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The 2003 Spooks episode I Spy Apocalypse

The episode begins with the MI5 agents confined while undergoing a drill about a potential terror incident, overseen by two Home Office officials. As events unfold, it appears that there really has been an attack with a chemical weapon released. The tension ratchets up as reports reveal a crisis unfolding beyond their walls, and gets worse when the leader seems contaminated, with the two officials trying to exit, pushing the protagonist portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen to choose between firing at them or permitting their exit and potentially infecting the secure MI5 headquarters. This being Spooks, his decision is predictable.

Threads (1984)

Threads was low budget but arguably the most terrifying series I’ve ever seen because of the stark reality and dismal official figures. Viewed it recently after seeing the first airing; I often attended the bar in Sheffield shown in the series which underscored the actuality and the glib matter-of-fact official information which was broadcast. Still absolutely terrifying 35 years later.

Severance – The We We Are from 2022

The concluding episode of Severance’s debut season has to be right up there as a tense chapter. I spent the entire episode actually sitting tensely, straining every sinew with Dylan to hold the switches that sustained the Innies’ extended time, while shouting to the Innies to disclose their facts. The ultimate peak – “she’s alive!” – resembled a outburst.

Industry – White Mischief (2024)

Episode five of the third series of Industry caused my heart to pound. I needed to stop and stand and leave the room several times because of the sheer scale of the reckless self-harm I observed. Rishi Ramdani faces serious trouble at work and home – overwhelmed by debt from unscrupulous lenders due to his addictive betting, taking such risks with a bet on sterling which may result in huge losses for his employer. So of course, he goes on a gambling spree, consumes excessive substances and alcohol and experiences wins and losses, gets beaten to a pulp. Each instance you believe the situation cannot deteriorate further, it worsens. There’s hope of redemption at the end of the episode but he squanders the opportunity, leading to terrible outcomes in the concluding part of the season. Certainly required a rest afterward!

Peep Show – Holiday from 2007

Peep Show itself isn’t necessarily a stressful show. But the episode Holiday includes such amounts of embarrassment that it will make you rise throughout the entire episode, permeated with worry. The tension escalates when Jeremy and Mark realize being compelled to falsify about the canine they unintentionally hit and subsequent attempts to dispose of it. You then occupy the remainder of the episode 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 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 passing (in a road incident) of the president’s private assistant and builds to a peak with a situation in Haiti, and the repercussions of the secrecy of the president’s MS diagnosis, along with affirmation of his plan to seek re-election. Wonderful television. Unequaled.

Bodyguard – episode one from 2018

The start of the British program Bodyguard, featuring the main character on a train with his young son, is personally a top tense installment. He observes a woman in Islamic attire heading to the toilet and realizes something is amiss. The explosive disposal specialists are summoned, board the train, and try to persuade the woman to discard her bomb jacket. Suspense rises to a practically unendurable point, until, indeed, the vest is disarmed.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body from 2001

Buffy enters her house to discover her mother has died from natural reasons, which is the rarest form of demise in this mystical program. The episode has no background music, a gloomy atmosphere, and we view the installment through the lens of Buffy’s astonishment upon finding her mother.

The Sopranos – Made in America (2007)

The ultimate sequence of the series finale 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 foes, genuine and fictional, had all been defeated. This seems similar to the first season’s finale, right? “Think about the small elements.” But the mood is bizarrely ominous. Nearly Twin Peaks-like fear. The clan sits in an eatery. Meadow finds a parking spot. Tony gloomily informs Carmela there’s trouble afoot with an additional associate working with the government. Meadow parks the vehicle. Odd persons arrive at the eatery. Look at Tony(?) Meadow is parking. Tony plays a track on the music machine. Meadow finds a spot. The bell sounds, an individual enters. Can’t be Meadow, she’s still parking. Tony raises his gaze. Continue. It stops. My heart sank around 20 minutes subsequently.

The 2016 The Walking Dead episode The Last Day on Earth

I remained awake to view this installment in the early morning. It was extremely gripping following the introduction of villain Negan locating the survivors, savagely teasing his prey and then leaving the victim unknown (finished with an unresolved situation). The point-of-view shot from the victim and the muted audio – ugh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season