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The 2003 Spooks episode I Spy Apocalypse

The show kicks off with the intelligence unit confined as part of a simulation relating to a hypothetical terrorist attack, monitored by two government representatives. As the situation develops, it appears that there really has been an attack and a chemical agent deployed. The tension ratchets up as incoming communications show a disaster happening externally, and escalates when the leader seems contaminated, and the two Home Office officials attempt to leave, pushing the protagonist portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen to choose between firing at them or allowing them to leave and endangering the sterile MI5 environment. Given it’s Spooks, the outcome is expected.

Threads (1984)

The production was inexpensive but one of the most frightening programmes I have ever watched due to its harsh realism and dismal official figures. Watched it about a month ago after seeing the first airing; 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. Remaining completely frightening 35 years later.

Severance – The We We Are (2022)

The first season finale of Severance ranks highly in terms of gripping installments. I was throughout the episode actually sitting tensely, straining every sinew with Dylan to maintain his grip on the controls that sustained the Innies’ extended time, while shouting to the Innies to get their truths out there. The ultimate peak – “she survives!” – was like an eruption.

Industry – White Mischief (2024)

Episode five of the third series of Industry caused my heart to pound. I was compelled to halt and rise and exit the space repeatedly owing to the vast degree of the wanton self-destruction I saw. Rishi Ramdani is in major difficulty in his job and domestic life – up to his eyeballs in debt from unscrupulous lenders because of his compulsive gambling, taking such risks on a wager involving sterling which could lose his company millions. Naturally, he embarks on a betting frenzy, uses copious drugs and alcohol and wins, loses, wins, is brutally attacked. Whenever you assume things cannot decline more, it deteriorates. There’s hope of redemption 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!

Peep Show – Holiday (2007)

The series Peep Show isn’t typically anxiety-inducing. However, the Holiday episode includes such amounts of embarrassment that it can cause you to stand throughout the entire episode, riddled with anxiety. The tension escalates once Jeremy and Mark find themselves needing to deceive regarding the dog they by chance collide with 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 can 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 confidential aide and reaches a crescendo with a crisis in Haiti, and the fallout from the non-disclosure regarding the president’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis, along with affirmation of his plan to seek re-election. Superb programming. Unsurpassed.

Bodyguard – episode one from 2018

The beginning of the UK show Bodyguard, with the protagonist on a train alongside his juvenile boy, ranks among the most gripping episodes I’ve seen. He spots a Muslim woman going into the loo and senses something is wrong. The explosive disposal specialists are summoned, board the train, and attempt to convince the woman to take off her suicide vest. Suspense rises to a nearly intolerable level, until, indeed, the vest is disarmed.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body (2001)

Buffy comes into her home to discover her mother has died due to natural factors, which is the least common kind of passing in this paranormal series. The installment lacks any soundtrack, a gloomy atmosphere, and we see the episode through the experience of Buffy’s shock of discovering her mother.

The 2007 The Sopranos finale Made in America

The concluding moment of the last installment of the show was pants-wettingly tense. And if you viewed it when it first premiered, you – initially – were uncertain of the reason. Tony’s adversaries, actual and perceived, had all been defeated. Surely this has the feel of the season one ending? “Remember the little things.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Nearly Twin Peaks-like fear. The family sit in a restaurant. Meadow finds a parking spot. Tony sorrowfully notifies Carmela there’s trouble afoot with another member of his team collaborating with the authorities. Meadow secures a parking space. Strange people enter the restaurant. Gaze at Tony(?) Meadow continues to park. Tony puts a record on the jukebox. Meadow parks her car. The bell sounds, an individual enters. It isn’t Meadow, she remains parking. Tony glances upward. Keep going. It halts. My heart dropped from my mouth roughly 20 minutes after.

The Walking Dead – The Last Day on Earth from 2016

I kept late hours to see this show in the early morning. It was so intense after the establishment of antagonist Negan discovering the characters, cruelly taunting his victims then not knowing who he killed (ended on a cliffhanger). The first-person perspective of the victim and the subdued noises – argh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season