely frightening decades on.

Severance – The We We Are from 2022

The season one finale of Severance ranks highly as a tense chapter. I was throughout the episode actually sitting tensely, exerting with Dylan to keep his hands on the levers that kept the Innies on overtime, while screaming at the Innies to reveal their realities. The concluding高潮 – “she survives!” – was like an eruption.

Industry – White Mischief (2024)

Episode five of the third series of Industry caused my heart to pound. I needed to stop and stand and leave the room several times owing to the vast degree of the deliberate ruin I was witnessing. Rishi Ramdani faces serious trouble in his job and domestic life – overwhelmed by debt to illegal creditors due to his addictive betting, taking such risks on a wager involving sterling which could lose his company millions. Inevitably, he starts a gaming binge, uses copious drugs and alcohol and experiences wins and losses, gets beaten to a pulp. Whenever you assume the situation cannot deteriorate further, it worsens. There is a chance for salvation by the episode’s conclusion but he misses the opening, with horrifying consequences 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. Yet the installment Holiday features such degrees of awkwardness that it can cause you to stand throughout the entire episode, filled with nervousness. The tension escalates when Jeremy and Mark realize having to lie about the dog they accidentally run over and subsequent attempts to dispose of it. You then spend the rest of the episode questioning whether it truly can be worse than incineration, and it turns out to be!

The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals (2001)

No other viewing has been as gripping as when I first saw the season two finale to The West Wing. The episode starts with the aftermath of the demise (in a car crash) of the president’s private assistant and builds to a peak with a situation in Haiti, and the repercussions of the secrecy of the president’s MS diagnosis, with confirmation of his intention to seek re-election. Superb programming. Unequaled.

Bodyguard – episode one (2018)

The beginning of the UK show Bodyguard, with the hero aboard a train with his young son, is for me one of the most intense episodes ever. He observes a woman in Islamic attire heading to the toilet and realizes something is amiss. The explosive disposal specialists are summoned, board the train, and attempt to convince the woman to discard her bomb jacket. Anxiety builds to a nearly intolerable level, until yes, the vest is diffused.

The 2001 Buffy episode The Body

Buffy enters her house to discover her mother has died of natural causes, which is the most unusual type of death in this supernatural show. The installment lacks any soundtrack, a sullen tone, and we see the episode through the experience of Buffy’s shock of discovering her mother.

The Sopranos – Made in America (2007)

The final scene of the final episode of the show was pants-wettingly tense. And if you viewed it when it first premiered, you – initially – were uncertain of the reason. Tony’s foes, genuine and fictional, were all overcome. This seems similar to the first season’s finale, right? “Recall the minor details.” Yet the atmosphere is strangely foreboding. Almost Twin Peaks levels of terror. The family sit in a restaurant. Meadow parks. Tony sorrowfully notifies Carmela difficulties are arising with yet another of his crew cooperating with the officials. Meadow secures a parking space. Odd persons arrive at the eatery. Stare at Tony(?) Meadow is parking. Tony plays a track on the music machine. Meadow parks her car. The door chimes, a person comes in. It cannot be Meadow, she is still parking. Tony glances upward. Continue. It halts. My spirit fell about 20 minutes later.

The Walking Dead – The Last Day on Earth (2016)

I stayed up to watch this episode at 2am. It was incredibly tense following the introduction of villain Negan discovering the characters, cruelly taunting his victims and then leaving the victim unknown (finished with an unresolved situation). The point-of-view shot from the victim and the subdued noises – argh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season