A Seismic Change in the Show’s Makeup

[Editor’s Note: The following interview contains spoilers for “Industry” Season 3 Episode 1, “Il Mattino ha L’Oro Bocca.”]

Back in June, on a scorching day in Austin, TX, a lively crowd gathered at the Stateside Theater for the premiere of “Industry” Season 3. Despite the official HBO release being two months away, fans braced themselves for a relatively tame opener, expecting table-setting and updates on returning characters without any major twists.

However, what unfolded left the audience gasping and applauding. The ATX TV Festival’s screening was anything but cautious. Within the opening episode, a recurring character dies unexpectedly, a series regular is axed, a revenge plot begins to form, and to top it all, Kit Harington makes an appearance.

“We do want it to be super intense,” said creator Konrad Kay during a post-show Q&A session. “Episode 2 is just intense, intense, intense, intense,” added co-creator Mickey Down, hinting at the frenetic pace of the new season. “Episode 3 they go to Switzerland [and take a little break], and then it’s just incredibly intense again.”

With the first episode setting a high bar, Kay and Down discussed their bold storytelling choices in an interview with IndieWire. The abrupt death of Rob’s (Harry Lawtey) part-time lover and client, Nicole (Sarah Parish), Eric’s (Ken Leung) sudden termination of Kenny (Conor MacNeill), and Harper’s (Myha’la) reemergence as a financial player all laid the groundwork for intense future episodes.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

When asked about the decision to kill off Nicole, Mickey Down mentioned that it was one of the first ideas they had for Season 3. “There’s the practicality of having something quite interesting and exciting happen in the first episode to a character that we’ve spent so much time with. But it also catalyzed one of the most important arcs of the season, which is Robert’s relationship to death, mortality, his ambition, and the fact that everyone around him just seems to die.” Robert’s trauma and memories of his mother are explored more deeply in subsequent episodes, adding layers to his character.

The aftermath of Nicole’s death is impactful. Kay elaborated on Robert’s shocking reaction at work: “Someone has died in Robert’s life. When she dies, he comes in [to Pierpoint] and cries at his desk, which is so shocking in a place like that. It’s showing vulnerability, and everyone’s reaction is to avoid eye contact.”

The creators also discussed the decision behind Nicole’s death by a cardiac event. Kay explained that a heart attack felt realistic and shocking without changing the show’s tone. The scene’s execution, including her eyes being open, aimed to maximize the shock value without being cynical.

Transitioning to another major plot point, Kenny’s firing also stirred emotions. Down highlighted the reflection of workplace churn and the importance of setting high stakes early in the season. “We always wanted to get rid of someone in the first episode. It was important to have those stakes set very early,” he said. Kay added, “The arbitrariness of it is what I love about it. The moment he becomes more moral, the universe decides to kill him.”

The creators discussed the dynamic between Eric and Kenny, noting how Eric’s personal battles influenced his decision. “Someone being nice to him is actually the reason why he’s fired,” Down noted, emphasizing the psychological complexity.

The relationship dynamics extend to Yasmin’s moment with Eric. According to Down, unlike with Kenny, Eric’s feelings about his masculinity play a role in protecting Yasmin. “There’s a certain type of male banker from a certain generation who likes the attention and validation that a young woman gives them,” Down explained.

The themes of hierarchy and performance in the workplace also come into play. Kay remarked, “Every time someone steps onto the trading floor, they’re performing. The moments when characters are truly real with each other, they both come as an incredible surprise to the characters and make them feel good for a second. But then there’s a personal cost down the road.”

When asked about a revenge arc within the season, Down confirmed it refers to Harper’s relationship with Pierpoint, especially Eric. “She does feel resentful toward Pierpoint. She was spat out by it. She gave it everything.”

Lastly, the creators addressed whether they plan ahead for future seasons or put everything on the table each season. Down said, “We write everything, we use our best ideas, we burn through them.” Kay added that they aim for each episode to feel like a season finale, avoiding filler content. “We really felt an immense privilege to get a third season when it’s nearly impossible to do that now.”

“Industry” Season 3 releases new episodes Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.

Source: IndieWire