‘Industry’ Unveils a Broken World Eerily Similar to Ours

It’s not often that a TV series improves with each passing year. Popular shows like “Game of Thrones” and “Lost” may come to mind, known for their faltering endings. Yet, HBO’s “Industry” defies this trend. The show, which entered its third season on August 11, showcases eight riveting episodes, now claiming the coveted Sunday evening slot once held by the Emmy-winning “Succession.”

Whether this lively financial drama stands up to the antics of the Roy media dynasty is debatable, but it undoubtedly strives to match their intensity. A new addition to this season is none other than Kit Harington, the brooding Jon Snow from “Thrones.” Harington delivers a dynamic performance as Sir Henry Muck, the aristocratic brain behind a questionable green tech energy venture.

If you’re wondering whether you need the backstory from the first two seasons that started in 2020—it’s not imperative. However, exploring the earlier episodes could be notably rewarding. By the end of season two, the trainee analysts at Pierpoint & Co., a fictitious London investment bank, were deeply embroiled in conflicts, a scenario that series creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay delight in.

The ruthlessly ambitious Harper Stern, portrayed skillfully by Myha’la, showcases a transformation. Her character, a transplanted New Yorker, is seen developing a thick skin to shield her diminishing delicate emotions. Harper’s setbacks, including her mentor and father figure Eric Tao, played commendably by Ken Leung, firing her, provide a riveting arc for the new season. Tao’s performance even edges towards Emmy territory in this latest installment.

Phony credentials did Harper in, or so it seems. But treachery runs deep at Pierpoint. At the very least, Harper maintains her bond with Pierpoint best friend Yasmin Kara-Hanani, played by Marisa Abela. Abela, having recently shone as Amy Winehouse in “Back to Black,” adds layers to her character Yasmin, the publishing heiress.

We wonder who might step into Harper’s shoes. Will it be her colleague and temporary platonic roommate, Robert Spearing, impressively played by Harry Lawtey? Or perhaps Yasmin, who along with Robert, strives to win over Sir Henry? And yes, sex is undoubtedly a factor here.

Yasmin’s tense relationship with her father, played by Adam Levy, hints at deeper trauma. Flashbacks to a time on a yacht named after Yasmin reveal shocking undertones. While the show features intense trading floor scenes, it’s the emotional drama that cuts the deepest. Episode four, in particular, plays out like a white-knuckle thriller, as trader Rishi Ramdani, brilliantly portrayed by Sagar Radia, grapples with a gambling addiction that jeopardizes his career and his life.

As for Harper, she finds her way into a green American investment firm, mentored by Petra Koenig, played by Sarah Goldberg. Goldberg, known for her stellar performance in “Barry,” excels here, portraying a mentor with her own ethical lapses, including insider trading. This role highlights how greed erodes moral boundaries.

Harper and Yasmin, both striving to justify their actions, ultimately hollow out any remnants of empathy or accountability. The outstanding performances by Myha’la and Abela anchor the series, as their characters grow increasingly detached from their initial, raw emotions.

“Industry,” much like “Succession,” features characters who personify the deceit embedded in the quest for power. As season three concludes, these young deception experts find themselves adrift in a world stifled by limited possibilities. While the series is as hot-blooded and humorous as ever, each laugh comes with an underlying sting, portraying a world eerily similar to our own.

Source: abcnews.com