‘I absolutely had to rest after that!’ The most gripping TV episodes of all time
The 2003 Spooks episode I Spy Apocalypse
The episode begins with the MI5 agents confined while undergoing a drill about a potential terror incident, monitored by two government representatives. As things progress, it becomes clear a real incident has taken place and a chemical weapon has been unleashed. The suspense builds as messages indicate a catastrophe taking place outside, and intensifies when the leader seems contaminated, and the two Home Office officials attempt to leave, forcing Matthew Macfadyen’s character to opt for either shooting them or allowing them to leave and risking contaminating the sealed MI5 offices. Given it’s Spooks, the outcome is expected.
The 1984 production Threads
The production was inexpensive but one of the most frightening programmes I have ever watched because of the stark reality and grim official statistics. Watched it about a month ago having watched the original; I frequently went to the Sheffield pub from the programme that highlighted the truth and the offhand factual official statements which was broadcast. Continuing to be utterly horrifying 35 years later.
Severance – The We We Are (2022)
The first season finale of Severance ranks highly in terms of gripping installments. I spent the entire episode literally perched nervously, exerting with Dylan to hold the switches that kept the Innies on overtime, while shouting to the Innies to disclose their facts. The concluding高潮 – “she survives!” – was like an eruption.
Industry – White Mischief (2024)
The fifth episode of Industry’s third season made my pulse quicken. I had to pause and get up and exit the space repeatedly because of the sheer scale of the reckless self-harm I was witnessing. Rishi Ramdani is in major difficulty in his job and domestic life – overwhelmed by debt from unscrupulous lenders due to his addictive betting, assuming hazardous chances with a bet on 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, gets beaten to a pulp. Every time you think the situation cannot deteriorate further, it does. There is a chance for salvation as the installment closes but he misses the opening, with horrifying consequences in the concluding part of the season. Absolutely had to relax following that!
Peep Show – Holiday (2007)
Peep Show is not inherently a tense series. However, the Holiday episode features such degrees of awkwardness that it’ll have you standing up for the full show, filled with nervousness. The situation intensifies as Jeremy and Mark discover having to lie about the dog they unintentionally hit and subsequent attempts to dispose of it. You subsequently use the rest of the installment wondering if it might be more awful than cremation, and it turns out to be!
The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals from 2001
Nothing I have seen has been as tense compared to my initial viewing 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 private assistant and builds to a peak involving a Haitian emergency, and the fallout from the non-disclosure of the president’s MS diagnosis, with confirmation of his intention to run for another term. Excellent TV. Never bettered.
The 2018 Bodyguard premiere episode
The beginning of the UK show Bodyguard, with the hero aboard a train with his young son, ranks among the most gripping episodes I’ve seen. He spots a Muslim woman going into the loo and knows something is off. The explosive disposal specialists are summoned, board the train, and endeavor to coax the woman to remove her explosive vest. Anxiety builds to a nearly intolerable level, until, finally, the vest is neutralized.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body from 2001
Buffy arrives at her residence to find her mum has passed away of natural causes, which is the most unusual type of death in this paranormal series. The show features no musical score, a sullen tone, and we see the episode through the experience 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 vanquished. This seems similar to the first season’s finale, right? “Think about the small elements.” But the mood is bizarrely ominous. Almost Twin Peaks levels of terror. The family sit in a restaurant. Meadow finds a parking spot. Tony sadly tells Carmela problems are brewing with yet another of his crew working with the government. Meadow secures a parking space. Strange people enter the restaurant. Stare at Tony(?) Meadow parks. Tony puts a record on the jukebox. Meadow parks. The door chimes, a person comes in. Can’t be Meadow, she’s still parking. Tony glances upward. Keep going. It stops. 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 at 2am. It was extremely gripping after the buildup of bad guy Negan locating the survivors, cruelly taunting his victims and then leaving the victim unknown (concluded with a suspenseful moment). The victim’s POV shot and the subdued noises – oh no! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season
