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Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse (2003)

The episode begins with the MI5 agents locked down as part of a simulation about a potential terror incident, monitored by two government representatives. As things progress, it seems an actual attack has occurred and a chemical agent deployed. The tension ratchets up as reports reveal a disaster happening externally, and intensifies as the boss appears to be infected, and the government agents endeavor to depart, compelling the character played by Matthew Macfadyen to choose between firing at them or letting them go and potentially infecting the secure MI5 headquarters. This being Spooks, his decision is predictable.

Threads from 1984

The production was inexpensive but one of the most frightening programmes I have viewed owing to its grim authenticity and dismal official figures. Viewed it recently following the initial broadcast; I frequently went to the Sheffield pub from the programme which emphasised the reality and the casual, straightforward government details that aired. Remaining completely frightening after three and a half decades.

The 2022 Severance episode The We We Are

The first season finale of Severance has to be right up there in terms of gripping installments. I was throughout the 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 concluding高潮 – “she’s alive!” – felt like an explosion.

Industry – White Mischief from 2024

The fifth episode of Industry’s third season had my heart racing. I had to pause and get up and depart the area multiple times due to the immense extent of the deliberate ruin I saw. Rishi Ramdani faces serious trouble in his job and domestic life – overwhelmed by debt to illegal creditors due to his addictive betting, taking such risks on a wager involving sterling which may result in huge losses for his employer. Inevitably, he starts a gaming binge, uses copious drugs and alcohol and experiences wins and losses, gets beaten to a pulp. Every time you think things cannot decline more, it does. Redemption seems possible as the installment closes but he squanders the opportunity, with horrifying consequences in the season finale. Absolutely had to relax following that!

Peep Show – Holiday from 2007

Peep Show is not inherently a tense series. However, the Holiday episode includes such amounts of embarrassment that it can cause you to stand for the full show, riddled with anxiety. It all ramps up when Jeremy and Mark realize being compelled to falsify about the canine they unintentionally hit and following tries to eliminate it. You subsequently use the rest of the installment wondering if it might be more awful than cremation, and it is possible!

The 2001 The West Wing episode The Two Cathedrals

Nothing I have seen has been as tense as when I first saw 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 with a situation in Haiti, and the fallout from the non-disclosure about the president’s MS condition, along with affirmation of his plan to pursue re-election. Wonderful television. Unequaled.

Bodyguard – episode one from 2018

The start of the British program Bodyguard, featuring the main character on a train alongside his juvenile boy, is personally a top tense installment. He observes a woman in Islamic attire going into the loo and senses something is wrong. The bomb squad is alerted, get on the train, and try to persuade the woman to take off her suicide vest. Anxiety builds to a practically unendurable point, until, indeed, the vest is disarmed.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body (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 paranormal series. The installment lacks any soundtrack, a sullen tone, and we witness the episode via the perspective of Buffy’s astonishment upon finding 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 for those who saw it during its initial broadcast, you – at first – weren’t sure why. Tony’s adversaries, actual and perceived, were all overcome. Surely this has the feel of the season one ending? “Recall the minor details.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Almost Twin Peaks levels of terror. The family sit in a restaurant. Meadow stops the car. Tony sadly tells Carmela problems are brewing with another member of his team cooperating with the officials. Meadow parks the vehicle. Odd persons arrive at the eatery. Stare at Tony(?) Meadow is parking. Tony plays a track on the music machine. Meadow parks her car. The bell sounds, an individual enters. Can’t be Meadow, she’s still parking. Tony raises his gaze. Keep going. It halts. My spirit fell roughly 20 minutes after.

The Walking Dead – The Last Day on Earth (2016)

I stayed up to watch this episode at 2am. It was so intense after the buildup of bad guy Negan discovering the characters, mercilessly mocking his targets then not knowing who he killed (finished with an unresolved situation). The first-person perspective of the victim and the subdued noises – ugh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season