History NothingIsScarier / LiveActionTV

* A surprisingly chilling example in ''Series/RedDwarf'' series 5 episode “[[Recap/RedDwarfSeasonVQuarantine Quarantine]]”. Lister, Cat and Kryten get put in a DecontaminationChamber by the ever anal Rimmer in fear of getting a holo-virus and seriously getting on each other’s nerves. Eventually they figure out enough time has passed for them by the Space Corps Directives to plead their case. Then Rimmer reveals he has been listening to them talk the entire time from behind tinted glass, his CreepyMonotone and the dark window do a good of being unnerving as Lister asks how long he’s been listening. [[spoiler: Turns out he’s been infected with the holo-virus and it’s credit to the show’s writing and acting that Rimmer can come off as scary even while wearing a hilarious gingham dress and a penguin puppet.]]

** Season 2 episode “Kaer Morhen” has a example of this [[spoiler: with Eskel’s BodyHorror transformation. At first nothing seems off, just that Witcher in question seems to be in pain from a wound and sweating as well as acting like an aggressive {{Jerkass}} he apparently killed a Leshy but forgot to burn it. While cavorting with a prostitute Geralt attempts to check Eskel’s wound but is brushed off by the latter. Later when having sex with the whore, a plant grows from the wound in his back before it cutting away. The next sequence is exploring in the dark horror movie-style, as Geralt discovers the prostitute dead and rooted to wall before he is attacked by Eskel in a horrifying [[PlantMonster plant-like]] form.]]

-->'''Mal''': [[SeriousBusiness Dope him]].

** The Djinn in Episode 5 “Bottled Appetites”, what makes it more unsettling than other mystical creatures is the fact we don’t see it’s true form or know if it has one at all. The first we “see” of it is just a ripple in a lake and a strong wind before it goes down Jaskier’s throat. At the end of episode as Yennefer tries to control the Djinn, we see it’s frightening shadow crawl over the walls and destroy the roof of a castle but nothing else.

*** [[spoiler: The buildup to the [[EvilAllAlong Agnes reveal]] invokes this and There All Along. On the surface she just seems like a typical NosyNeighbour and gal pal of Wanda, except a lot of the things Agnes says and the way she acts is bit off in subtle ways. She casually replies to the phrase “the Devil is in the detail” with a matter of fact “[[WeirdAside that’s not the only place he is]]”. Moreover there’s the fact Agnes turns up in every episode without Wanda questioning her presence and just invites herself into household casually remarking in Episode 5 that she was watching the family through her kitchen window. Agnes also directly witnesses Wanda use her powers and the twins RapidAging and unlike other normal people in the neighborhood isn’t amazed. It’s finally revealed in Episode 7 that’s Agnes is Agatha Harkness a powerful evil witch, who’s been manipulating events all along]].

*** [[spoiler: Speaking of Episode 7, the scene in Agnes’s house strongly invokes and somehow makes ''Series/YoGabbaGabba'' playing on TV utterly nerve wracking. After sending her two sons over to Agnes’s house and attacking Monica Rambeau, Wanda is brought over to Agnes’s house herself to calm down, but things only become more tense as Wanda notices there are [[FliesEqualsEvil flies in the room]], half eaten sandwiches on the table and her sons have [[AdultFear disappeared]]. Wanda asks where they are and Agnes from the kitchen says they’re probably playing with in the ''[[CreepyBasement basement]]'', Wanda then goes through Agnes’s surprisingly dark and messy house which is full of creepy plastic coverings and she goes down a flight of stairs and through another corridor where the walls are now stone and covered in vines and there’s the [[HellIsThatNoise sound of wind]]. Wanda then discovers Agnes’s demonic possessions and Agatha reveals herself with a fun song which if anything comes as a blessed relief compared to the pulse pounding tension beforehand]].

** The pilot episode combines this with AdultFear in its very first scene. Mary Winchester heads into her son Sam's room, and sees a man standing over his cradle. She assumes its John, her husband, and goes downstairs. She then sees that John has fallen asleep in front of the television. Cue OhCrap, and her running up the stairs. When John wakes up, he heads into his son's room, and sees that baby Sam is seemingly alright. And then blood drips down from ceiling, causing John to find Mary's corpse on the ceiling, her stomach sliced open. We don't know who the man/creature was (at least, not until later on), but its clear that its something ''bad''.

