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

Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse from 2003

The episode begins with the intelligence unit confined during a training exercise relating to a hypothetical terrorist attack, overseen by two Home Office officials. As things progress, it appears that there really has been an attack with a chemical weapon released. The suspense builds as incoming communications show a crisis unfolding beyond their walls, and intensifies as the boss appears to be infected, 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 risking contaminating the sealed MI5 offices. As this is Spooks, his decision is predictable.

Threads from 1984

Threads had minimal funding but arguably the most terrifying series I have ever watched due to its harsh realism and dismal official figures. Saw it not long ago after seeing the first airing; I often attended the bar in Sheffield from the programme which emphasised the reality and the offhand factual official statements which was broadcast. Remaining completely frightening 35 years later.

Severance – The We We Are from 2022

The first season finale of Severance has to be right up there in terms of gripping installments. I spent the entire episode actually sitting tensely, straining every sinew with Dylan to hold the switches that kept the Innies on overtime, while yelling at the Innies to reveal their realities. The final climactic moment – “she’s alive!” – resembled a outburst.

The 2024 Industry episode White Mischief

Installment five in Industry’s third series caused my heart to pound. I needed to stop and stand and leave the room several times owing to the vast degree of the wanton self-destruction I saw. Rishi Ramdani faces serious trouble at work and home – up to his eyeballs in debt from unscrupulous lenders because of his compulsive gambling, taking such risks with a gamble on the pound which may result in huge losses for his employer. Naturally, he embarks on a betting frenzy, uses copious drugs and alcohol and alternates between success and failure, gets beaten to a pulp. Each instance you believe the situation cannot deteriorate further, it deteriorates. Redemption seems possible as the installment closes but he misses the opening, resulting in dreadful effects in the season finale. Certainly required a rest afterward!

Peep Show – Holiday (2007)

Peep Show is not inherently a tense series. Yet the installment Holiday includes such amounts of embarrassment that it’ll have you standing up for the full show, riddled with anxiety. The situation intensifies when Jeremy and Mark realize needing to deceive regarding the dog they accidentally run over and later efforts to get rid of it. You then occupy the remainder of the episode questioning whether it truly can be worse than incineration, and it can be!

The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals from 2001

Nothing I have seen has been as tense compared to my initial viewing the second season finale of The West Wing. The installment begins with the consequences of the demise (in a car crash) of the president’s private assistant and reaches a crescendo involving a Haitian emergency, and the repercussions of the secrecy about the president’s MS condition, coupled with verification of his aim to run for another term. Superb programming. 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 observes a woman in Islamic attire entering the restroom and knows something is off. The bomb squad is alerted, board the train, and attempt to convince the woman to take off her suicide vest. Anxiety builds to a practically unendurable point, until, finally, the vest is neutralized.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body from 2001

Buffy enters her house to realize her mom has deceased of natural causes, which is the most unusual type of death in this supernatural show. The installment lacks any soundtrack, a sullen tone, and we view the installment through the lens of Buffy’s shock of discovering her mother.

The Sopranos – Made in America from 2007

The final scene of the final episode of the program was incredibly anxious. And for those who saw it during its initial broadcast, you – initially – were uncertain of the reason. Tony’s enemies, real and imagined, were all overcome. Doesn’t this resemble the season one conclusion? “Recall the minor details.” But the mood is bizarrely ominous. Almost Twin Peaks levels of terror. The clan sits in an eatery. Meadow parks. Tony sadly tells Carmela difficulties are arising with yet another of his crew collaborating with the authorities. Meadow parks the vehicle. Odd persons arrive at the eatery. Look at Tony(?) Meadow parks. Tony selects a song on the jukebox. Meadow finds a spot. The bell rings, someone enters the restaurant. It isn’t Meadow, she remains parking. Tony glances upward. Don’t stop. It ceases. My heart sank about 20 minutes later.

The Walking Dead – The Last Day on Earth from 2016

I stayed up to watch this episode during the night. It was so intense following the introduction of villain Negan finding the group, savagely teasing his prey then not knowing who he killed (concluded with a suspenseful moment). The first-person perspective of the victim and the muffled sounds – ugh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season