‘I truly required a break after that!’ The most intense TV episodes of all time

Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse (2003)

The episode begins with the intelligence unit restricted as part of a simulation about a potential terror incident, monitored by two government representatives. As events unfold, it appears that there really has been an attack and a chemical agent deployed. The suspense builds as reports reveal a catastrophe taking place outside, and escalates when the leader seems contaminated, and the two Home Office officials attempt to leave, pushing the protagonist portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen to decide between shooting them or permitting their exit and potentially infecting the secure MI5 headquarters. Given it’s Spooks, it is unsurprising which one he chooses.

The 1984 production Threads

Threads was low budget but arguably the most terrifying series I have viewed because of the stark reality and grim official statistics. Saw it not long ago after seeing the first airing; I often attended the bar in Sheffield shown in the series which emphasised the reality and the glib matter-of-fact official information which was broadcast. Remaining completely frightening after three and a half decades.

Severance – The We We Are (2022)

The first season finale of Severance has to be right up there as a tense chapter. I spent the entire episode actually sitting tensely, straining every sinew with Dylan to keep his hands on the levers that allowed the Innies to remain active, while screaming at the Innies to reveal their realities. The final climactic moment – “she survives!” – was like an eruption.

Industry – White Mischief (2024)

Installment five in Industry’s third series had my heart racing. I had to pause and get up and depart the area multiple times owing to the vast degree of the deliberate ruin I saw. Rishi Ramdani faces serious trouble at work and home – up to his eyeballs in debt to loan sharks because of his compulsive gambling, taking such risks with a bet on sterling which may result in huge losses for his employer. Naturally, he embarks on a betting frenzy, does tons of drugs and drink and alternates between success and failure, is severely assaulted. Each instance you believe things cannot decline more, it deteriorates. There is a chance for salvation by the episode’s conclusion but he squanders the opportunity, with horrifying consequences in the concluding part of the season. Definitely needed a lie-down after that!

The 2007 Peep Show episode Holiday

Peep Show itself isn’t necessarily a stressful show. But the episode Holiday features such degrees of awkwardness that it will make you rise for the full show, riddled with anxiety. The situation intensifies as Jeremy and Mark discover needing to deceive regarding the dog they accidentally run over and subsequent attempts to dispose of it. You then spend the rest of the episode doubting if it can actually be more terrible than burning, and it turns out to be!

The 2001 The West Wing episode The Two Cathedrals

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 private assistant and escalates to a高潮 with a situation in Haiti, and the fallout from the non-disclosure regarding the president’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis, along with affirmation of his plan to run for another term. Excellent TV. Unsurpassed.

Bodyguard – episode one from 2018

The beginning of the UK show Bodyguard, with the hero aboard a train alongside his juvenile boy, is for me one of the most intense episodes ever. He notices a Muslim female heading to the toilet and senses something is wrong. The explosive disposal specialists are summoned, get on the train, and attempt to convince the woman to discard her bomb jacket. Suspense rises to a practically unendurable point, until, indeed, the vest is disarmed.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body from 2001

Buffy comes into her home to discover her mother has died of natural causes, which is the most unusual type of death in this mystical program. The installment lacks any soundtrack, a gloomy atmosphere, and we witness the episode via the perspective of Buffy’s shock of discovering her mother.

The 2007 The Sopranos finale Made in America

The ultimate sequence of the series finale of the program was incredibly anxious. And for those who saw it during its initial broadcast, you – at the start – didn’t understand the cause. Tony’s adversaries, actual and perceived, were all overcome. This seems similar to the first season’s finale, right? “Recall the minor details.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Almost Twin Peaks levels of terror. The clan sits in an eatery. Meadow finds a parking spot. Tony sadly tells Carmela problems are brewing with another member of his team working with the government. Meadow parks. Strange people enter the restaurant. Look at Tony(?) Meadow is parking. Tony selects a song on the jukebox. Meadow parks. The bell sounds, an individual enters. It cannot be Meadow, she is still parking. Tony looks up. Keep going. It ceases. My spirit fell roughly 20 minutes after.

The Walking Dead – The Last Day on Earth from 2016

I stayed up to watch this episode at 2am. It was so intense after the establishment of antagonist Negan locating the survivors, mercilessly mocking his targets then not knowing who he killed (concluded with a suspenseful moment). 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