* ''Series/{{Legion}}'': In classic monster movie fashion, the show establishes an atmosphere of pervasive, surreal menace that you'll be quivering all over just ''waiting'' for something creepy to happen, especially during the scenes taking place inside David's head where you just know the danger is never far away and even when it seems safe, you [[ThroughTheEyesOfMadness can't trust what we're seeing.]] And when you hear that [[HellIsThatNoise frantic-sounding warbling trumpet noise]] that heralds the arrival of the Devil with the Yellow Eyes, that means it's time to run.

** Vereena the Bruxa Nivellen lover of from Season 2 episode “A Grain of Truth” like previous examples is unsettling thanks to some effective MonsterDelay. In the ColdOpen ''something'' brutally kills three villagers in seconds, entirely out of frame with a screech and the fluttering wings being heard. When Geralt and Ciri first enter Nivellen’s castle and make rest, they hear something scampering around above them and Nivellen explains it’s a Vereena companion to him and whom Ciri assumes is a cat. When she makes her appearance, first peering her eye through a slat in the ceiling and then [[WallCrawl crawling]] down the wall to Ciri in bed she doesn’t do anything harmful and looks like normal woman — despite her very creepy huge pupil and twitchy [[Film/TheGrudge Grudge]]-like movement. When Geralt catches on however and attacks her, the build up is payed off as she reveals lamprey-like teeth, blows him back with a sonic scream and turns into a bat-like creature.
** Season 2 episode “Kaer Morhen” has example of this [[spoiler: with Eskel’s transformation. At first nothing seems off, just that that Witcher in question seems to be in pain from a wound and is sweating as well as acting like a aggressive {{Jerkass}} he apparently killed a Leshy but forgot to burn the body. While cavorting with prostitutes Geralt attempts to check Eskel’s wound but is brushed off. Later when having sex with the whore, a plant grows from the wound in his back before it cuts away. The next sequence is a horror movie-style exploring in the dark as Geralt discovers the prostitute dead and rooted to wall before being attacked Eskel in a horrifying plant-like form.]]
** The build up to the series’s BigBad and ruler of the Nilfgaardian Empire Emhyr is an effective example of this, as nobody seems to know anything about him. Both Cahir and Fringilla in deep frightened awe of him and hold him in the highest regard but don’t let any real details about him slip, only what he has done for them. First time we “see” him is in Fringilla’s vision where he faceless armoured man. Even a EvilChancellor like Dijkstra who has connections everywhere and is informed about everything, has some drunk VillainousBSOD over the fact he knows literally nothing about Emhyr of what kind person he is personally. More chilling by end we learn Emhyr can [[WouldHurtAChild organise the death of elven baby]] to instigate conflict entirely from the shadows. Making TheReveal [[spoiler: that he is Duny, Ciri’s DisappearedDad all more shocking.]]

** Hell, the Reavers [[spoiler: who caused aforementioned disaster]] in general are the epitome of this in the show. Unlike the [[Film/{{Serenity}} film]] which properly shows and explains them, in the TV show we don’t see the Reavers at all only their scary looking ships and ''what they do to people''... and as such they much more terrifying. We know they are really bad news through the utter fear the Serenity crewmembers have of them and through Zoey who explains to CityMouse Simon the Reavers will RapePillageAndBurn them before [[ImAHumanitarian cannibalising]] them (hopefully in that order). Just flying by one of their ships has the whole crew on edge, even Inara [[HookerWithAHeartOfGold who is sexually open]] is seen setting up a suicide syringe for herself just in case. Worse still, we see that Reavers can set up traps [[ItCanThink displaying horrible intelligence]].

* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'': In "Bushwhacked", the entire derelict ship is one long example of this: nothing but empty corridors, signs of habitation, and a crewman's log that interrupts right in the middle. But you know something's wrong, because [[TheEmpath River]] is acting very odd. This is also one of those cases where the crew discovering what caused the disaster is in fact as scary as the nothing preceding it, made even scarier when one survivor of derelict ship is dangerously [[BeingTorturedMakesYouEvil affected]] by whatever the hell happened to him.

* ''Series/TheTwilightZone'':

* ''Series/{{Millennium}}'': The group is aware of a serial killer whose motive is proving nobody is safe, and part of his MO is casing out "high security" suburban homes during their open house showings. They know him well enough to set up a sting for him on the "right" night, and they've got a strong suspect and a picture, just no proof prior to the sting. When the sting goes off, however, nothing happens... [[spoiler:until they realize they're in a suburban housing tract, and every house for blocks around them has the exact design plan as the one they assumed he was in. This being the "right" night, he's somewhere in one of these identical houses, killing again, and they won't find him until he's done. They get to spend the rest of the night dwelling on that as a family dies.]]

