‘I truly required a break after that!’ The most nerve-wracking television episodes of all time

The 2003 Spooks episode I Spy Apocalypse

The episode begins with the intelligence unit locked down as part of a simulation concerning a fictional terrorist event, monitored by two government representatives. As things progress, it becomes clear a real incident has taken place with a chemical weapon released. The tension ratchets up as messages indicate a disaster happening externally, and gets worse when the leader seems contaminated, 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. As this is Spooks, the outcome is expected.

Threads from 1984

Threads had minimal funding yet among the scariest shows I have ever watched because of the stark reality and grim official statistics. Viewed it recently following the initial broadcast; I often attended the bar in Sheffield featured in the show which underscored the actuality and the glib matter-of-fact official information that aired. Still absolutely terrifying 35 years later.

Severance – The We We Are from 2022

The first season finale of Severance ranks highly among intense episodes. I spent the entire episode quite literally on the edge of my seat, pushing alongside Dylan to maintain his grip on the controls that allowed the Innies to remain active, while shouting to the Innies to reveal their realities. The ultimate peak – “she is living!” – resembled a outburst.

Industry – White Mischief (2024)

Episode five of the third series of Industry made my pulse quicken. I was compelled to halt and rise and exit the space repeatedly owing to the vast degree of the reckless self-harm I was witnessing. Rishi Ramdani is in deep shit at work and home – buried in financial obligations from unscrupulous lenders due to his addictive betting, assuming hazardous chances on a wager involving sterling which may result in huge losses for his employer. Inevitably, he starts a gaming binge, does tons of drugs and drink and wins, loses, wins, is severely assaulted. Each instance you believe it can’t get any worse, it does. 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. Certainly required a rest afterward!

Peep Show – Holiday (2007)

The series Peep Show isn’t typically anxiety-inducing. But the episode Holiday features such degrees of awkwardness that it will make you rise the whole episode, filled with nervousness. The tension escalates once Jeremy and Mark find themselves having to lie about the dog they unintentionally hit and later efforts to get rid of it. You then spend the rest of the episode questioning whether it truly can be worse than incineration, and it is possible!

The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals (2001)

No other viewing has been as gripping compared to my initial viewing the season two finale to The West Wing. The installment begins with the consequences of the death (in a traffic accident) of the president’s personal secretary and builds to a peak with a crisis in Haiti, and the fallout from the non-disclosure about the president’s MS condition, coupled with verification of his aim to pursue re-election. Superb programming. Unsurpassed.

The 2018 Bodyguard premiere episode

The start of the British program Bodyguard, featuring the main character on a train accompanied by his small son, ranks among the most gripping episodes I’ve seen. He observes a woman in Islamic attire heading to the toilet and senses something is wrong. The bomb squad is alerted, enter the train, and attempt to convince the woman to discard her bomb jacket. Anxiety builds to an almost unbearable degree, until, indeed, the vest is disarmed.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body from 2001

Buffy arrives at her residence to find her mum has passed away due to natural factors, which is the rarest form of demise in this paranormal series. The show features no musical score, a gloomy atmosphere, and we witness the episode via the perspective 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 – at first – weren’t sure why. Tony’s enemies, real and imagined, were all overcome. Surely this has the feel of the season one ending? “Think about the small elements.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Approaching Twin Peaks-esque horror. The clan sits in an eatery. Meadow stops the car. Tony sadly tells Carmela problems are brewing with an additional associate working with the government. Meadow parks the vehicle. Odd persons arrive at the eatery. Stare at Tony(?) Meadow is parking. Tony puts a record on the jukebox. Meadow finds a spot. The bell sounds, an individual enters. It cannot be Meadow, she is still parking. Tony glances upward. Don’t stop. It ceases. My heart sank roughly 20 minutes after.

The 2016 The Walking Dead episode The Last Day on Earth

I remained awake to view this installment at 2am. It was extremely gripping following the introduction of villain Negan finding the group, cruelly taunting his victims and then leaving the victim unknown (finished with an unresolved situation). The point-of-view shot from the victim and the subdued noises – oh no! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season