Industry season three review – TV’s wildest drama is more thrilling than ever
Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, the minds behind Industry, find themselves in a unique and challenging situation. Their series, which follows young professionals navigating the cutthroat world of finance in London, has become surprisingly popular. A growing audience is now familiar with its distinct style, and with the launch of season three, Industry has taken center stage. The attention is intense.
Fortunately, the return episodes indicate that this is the moment Down and Kay have been anticipating from the start. The industry is back in full swing, with everything that makes it exceptional heightened and refined. Watching it is more thrilling than ever before.
The main characters are currently sharing a stylish townhouse, but they rarely get to appreciate it due to constant work-related chaos—it's reminiscent of *This Life*, minus the comfy home life. At the forefront of the stress is Yas (played by Marisa Abela), the heiress whose career in investment banking is overshadowed by her corrupt billionaire father. On a critical day at Pierpoint’s trading floor, she finds that her bothersome coworker's screen is displaying an article about her family from the MailOnline’s gossip section.
Today is significant because tomorrow marks the IPO of Lumi, a green energy startup founded by the exceptionally named Henry Muck (played by Kit Harington). His last name hints at the kind of privilege that allows some individuals to comfortably invest and experiment with billions of pounds, and it's only one letter off from a real-life figure who embodies the type of faux-visionary modern finance often idolizes.
"I've noticed I get better sleep when I rest underneath my desk," Muck tells Amol Rajan, who appears less than impressed during their conversation. Muck attempts to present himself as a laid-back performer. "I was just joking there. We can edit that part out; it didn’t quite hit the mark."
The wealthy man's hopeless attempt to be amusing and charming is just one of many sharp insights that the show captures perfectly. For the younger team at Pierpoint, proving that Lumi isn't a total disaster is a crucial task. Eric (played by Ken Leung), who leads Yas and acts as the moral compass of the group alongside Rob (Harry Lawtey), has to safeguard his new position in senior management. He is under pressure from higher-ups to cut the team by letting someone go, all while trying to boost a shaky stock price.
These are the key elements that lead to chaos, and the industry doesn’t hold back. From unexpected deaths to spontaneous nights of drug-fueled revelations in the office of a partly dressed attorney, major moments that might have been saved for a season finale are rushed through in the very first episode, leaving everything in ruins by the end.
However, nothing about it seems unnecessary: the show captures the ridiculousness of individuals engaged in a high-stakes game that is impossible to fully grasp, since there’s always someone with deeper pockets adjusting the rules. This aspect has previously made *Industry* difficult to penetrate for newcomers. But it’s all clear now, especially the realization that personal connections and individual vulnerabilities are what truly count. With everyone stumbling through a tangled network of secrets and concealed partnerships, a single phone call or a carefully handled disagreement can determine success or failure in their careers. Eric’s final decision on who to fire is unpredictable until it feels like the only possible outcome.
At the same time, the industry excels in both the finer details and the larger story arcs. The moment when Yas is called to meet Muck, only to discover the so-called innovative green guru shirtless on a five-a-side court at a Piccadilly gentlemen's club, is darkly funny. However, by the conclusion of the second episode, Yas’s interactions with the harmful men around her take a deeply unsettling turn.
Uncovering the whims of the ultra-rich is one way in which Industry can be seen as a show that follows in the footsteps of Succession. Another enjoyable aspect that both series share is the writers’ knack for capturing the nuances of contemporary culture and the dynamics of how people engage in the digital era. We find ourselves back with Harper (Myha’la) at her desk in her new subordinate position at an ethical investment firm. You might need to pause the screen to read the message she just received ("My Mubi account is about to expire, and we still haven't watched Decision to Leave – any thoughts?") and notice her cheeky reply featuring a picture of herself with her hand in her pants.
According to industry norms, it's not that extreme, yet it has definitely claimed its spot as the most intense drama on television and seizes every chance to amplify that intensity. “My stress levels are through the roof!” exclaims Anna’s boss as her role at Lumi crumbles. “I always feel like there’s a threat lurking in the office.” The entertainment world thrives on that sense of peril.