** ''Series/{{Loki}}'' Episode 6 “For All Time. Always”. In a similar example to ''[=WandaVision=]'' Episode 7, entering the Citadel at the End of Time meeting it’s occupant, the built up antagonist who’s been behind everything, not only in the show [[GreaterScopeVillain but the whole MCU]] [[spoiler:He Who Remains]] is an effective example of this. So far the show has had a RaygunGothic meets ''Series/MadMen'' quirky tone with a couple of departures into outlandish SciFi and HighFantasy, so Loki and Sylvie going outside time and into a ominous mansion in space to face TheManBehindTheMan is a sharp turn into outright suspense. The atmosphere only gets more unsettling inside the Citadel, as it [[ObviouslyEvil looks like it’s been built by Sauron]] with pitch black stone, high windows and creepy statues, yet there’s not a soul in sight which unnerves both Loki and Sylvie - then [[{{Mascot}} Miss Minutes]] gives them a JumpScare. After that an elevator comes down and Loki and Sylvie wait weapons drawn, [[spoiler:Only for the doors to open to reveal an affable and not in the least frightening normal looking guy chewing an apple who welcomes them to his abode.]]

* In ''Series/TheBoys'' what makes so many of the scenes with [[BewareTheSuperman Homelander]] (especially in season 1) so agonizingly tense is the fact in the majority of them, ''he doesn’t actually do anything'' and is just talking to people. Yet thanks to Creator/AntonyStarr’s chilling performance and presence, it’s damn impossible to relax knowing full well this is an unstoppable “super man” who can and will kill people in the blink of an eye, and is completely capable of any kind immorality with the heroes just about helpless to stop him. Even Homelander’s upbeat false boy scout remarks and attitude come off as vaguely threatening, and the terror the protagonists (who are secretly working against him and Voight) have in his company is palpable. Such as Hughie in Episode 5 where he has to be baptised, i.e dunked under water by Homelander who seems like totally he’s onto him, even though he suspected nothing at the time.

* In ''Series/TheBoys'' what makes so many of the scenes with [[BewareTheSuperman Homelander]] (especially in season 1) so agonizingly tense is the fact in the majority of them, ''he doesn’t actually do anything'' and is just talking to people. Yet thanks to Creator/AntonyStarr’s chilling performance and presence, it’s damn impossible to relax knowing full well this is an unstoppable “super man” who can and will kill people in the blink of an eye, and is completely capable of any kind immorality with the heroes just about helpless to stop him. Even Homelander’s upbeat false boy scout remarks and attitude come off as vaguely threatening, and the terror the protagonists (those who are secretly working against him and Voight) have in his company is palpable. Such as Hughie in Episode 5 where he has to be baptised, i.e dunked under water by Homelander who seems like totally he’s onto him, even though he suspected nothing at the time.

** ''Series/{{Loki}}'' Episode 6 “For All Time. Always”. In a similar example to ''[=WandaVision=]'' Episode 7, entering the Citadel at the End of Time meeting it’s occupant, the built up antagonist who’s been behind everything, not only in the show [[GreaterScopeVillain but the whole MCU]] [[spoiler:He Who Remains]] is an effective example of this. So far the show has had a RaygunGothic meets ''Series/MadMen'' quirky tone with a couple of departures into outlandish SciFi and HighFantasy, so Loki and Sylvie going outside time and into a ominous mansion in space to face TheManBehindTheMan is a sharp turn into outright suspense. The atmosphere only gets more unsettling inside the Citadel, as it [[ObviouslyEvil looks like it’s been build by Sauron]] with pitch black stone, high windows and creepy statues, yet there’s not a soul in sight which unnerves both Loki and Sylvie - then [[{{Mascot}} Miss Minutes]] gives them a JumpScare. After that an elevator comes down and Loki and Sylvie wait weapons drawn, [[spoiler:Only for the doors to open to reveal an affable and not in the least frightening normal looking guy chewing an apple who welcomes them to his abode.]]

* ''Series/JeopardyCBBC'' is all over this with its FoundFootage elements. The first season is the school kids camping in the bush, with one girl Sarah catching a glimpse of lights in the sky believing they were visited by aliens. Soon both their teachers go missing while trying to find help, leaving the kids alone while more Strange events take place. What’s most unsettling is that we never once see the aliens themselves, only the “[[RedEyesTakeWarning red-eye virus]]” which is a result of their abduction and its [[JumpScare incredibly startling]] every time it happens.
** There’s also Nothing At All elements in the first series, as the kids are uncertain whether they’re dealing with something supernatural or a real world threat that’s just as frightening.

