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Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse (2003)

The show kicks off with the intelligence unit restricted as part of a simulation about a potential terror incident, supervised by two Home Office agents. As events unfold, it seems an actual attack has occurred and a chemical agent deployed. The suspense builds as messages indicate a disaster happening externally, and intensifies as the superior shows signs of exposure, 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. Given it’s Spooks, the outcome is expected.

Threads (1984)

Threads was low budget yet among the scariest shows I have viewed owing to its grim authenticity and dismal official figures. Watched it about a month ago following the initial broadcast; I used to visit the pub in Sheffield shown in the series which emphasised the reality and the glib matter-of-fact official information that aired. Continuing to be utterly horrifying 35 years later.

Severance – The We We Are from 2022

The season one finale of Severance has to be right up there as a tense chapter. I remained for the whole show actually sitting tensely, straining every sinew with Dylan to keep his hands on the levers that sustained the Innies’ extended time, while yelling at the Innies to disclose their facts. The concluding高潮 – “she survives!” – felt like an explosion.

Industry – White Mischief from 2024

The fifth episode of Industry’s third season caused my heart to pound. I was compelled to halt and rise and exit the space repeatedly due to the immense extent of the reckless self-harm I observed. Rishi Ramdani is in deep shit at work and home – overwhelmed by debt from unscrupulous lenders because of his compulsive gambling, assuming hazardous chances with a gamble on the pound which could lose his company millions. Inevitably, he starts a gaming binge, uses copious drugs and alcohol and alternates between success and failure, is severely assaulted. Every time you think things cannot decline more, it does. Redemption seems possible as the installment closes yet he wastes the chance, leading to terrible outcomes in the concluding part of the season. Absolutely had to relax following that!

The 2007 Peep Show episode Holiday

Peep Show itself isn’t necessarily a stressful show. Yet the installment Holiday contains such levels of cringe that it can cause you to stand the whole episode, filled with nervousness. The tension escalates once Jeremy and Mark find themselves needing to deceive regarding the dog they accidentally run over and following tries to eliminate 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 from 2001

No other viewing has been as gripping as when I first saw the second season finale of The West Wing. The installment begins with the consequences of the death (in a traffic accident) of the president’s confidential aide and escalates to a高潮 with a crisis in Haiti, and the fallout from the non-disclosure of the president’s MS diagnosis, coupled with verification of his aim to seek re-election. Wonderful television. Unequaled.

Bodyguard – episode one from 2018

The opening of the British series Bodyguard, with the protagonist on a train accompanied by his small son, is for me one of the most intense episodes ever. He notices a Muslim female heading to the toilet and realizes something is amiss. The explosive disposal specialists are summoned, get on the train, and attempt to convince the woman to take off her suicide vest. Tension escalates to a practically unendurable point, until yes, the vest is diffused.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body (2001)

Buffy comes into her home to discover her mother has died from natural reasons, which is the rarest form of demise in this mystical program. The episode has no background music, a sullen tone, and we witness the episode via the perspective of Buffy’s dismay upon uncovering her mother.

The Sopranos – Made in America (2007)

The ultimate sequence of the series finale 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 enemies, real and imagined, had all been defeated. This seems similar to the first season’s finale, right? “Think about the small elements.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Approaching Twin Peaks-esque horror. The family sit in a restaurant. Meadow parks. Tony sorrowfully notifies Carmela problems are brewing with yet another of his crew cooperating with the officials. Meadow secures a parking space. Odd persons arrive at the eatery. Look at Tony(?) Meadow parks. Tony puts a record on the jukebox. Meadow parks. The bell sounds, an individual enters. Can’t be Meadow, she’s still parking. Tony raises his gaze. Don’t stop. It stops. My heart dropped from my mouth about 20 minutes later.

The 2016 The Walking Dead episode The Last Day on Earth

I kept late hours to see this show in the early morning. It was extremely gripping after the establishment of antagonist Negan locating the survivors, savagely teasing his prey then not knowing who he killed (finished with an unresolved situation). The first-person perspective of the victim and the subdued noises – ugh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season