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The 2003 Spooks episode I Spy Apocalypse

This installment starts with the Spooks team locked down during a training exercise about a potential terror incident, overseen by two Home Office officials. As things progress, it becomes clear a real incident has taken place and a chemical agent deployed. The suspense builds as messages indicate a crisis unfolding beyond their walls, and gets worse as the superior shows signs of exposure, and the government agents endeavor to depart, pushing the protagonist portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen to opt for either shooting them or allowing them to leave and endangering the sterile MI5 environment. Given it’s Spooks, it is unsurprising which one he chooses.

Threads (1984)

Threads had minimal funding but arguably the most terrifying series I’ve ever seen owing to its grim authenticity and dismal official figures. Viewed it recently following the initial broadcast; I often attended the bar in Sheffield shown in the series which underscored the actuality and the glib matter-of-fact official information that were transmitted. Still absolutely terrifying 35 years later.

The 2022 Severance episode The We We Are

The first season finale of Severance deserves a top spot in terms of gripping installments. I remained for the whole show literally perched nervously, exerting with Dylan to keep his hands on the levers that sustained the Innies’ extended time, while shouting to the Innies to disclose their facts. The ultimate peak – “she is living!” – was like an eruption.

Industry – White Mischief from 2024

Episode five of the third series of Industry made my pulse quicken. I had to pause and get up and depart the area multiple times due to the immense extent of the deliberate ruin I observed. Rishi Ramdani is in deep shit at work and home – buried in financial obligations from unscrupulous lenders due to his addictive betting, taking such risks with a gamble on the pound which may result in huge losses for his employer. So of course, he goes on a gambling spree, uses copious drugs and alcohol and wins, loses, wins, is brutally attacked. Each instance you believe it can’t get any worse, it deteriorates. There is a chance for salvation by the episode’s conclusion 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 from 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 throughout the entire episode, filled with nervousness. It all ramps up when Jeremy and Mark realize having to lie about the dog they unintentionally hit and following tries to eliminate it. You then spend the rest of the episode questioning whether it truly can be worse than incineration, and it can be!

The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals (2001)

Nothing I have seen has been as tense than the first time I watched the season two finale to The West Wing. The installment begins with the consequences of the demise (in a car crash) of the president’s personal secretary and builds to a peak with a situation in Haiti, and the fallout from the non-disclosure about the president’s MS condition, with confirmation of his intention to pursue re-election. Superb programming. Unsurpassed.

Bodyguard – episode one (2018)

The start of the British program 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 entering the restroom and knows something is off. The bomb squad is alerted, board the train, and endeavor to coax the woman to discard her bomb jacket. Suspense rises to a practically unendurable point, until yes, the vest is diffused.

The 2001 Buffy episode The Body

Buffy enters her house to realize her mom has deceased due to natural factors, which is the least common kind of passing in this mystical program. The episode has no background music, a somber mood, and we view the installment through the lens of Buffy’s dismay upon uncovering her mother.

The Sopranos – Made in America (2007)

The concluding moment of the last installment of the program was incredibly anxious. 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. Surely this has the feel of the season one ending? “Think about the small elements.” Yet the atmosphere is strangely foreboding. Approaching Twin Peaks-esque horror. The family sit in a restaurant. Meadow parks. Tony gloomily informs Carmela problems are brewing with yet another of his crew cooperating with the officials. Meadow parks the vehicle. Odd persons arrive at the eatery. Look at Tony(?) Meadow parks. Tony selects a song on the jukebox. Meadow parks. The door chimes, a person comes in. Can’t be Meadow, she’s still parking. Tony raises his gaze. Keep going. It ceases. My heart sank about 20 minutes later.

The Walking Dead – The Last Day on Earth from 2016

I remained awake to view this installment in the early morning. It was so intense after the buildup of bad guy Negan locating the survivors, cruelly taunting his victims then not knowing who he killed (concluded with a suspenseful moment). The point-of-view shot from the victim and the muffled sounds – argh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season