*** [[spoiler: Speaking of Episode 7, the scene in Agnes’s house strongly invokes and somehow makes ''Series/YoGabbaGabba'' playing on TV utterly nerve wracking. After sending her two sons over to Agnes’s house and attacking Monica Rambeau, Wanda is brought over Agnes’s house herself to calm down, but things only become more tense as Wanda notices there are [[FliesEqualsEvil flies in the room]], half eaten sandwiches on the table and her sons have [[AdultFear disappeared]]. Wanda asks where they are and Agnes from the kitchen says they’re probably playing with in the ''[[CreepyBasement basement]]'', Wanda then goes through Agnes’s surprisingly dark and messy house which is full of creepy plastic coverings and she goes down a flight of stairs and through another corridor where the walls are now stone and covered in vines and there’s the [[HellIsThatNoise sound of wind]]. Wanda then discovers Agnes’s demonic possessions and Agatha reveals herself with a fun song which if anything comes as a blessed relief compared to the pulse pounding tension beforehand]].

** There's a haunting scene in Episode 2 where Homelander pressures a Security Analyst Anika to him find his teammate InvisibleJerkAss Translucent, who’s gone missing. The sheer dread brought up his FauxAffablyEvil words is enough to scare both Anika and the audience, even though he does nothing to her.

** The red-eyed shadow creatures seen in the ColdOpen Season 2 are quite unnerving due to the fact unlike most Star Wars alien monsters we never get a proper look at them [[TheDarknessGazesBack beyond many pairs of red eyes]]. They are [[WeakenedByTheLight warded off by street lights]], but when Mando subjects SmugSnake Gor Koresh to some UnwillingSuspension, he shoots the light out before walking away at which the creatures swarm in the darkness and it cuts to the title card as Koresh screams.

** There's a [[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_fAyA-mkT58 haunting scene]] in Episode 2 where Homelander pressures a Security Analyst Anika to him find his teammate InvisibleJerkAss Translucent who’s gone missing. The sheer dread brought up his FauxAffablyEvil words is enough to scare both Anika and the audience, even though he does nothing to her.

-->'''Ethros Demon''': Do you know what the most frightening thing in the world is? Nothing. That's what I found in [[spoiler:the boy. [[TheSouless No conscience, no fear, no humanity]]—]]just a black void. [[spoiler:I couldn't control him, I couldn't get out, I had never even manifested until you brought me forth. I just sat there and watched as he destroyed everything around him. Not from a belief in evil, not for any reason at all. That boy's mind]] was the blackest hell I've ever known.

*** [[spoiler: The buildup to the [[EvilAllAlong Agnes reveal]] invokes this and There All Along. On the surface she just seems like a typical NosyNeighbour and gal pal of Wanda, except a lot of the things Agnes says and way she acts is bit off in subtle ways. She casually replies to the phrase “the Devil is in the detail” with a matter of fact “[[WeirdAside that’s not the only place he is]]”. Moreover there’s the fact Agnes turns up in every episode without Wanda questioning her presence and just invites herself into household casually remarking in Episode 5 that she was watching the family through her kitchen window. Agnes also directly witnesses Wanda use her powers and the twins RapidAging and unlike other normal people in the neighborhood isn’t amazed. It’s finally revealed in Episode 7 that’s Agnes is Agatha Harkness a powerful witch from the comics, who’s been manipulating events all along]].

*** [[spoiler: The buildup to the [[EvilAllAlong Agnes reveal]] invokes this and There All Along. On the surface she just seems like a typical NosyNeighbour and gal pal of Wanda, except a lot of the things Agnes says and way she acts is bit off in a subtle ways. She casually replies to the phrase “the Devil is in the detail” with a matter of fact “[[WeirdAside that’s not the only place he is]]”. Moreover there’s the fact Agnes turns up in every episode without Wanda questioning her presence and just invites herself into household casually remarking in Episode 5 that she was watching the family through her kitchen window. Agnes also directly witnesses Wanda use her powers and the twins RapidAging and unlike other normal people in the neighborhood isn’t amazed. It’s finally revealed in Episode 7 that’s Agnes is Agatha Harkness a powerful witch from the comics, who’s been manipulating events all along]].