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The 2003 Spooks episode I Spy Apocalypse

The episode begins with the MI5 agents restricted while undergoing a drill relating to a hypothetical terrorist attack, supervised by two Home Office agents. As things progress, it appears that there really has been an attack with a chemical weapon released. The suspense builds as reports reveal a crisis unfolding beyond their walls, and gets worse as the boss appears to be infected, with the two officials trying to exit, compelling the character played by Matthew Macfadyen to opt for either shooting them or permitting their exit and potentially infecting the secure MI5 headquarters. As this is Spooks, it is unsurprising which one he chooses.

Threads from 1984

Threads had minimal funding but arguably the most terrifying series I have ever watched because of the stark reality and dismal official figures. Viewed it recently following the initial broadcast; I often attended the bar in Sheffield from the programme which underscored the actuality and the offhand factual official statements that aired. Remaining completely frightening 35 years later.

Severance – The We We Are from 2022

The season one finale of Severance deserves a top spot in terms of gripping installments. I remained for the whole show literally perched nervously, pushing alongside Dylan to maintain his grip on the controls that allowed the Innies to remain active, while yelling at the Innies to reveal their realities. The concluding高潮 – “she’s alive!” – resembled a outburst.

The 2024 Industry episode White Mischief

The fifth episode of Industry’s third season made my pulse quicken. I was compelled to halt and rise and depart the area multiple times because of the sheer scale of the deliberate ruin I saw. Rishi Ramdani is in major difficulty at work and home – overwhelmed by debt to loan sharks because of his compulsive gambling, assuming hazardous chances with a gamble on the pound which could lose his company millions. So of course, he goes on a gambling spree, uses copious drugs and alcohol and alternates between success and failure, is severely assaulted. Each instance you believe things cannot decline more, it worsens. There is a chance for salvation as the installment closes but he squanders the opportunity, with horrifying consequences in the season finale. Absolutely had to relax following that!

The 2007 Peep Show episode Holiday

Peep Show is not inherently a tense series. Yet the installment Holiday features such degrees of awkwardness that it’ll have you standing up for the full show, filled with nervousness. The tension escalates as Jeremy and Mark discover being compelled to falsify about the canine they unintentionally hit 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 turns out to be!

The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals (2001)

Nothing I’ve watched has been more intense compared to my initial viewing the concluding episode of The West Wing’s second season. The installment begins with the consequences of the demise (in a car crash) of the president’s confidential aide and builds to a peak with a situation in Haiti, and the fallout from the non-disclosure of the president’s MS diagnosis, coupled with verification of his aim to run for another term. Excellent TV. Never bettered.

The 2018 Bodyguard premiere episode

The beginning of the UK show Bodyguard, featuring the main character on a train with his young son, ranks among the most gripping episodes I’ve seen. He observes a woman in Islamic attire going into the loo and realizes something is amiss. The bomb diffuser experts are called, board the train, and attempt to convince the woman to remove her explosive vest. Anxiety builds to an almost unbearable degree, 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 most unusual type of death in this paranormal series. The episode has no background music, a sullen tone, and we view the installment through the lens of Buffy’s dismay upon uncovering her mother.

The Sopranos – Made in America from 2007

The final scene of the final episode of the series was extremely nerve-wracking. And if you viewed it when it first premiered, you – initially – were uncertain of the reason. Tony’s adversaries, actual and perceived, were all vanquished. Surely this has the feel of the season one ending? “Remember the little things.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Approaching Twin Peaks-esque horror. The family sit in a restaurant. Meadow finds a parking spot. Tony sadly tells Carmela problems are brewing with an additional associate cooperating with the officials. Meadow parks. Odd persons arrive at the eatery. Stare at Tony(?) Meadow is parking. Tony selects a song on the jukebox. Meadow finds a spot. The bell rings, someone enters the restaurant. It cannot be Meadow, she is still parking. Tony glances upward. Keep going. It stops. My heart sank about 20 minutes later.

The 2016 The Walking Dead episode The Last Day on Earth

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 then not knowing who he killed (concluded with a suspenseful moment). The victim’s POV shot and the subdued noises – argh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season