Eric’s Nightmare Business Trip

(Warning: Spoilers for the Season 3 of Industry.)

Throughout “Industry,” viewers have learned that anything can unfold when the microphone is handed over during audience questions at panel discussions. Eric Tao (Ken Leung) witnesses this firsthand at an international climate conference in Switzerland. This scenario turns disastrous when his former protégé Harper Stern (Myha’la) uses the public forum to drop some major business bombshells.

A sudden revelation makes the lack of Swiss snow (in this context, not cocaine) the least of Eric’s worries. The episode depicts a series of professional and personal setbacks for Eric, impacting his confidence. Eric, far from thriving in the new setting, struggles outside his familiar territory of ruling the London trading floor. Despite his belief that he is a “bit of a VIP,” Eric realizes he’s just another person on a panel during this working trip.

Entering Season 3, Eric is no longer the stable family man. Firing Harper at the end of Season 2 acts as a catalyst for his unraveling. This journey includes a drunken night with Yasmin (Marisa Abela) before the disastrous Lumi IPO launch. Unlike his usual unflappable self when Harper was on his team, Eric now showcases his midlife crisis by making unsuccessful advances toward Yasmin.

Eric’s discomfort continues when he is asked at the last moment to appear on the Lumi panel. What seems like an exciting opportunity, flying on Sir Henry Muck’s (Kit Harington) private jet, devolves into one awkward encounter after another. Before the flight, Eric experiences a sour end to his casual hook-up with Yasmin’s lawyer, Denise (Fiona Button), who calls him both a “f—boy” and an old man. His only takeaway? “I don’t f— like one, though, right?”

Despite being told his recent promotion places him at the bottom of a new ladder, Eric remains undeterred before the trip. Ken Leung skillfully portrays his nonchalance and underlying insecurities. His energetic salesmanship makes the climate conference COP seem like a promising venture. “The highest concentration of financial heavyweights in the smallest square footage,” Eric describes it, subtly foreshadowing his upcoming failures.

During the flight, Eric and Robert (Harry Lawtey) are reassigned to a different cabin, highlighting their lower status compared to Yas, who stays “up top” with Sir Henry and his group. Eric’s attempts to connect with others fall flat; even ordering a scotch early earns him judgment from Robert and Yas. Upon arrival, the fully booked hotel further diminishes his ‘big deal’ image.

Robert, however, finds a silver lining when he meets Pierpoint’s analyst Frank (Joel Kim Booster) in a sauna. Frank’s familiarity and favorable opinion of Robert boost his ego. Frank’s opinion on Lumi stock, though not explicitly shared, appears promising.

Eric finds some solace watching Clara Bow’s “It” with Robert in their hotel room. He optimistically interprets Frank’s non-committal stance as a company loyalty signal, though the swirling events hint otherwise. “Shame about the snow,” Eric observes, failing to notice the actual snowfall, indicative of his broader lack of clarity.

The day of the panel, Harper’s surprise announcement about her new fund with Petra and Lumi’s continued decline disrupts the proceedings. Eric’s attempt to maintain a composed and charming demeanor onstage fails against Harper’s revelations of Frank’s hold recommendation on Lumi, effectively advising investors to sell. The panel’s facade crumbles with Harper likening the event to a funeral.

After the panel, Eric learns that handling the aftermath is beyond his current executive level. Seeking comfort, he indulges in an expensive night that inflates from $2,000 to $20,000. His self-doubt becomes more evident when he asks, “Do I f— like a young man?” The following breakfast meeting with Petra and Harper adds to his humiliation. Harper’s demand for eye contact and her mocking comment on his glittery appearance from the night before highlight his deteriorated state.

As the trip ends, Yas and Sir Henry hook up on the plane while Robert reflects on the pointlessness of the journey. Eric can only lament the lack of snow, a metaphor for his inability to control circumstances or his business dealings. Facing the Harper storm seems increasingly challenging for Eric, with no optimistic forecast in sight.

Source: The Daily Beast