‘I definitely needed a lie-down after that!’ The most intense television episodes of all time
The 2003 Spooks episode I Spy Apocalypse
This installment starts with the Spooks team restricted as part of a simulation relating to a hypothetical terrorist attack, supervised by two Home Office agents. As the situation develops, it seems an actual attack has occurred and a chemical agent deployed. The anxiety increases as reports reveal a crisis unfolding beyond their walls, and escalates as the boss appears to be infected, and the two Home Office officials attempt to leave, pushing the protagonist portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen to opt for either shooting them or letting them go and endangering the sterile MI5 environment. This being Spooks, the outcome is expected.
Threads from 1984
Threads was low budget yet among the scariest shows I have ever watched owing to its grim authenticity and dismal official figures. Watched it about a month ago following the initial broadcast; I frequently went to the Sheffield pub featured in the show that highlighted the truth and the offhand factual official statements that aired. Remaining completely frightening after three and a half decades.
Severance – The We We Are from 2022
The concluding episode of Severance’s debut season deserves a top spot among intense episodes. I spent the entire episode quite literally on the edge of my seat, pushing alongside 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!” – felt like an explosion.
The 2024 Industry episode White Mischief
The fifth episode of Industry’s third season made my pulse quicken. I had to pause and get up and exit the space repeatedly owing to the vast degree of the wanton self-destruction I was witnessing. Rishi Ramdani is in deep shit in his job and domestic life – overwhelmed by debt from unscrupulous lenders because of his compulsive gambling, assuming hazardous chances on a wager involving sterling which could lose his company millions. Naturally, he embarks on a betting frenzy, consumes excessive substances and alcohol and wins, loses, wins, gets beaten to a pulp. Whenever you assume the situation cannot deteriorate further, it worsens. There’s hope of redemption as the installment closes but he squanders the opportunity, leading to terrible outcomes in the concluding part of the season. Definitely needed a lie-down after that!
Peep Show – Holiday (2007)
Peep Show itself isn’t necessarily a stressful show. However, the Holiday episode features such degrees of awkwardness that it can cause you to stand throughout the entire episode, filled with nervousness. The tension escalates once Jeremy and Mark find themselves needing to deceive regarding the dog they unintentionally hit and subsequent attempts to dispose of it. You subsequently use the rest of the installment doubting if it can actually be more terrible than burning, and it is possible!
The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals from 2001
No other viewing has been as gripping than the first time I watched the season two finale to The West Wing. The show opens with the fallout of the death (in a traffic accident) of the president’s confidential aide and builds to a peak involving a Haitian emergency, and the repercussions of the secrecy about the president’s MS condition, coupled with verification of his aim to seek re-election. Superb programming. Unequaled.
Bodyguard – episode one (2018)
The beginning of the UK show Bodyguard, with the protagonist on a train accompanied by his small son, is for me one of the most intense episodes ever. He spots a Muslim woman going into the loo and realizes something is amiss. The bomb squad is alerted, enter the train, and try to persuade the woman to take off her suicide vest. Suspense rises to a nearly intolerable level, until yes, the vest is diffused.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body from 2001
Buffy comes into her home to discover her mother has died from natural reasons, which is the least common kind of passing in this supernatural show. The episode has no background music, a gloomy atmosphere, and we see the episode through the experience of Buffy’s dismay upon uncovering her mother.
The Sopranos – Made in America from 2007
The final scene of the final episode of the program was incredibly anxious. And if you viewed it when it first premiered, you – initially – were uncertain of the reason. Tony’s enemies, real and imagined, were all vanquished. This seems similar to the first season’s finale, right? “Recall the minor details.” But the mood is bizarrely ominous. Almost Twin Peaks levels of terror. The clan sits in an eatery. Meadow finds a parking spot. Tony gloomily informs Carmela there’s trouble afoot with yet another of his crew collaborating with the authorities. Meadow secures a parking space. Strange people enter the restaurant. Stare at Tony(?) Meadow is parking. Tony selects a song on the jukebox. Meadow finds a spot. The door chimes, a person comes in. It cannot be Meadow, she is still parking. Tony looks up. Don’t stop. It ceases. My heart dropped from my mouth around 20 minutes subsequently.
The Walking Dead – The Last Day on Earth from 2016
I remained awake to view this installment during the night. It was so intense following the introduction of villain Negan finding the group, cruelly taunting his victims and then keeping the death a mystery (ended on a cliffhanger). The first-person perspective of the victim and the muffled sounds – argh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season