Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse from 2003
The episode begins with the intelligence unit restricted as part of a simulation relating to a hypothetical terrorist attack, supervised by two Home Office agents. As events unfold, it seems an actual attack has occurred and a chemical weapon has been unleashed. The suspense builds as incoming communications show a crisis unfolding beyond their walls, and escalates as the superior shows signs of exposure, and the government agents endeavor to depart, compelling the character played by Matthew Macfadyen to opt for either shooting them or permitting their exit and risking contaminating the sealed MI5 offices. Given it’s Spooks, it is unsurprising which one he chooses.
The 1984 production Threads
The production was inexpensive but arguably the most terrifying series I’ve ever seen because of the stark reality and bleak government data. Watched it about a month ago following the initial broadcast; I used to visit the pub in Sheffield from the programme which underscored the actuality and the glib matter-of-fact official information which was broadcast. Continuing to be utterly horrifying after three and a half decades.
The 2022 Severance episode The We We Are
The concluding episode of Severance’s debut season has to be right up there among intense episodes. I was throughout the episode actually sitting tensely, pushing alongside Dylan to maintain his grip on the controls that sustained the Innies’ extended time, while screaming at the Innies to get their truths out there. The final climactic moment – “she survives!” – was like an eruption.
Industry – White Mischief (2024)
Episode five of the third series of Industry had my heart racing. I had to pause and get up and exit the space repeatedly because of the sheer scale of the reckless self-harm I was witnessing. Rishi Ramdani faces serious trouble in his job and domestic life – buried in financial obligations to illegal creditors due to his addictive betting, engaging in dangerous ventures with a bet on sterling which could lose his company millions. So of course, he goes on a gambling spree, does tons of drugs and drink and experiences wins and losses, gets beaten to a pulp. Whenever you assume things cannot decline more, it does. There’s hope of redemption as the installment closes yet he wastes the chance, resulting in dreadful effects in the concluding part of the season. Absolutely had to relax following that!
Peep Show – Holiday from 2007
The series Peep Show isn’t typically anxiety-inducing. But the episode Holiday contains such levels of cringe that it’ll have you standing up the whole episode, permeated with worry. It all ramps up as Jeremy and Mark discover needing to deceive regarding the dog they accidentally run over and later efforts to get rid of it. You subsequently use the rest of the installment questioning whether it truly can be worse than incineration, and it can be!
The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals (2001)
Nothing I have seen has been as tense compared to my initial viewing the season two finale to The West Wing. The installment begins with the consequences of the passing (in a road incident) of the president’s personal secretary and reaches a crescendo with a situation 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. Superb programming. Unequaled.
Bodyguard – episode one from 2018
The start of the British program Bodyguard, with the hero aboard 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 senses something is wrong. The bomb diffuser experts are called, get on the train, and try to persuade the woman to take off her suicide vest. Anxiety builds to an almost unbearable degree, until, indeed, the vest is disarmed.
The 2001 Buffy episode The Body
Buffy comes into her home to find her mum has passed away due to natural factors, which is the least common kind of passing in this supernatural show. The installment lacks any soundtrack, a sullen tone, and we witness the episode via the perspective of Buffy’s shock of discovering her mother.
The Sopranos – Made in America (2007)
The ultimate sequence of the series finale of the program was incredibly anxious. And if you watched it when it originally aired, you – at first – weren’t sure why. Tony’s adversaries, actual and perceived, had all been defeated. Surely this has the feel of the season one ending? “Think about the small elements.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Nearly Twin Peaks-like fear. The family sit in a restaurant. Meadow stops the car. Tony sadly tells Carmela difficulties are arising with another member of his team collaborating with the authorities. Meadow parks the vehicle. Strange people enter the restaurant. Stare at Tony(?) Meadow parks. Tony plays a track on the music machine. Meadow parks. The bell rings, someone enters the restaurant. It isn’t Meadow, she remains parking. Tony glances upward. Don’t stop. It stops. My spirit fell about 20 minutes later.
The Walking Dead – The Last Day on Earth (2016)
I remained awake to view this installment during the night. It was so intense after the buildup of bad guy Negan locating the survivors, cruelly taunting his victims and then keeping the death a mystery (finished with an unresolved situation). The point-of-view shot from the victim and the muffled sounds – argh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season
