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Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse (2003)

The episode begins with the MI5 agents restricted during a training exercise about a potential terror incident, monitored by two government representatives. As things progress, it becomes clear a real incident has taken place with a chemical weapon released. The suspense builds as incoming communications show a catastrophe taking place outside, and intensifies when the leader seems contaminated, and the government agents endeavor to depart, pushing the protagonist portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen to opt for either shooting them or letting them go and risking contaminating the sealed MI5 offices. This being Spooks, his decision is predictable.

The 1984 production Threads

Threads was low budget but arguably the most terrifying series I’ve ever seen owing to its grim authenticity and grim official statistics. Saw it not long ago having watched the original; I frequently went to the Sheffield pub from the programme which underscored the actuality and the offhand factual official statements which was broadcast. Remaining completely frightening decades on.

Severance – The We We Are (2022)

The season one finale of Severance ranks highly as a tense chapter. I spent the entire episode literally perched nervously, straining every sinew with Dylan to hold the switches that allowed the Innies to remain active, while screaming at the Innies to disclose their facts. The final climactic moment – “she is living!” – felt like an explosion.

Industry – White Mischief from 2024

The fifth episode of Industry’s third season caused my heart to pound. I had to pause and get up and exit the space repeatedly due to the immense extent of the wanton self-destruction I saw. Rishi Ramdani faces serious trouble professionally and personally – up to his eyeballs in debt to loan sharks due to his addictive betting, assuming hazardous chances on a wager involving sterling that might cost his firm millions. So of course, he goes on a gambling spree, uses copious drugs and alcohol and wins, loses, wins, is brutally attacked. Whenever you assume it can’t get any worse, it worsens. There’s hope of redemption as the installment closes but he misses the opening, resulting in dreadful effects in the concluding part of the season. Absolutely had to relax following that!

Peep Show – Holiday (2007)

The series Peep Show isn’t typically anxiety-inducing. Yet the installment Holiday contains such levels of cringe that it will make you rise throughout the entire episode, riddled with anxiety. It all ramps up when Jeremy and Mark realize being compelled to falsify about the canine they accidentally run over and following tries to eliminate it. You subsequently use the rest of the installment wondering if it might be more awful than cremation, and it is possible!

The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals from 2001

No other viewing has been as gripping as when I first saw the second season finale of The West Wing. The show opens with the fallout of the passing (in a road incident) of the president’s personal secretary and builds to a peak with a situation in Haiti, and the fallout from the non-disclosure of the president’s MS diagnosis, along with affirmation of his plan to run for another term. Superb programming. Never bettered.

Bodyguard – episode one (2018)

The opening of the British series Bodyguard, featuring the main character on a train accompanied by his small son, is personally a top tense installment. He notices a Muslim female heading to the toilet and knows something is off. The bomb squad is alerted, enter the train, and endeavor to coax the woman to take off her suicide vest. Suspense rises to an almost unbearable degree, until, finally, the vest is neutralized.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body from 2001

Buffy arrives at her residence to discover her mother has died due to natural factors, which is the rarest form of demise in this supernatural show. The episode has no background music, a somber mood, and we see the episode through the experience of Buffy’s shock of discovering her mother.

The Sopranos – Made in America from 2007

The ultimate sequence of the series finale of the series was extremely nerve-wracking. And for those who saw it during its initial broadcast, you – initially – were uncertain of the reason. Tony’s foes, genuine and fictional, were all vanquished. Surely this has the feel of the season one ending? “Think about the small elements.” However, the vibe is oddly threatening. Approaching Twin Peaks-esque horror. The family gathers in a diner. Meadow finds a parking spot. Tony gloomily informs Carmela difficulties are arising with another member of his team working with the government. Meadow secures a parking space. Odd persons arrive at the eatery. Look at Tony(?) Meadow continues to park. Tony selects a song on the jukebox. Meadow finds a spot. The bell sounds, an individual enters. It isn’t Meadow, she remains parking. Tony raises his gaze. Don’t stop. It ceases. My heart dropped from my mouth 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 incredibly tense after the establishment of antagonist Negan finding the group, savagely teasing his prey then not knowing who he killed (concluded with a suspenseful moment). The point-of-view shot from the victim and the muted audio – argh! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season