Industry creators reveal what “finance bros” get wrong about the show

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The show has gained a following among people interested in finance, but its creators believe these viewers are missing the point.

The popular BBC/HBO series, Industry, initially followed the story of recent graduates trying to make it in the competitive world of a London investment bank.

The show has become increasingly ambitious with each season. Season 4 started with an episode focused on politics and vaguely referencing Donald Trump, and the second episode was a dark, horror-themed story reminiscent of a warped version of ‘A Christmas Carol’.

Similar to how films like Wall Street and The Wolf of Wall Street were actually enjoyed by the people they mocked, the makers of Industry feel their show’s meaning is being lost in translation and misunderstood.

Industry creators believe there’s “dishonesty” in how people engage with the show

Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, both former bankers, created the show ‘Industry’ based on their time working in finance. They’ve been somewhat surprised by how the show has been interpreted by certain audiences.

When starting a story set in this kind of world, it’s crucial to draw the audience in and make them believe the characters are enjoying themselves, explained Down to Deadline. The initial impression needs to be captivating. Then, typically in the final act, everything falls apart, revealing that the character’s goals won’t lead to fulfillment – instead, they’ll be ultimately destructive.

Many people in finance only see the glamorous side of a fast-paced lifestyle and think it’s all fun and excitement, without realizing the eventual downfall and negative consequences that often follow.

It’s so funny to me – I still get messages on LinkedIn, and a lot of them are people saying my show actually got them interested in finance! It’s wild knowing I had that impact on someone.

Kay also pointed out that people often react strongly to portrayals of Wall Street or the corporate world, labeling those depicted as sociopathic. She believes this reaction isn’t about the people on screen, but rather a recognition of potentially undesirable traits within themselves that they’ve either suppressed or are afraid to acknowledge.

“But those traits – avarice, blind ambition – they exist in everybody.”

Here’s an explanation of why Robert isn’t in Season 4 of Industry, and what the term ‘proletariat’ meant in Episode 2.

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2026-01-20 14:49