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Some of the greatest TV shows aren't always exactly the easiest to watch. They touch upon uncomfortable topics, play with emotions, and create a sense of tension and dread that is deeply palpable. But that's what makes the experience so special, right? To be transported into feeling a million and one things while deep in the middle of an intoxicating story — even if it is a stressful one, ha.
In that vein, in this Reddit thread, Redditor squishyg asked, "What’s the most stressful TV show you’ve ever watched?" Folks wrote in about the shows that had them feeling topsy-turvy, and as a TV-streaming enthusiast myself, I'm curious to know your thoughts:
1. "The Bear. I had to pause the show three times during the 'Fishes' episode. Whew."
2. "Particular episodes of Bojack Horseman have upset me more than any other show."
3. "Shameless. It's a great show, but man, everyone in that show kind of sucks."
4. "It’s so interesting to see everyone’s stress response to The Pitt after watching the hour-long episode. As a healthcare worker, I actually experience that level of stress casually during my workweek, working 12- to 14-hour back-to-back shifts. It’s quite validating to hear your experience while watching the show."
5. "Mine is Kevin Can F**k Himself."
6. "Dexter Season 4, 'Hungry Man' (the Thanksgiving episode). Arthur Mitchell was scary as hell. Also, the last few minutes of the season finale, when you had this horrible sense of dread that something really horrible was going to happen. Hearing Rita's phone ring when Dexter called, my heart was pounding."
7. "I think Curb Your Enthusiasm is the epitome of cringe. I usually hate cringe, but it just does it so well. I ended up curled up into a ball, screaming 'NO!' at the TV so many times, hating it and loving it."
8. "Sounds ridiculous, but 24 with Kiefer Sutherland. Over the top, but loved every hour!"
9. "Severance. Season 1 finale was the most stressed I have ever been watching TV."
11. "Breaking Bad. Tuco alone gave me heart palpitations."
12. "Ozark's episode focusing on the brother with bipolar disorder was both devastating and stressful for me. As a psychiatrist myself, with a family member with the same disorder, I felt like they did an incredible job portraying some of the complex emotions around it all.
13. "I had to nope the F—CK out of Baby Reindeer."
14. "Black Mirror. I watched one episode, and my anxiety went through the roof. No, thank you; can’t do it. Too close to reality."
15. "The Handmaid's Tale. I was stunned into silence after most episodes.
16. "I got a lot of secondhand embarrassment and anxiety watching the first couple of episodes of The Office (US). I stopped watching, circled back a year later, still felt the cringe, pushed through, and now I concur that it is a masterpiece."
17. "Homeland. Super stressful and anxiety-inducing. The show’s season finales need to be watched with some chamomile and xanax."
18. "Prison Break. It was the first, and maybe only, show that had me sitting on the edge of my seat for every episode."
19. "Dark. So confusing; I had to scour the internet for answers."
20. "The first thing that comes to mind is the first season of Beef. At first, I was like, 'These people are nuts!' Then, as the episodes went on, I started to identify with them more and more and see myself in some of their behaviors."
21. And lastly, "When it was good, The Walking Dead. 'Just look at the flowers, Lizzie.'"
Some of the most brilliant shows make for some of the toughest watches 😮💨 Do you agree? What are the shows that had you stressing? Let us know in the comments! Or, if you prefer to remain anonymous, you can fill out the form below.
Note: Responses have been edited for length/clarity.
English (US) 