‘I definitely needed a lie-down after that!’ Your most gripping TV episodes of all time

Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse (2003)

The show kicks off with the intelligence unit confined while undergoing a drill relating to a hypothetical terrorist attack, supervised by two Home Office agents. As the situation develops, it becomes clear a real incident has taken place with a chemical weapon released. The anxiety increases as incoming communications show a catastrophe taking place outside, and intensifies as the boss appears to be infected, and the two Home Office officials attempt to leave, compelling the character played by Matthew Macfadyen to choose between firing at them or allowing them to leave and endangering the sterile MI5 environment. Given it’s Spooks, his decision is predictable.

Threads (1984)

Threads had minimal funding yet among the scariest shows I have ever watched because of the stark reality and dismal official figures. Watched it about a month ago having watched the original; I often attended the bar in Sheffield featured in the show that highlighted the truth and the offhand factual official statements which was broadcast. Still absolutely terrifying decades on.

The 2022 Severance episode The We We Are

The season one finale of Severance ranks highly in terms of gripping installments. I was throughout the episode actually sitting tensely, pushing alongside Dylan to maintain his grip on the controls that kept the Innies on overtime, while shouting to the Innies to get their truths out there. The concluding高潮 – “she is living!” – felt like an explosion.

Industry – White Mischief (2024)

The fifth episode of Industry’s third season had my heart racing. 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 – overwhelmed by debt to illegal creditors owing to his uncontrollable gaming, engaging in dangerous ventures on a wager involving sterling which could lose his company millions. Inevitably, he starts a gaming binge, does tons of drugs and drink and wins, loses, wins, is severely assaulted. Each instance you believe the situation cannot deteriorate further, it deteriorates. There is a chance for salvation as the installment closes but he squanders the opportunity, leading to terrible outcomes in the concluding part of the season. Absolutely had to relax following that!

Peep Show – Holiday from 2007

Peep Show itself isn’t necessarily a stressful show. Yet the installment Holiday contains such levels of cringe that it’ll have you standing up for the full show, permeated with worry. It all ramps up once Jeremy and Mark find themselves needing to deceive regarding the dog they unintentionally hit and following tries to eliminate it. You subsequently use the rest of the installment doubting if it can actually be more terrible than burning, and it turns out to be!

The 2001 The West Wing episode The Two Cathedrals

Nothing I’ve watched has been more intense than the first time I watched the second season finale of The West Wing. The episode starts with the aftermath of the passing (in a road incident) of the president’s personal secretary and builds to a peak involving a Haitian emergency, and the fallout from the non-disclosure regarding the president’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis, with confirmation of his intention to seek re-election. Superb programming. Unequaled.

Bodyguard – episode one from 2018

The beginning of the UK show Bodyguard, with the protagonist on a train accompanied by his small son, ranks among the most gripping episodes I’ve seen. He notices a Muslim female heading to the toilet and knows something is off. The explosive disposal specialists are summoned, enter the train, and try to persuade the woman to take off her suicide vest. Anxiety builds to a nearly intolerable level, until, finally, the vest is neutralized.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body (2001)

Buffy arrives at her residence to realize her mom has deceased from natural reasons, which is the least common kind of passing in this paranormal series. The show features no musical score, a sullen tone, 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 series was extremely nerve-wracking. And if you watched it when it originally aired, you – initially – were uncertain of the reason. Tony’s adversaries, actual and perceived, were all overcome. Doesn’t this resemble the season one conclusion? “Remember the little things.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Nearly Twin Peaks-like fear. The family sit in a restaurant. Meadow finds a parking spot. Tony gloomily informs Carmela difficulties are arising with an additional associate working with the government. Meadow parks. Odd persons arrive at the eatery. Gaze at Tony(?) Meadow is parking. Tony puts a record on the jukebox. Meadow finds a spot. The bell rings, someone enters the restaurant. It isn’t Meadow, she remains parking. Tony raises his gaze. Keep going. It ceases. My heart sank about 20 minutes later.

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

I kept late hours to see this show during the night. It was so intense following the introduction of villain Negan discovering the characters, cruelly taunting his victims and then leaving the victim unknown (finished with an unresolved situation). 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