Joel Kim Booster’s ‘Industry’ Nude Scene is “Pivotal” for Robert’s Comeback

Industry Season 3 Episode 3 “It” takes our main characters on a field trip to Switzerland. Early in the episode, the HBO show reveals that the COP Climate Conference is pivotal for Lumi and Pierpoint’s future. Both Lumi CEO Henry Muck (Kit Harington) and Pierpoint boss Eric Tao (Ken Leung) are set to discuss the future of green energy on a panel. As Harper (Myha’la) and Petra (Sarah Goldberg) try to win over potential clients and Sir Henry Muck courts Yasmin (Marisa Abela), Robert (Harry Lawtey) is tasked with figuring out what Pierpoint’s analyst Frank Wade (Joel Kim Booster) plans to report about Lumi.

**Spoilers for Industry Season 3 Episode 3 “It,” now streaming on Max**

Since the premiere of Season 3, it has been known that Pierpoint has placed a big bet on green energy company Lumi, while others worry it might be a scam. Episode 3 opens sixty days after Lumi’s public offering, with rival banks advising investors to sell Lumi stocks. Pierpoint’s analyst Frank hasn’t published any notes yet.

As Eric, Yasmin, and Robert arrive in Switzerland, Eric attempts to press Frank on when his “buy note” will be published. Frank avoids Eric at first, but eventually, Robert finds him alone in a sauna and makes his move. Once Robert introduces himself, Frank cheekily reveals he already knows who he is.

“We have a WhatsApp where we share the directory photos of all the hottest and straightest Pierpoint employees,” Frank says.
“ Hoo, ” Robert responds. “What an honor.”

The scene’s blocking shifts to show both men in the same frame—Robert in boxer briefs and Frank completely nude. Their conversation becomes flirtatious. Later in the episode, Frank publishes a “Hold” on Lumi. Although not the “Buy” Eric wanted, it isn’t the damning “Sell” that others have been putting out.

This graphic scene with full frontal nudity plays an important role in Robert’s character development. Mickey Down, co-creator and co-showrunner of Industry, explained that Joel Kim Booster was a huge fan of the show and had reached out to be a part of it.

“We had a meeting with him, and he was just, like, hilarious,” Down said. “So, we were like, obviously, let’s put him in it.”

While Booster’s character wasn’t initially written for him, Down notes that he brings lightness and humanity to the role. Harry Lawtey, who plays Robert, praised Booster’s performance as well.

“It was great working with Joel. He’s such a brilliant guy,” Lawtey said. “We really enjoyed that dynamic that’s going on between them in the episode.”

“It’s Joel. He just can’t help but be hilarious,” Down added. “He’s professional, as well.”

Down emphasized that the sauna scene is a pivotal moment for Robert. Lawtey explained that this interaction represents Robert “getting his mojo back.”

“Which, for me, was a really gratifying thing to play,” Lawtey said. “As toxic and misguided as he was in the first season, there’s something about that confidence that was appealing.”

Throughout the series, Robert has shown a pattern of leading with his sexual machismo. Lawtey noted that, as long as viewers can see Robert’s heart beneath the surface, there’s no harm in it. The sauna scene is part of Robert realizing his unique selling point (USP): making people feel good about themselves and creating chemistry.

“He can create chemistry and spark off of people. And those skills are crucial in this world,” Lawtey said. “To have Joel’s character reveal that to him was amazing.”

“I think that’s what that sauna scene is about: regardless of his fluid sexuality, Robert feels his most in control, confident, and proficient professionally, when he has a degree of sexual confidence,” Lawtey concluded.

Source: Decider, HBO