Industry’s Worst Parents, Ranked

As a seasoned observer of human nature and a connoisseur of dysfunctional families, I must say that each character in this intricate tapestry has their own unique brand of toxicity. However, if I were to rank them based on the level of harm they’ve inflicted, the sheer magnitude of Charles Hanani’s malevolence takes the cake.


Spoilers follow for Industry through season three, episode six, “Nikki Beach, or: So Many Ways to Lose.”

In the second season of “Industry”, as Harper and Yasmin embark on a trip tinged with family disillusionment in Berlin, Harper references Ja Rule by saying, “Pain is loving.” However, if we look at the series as a whole, pain is more accurately represented by the characters’ strained relationships with their parents. The missteps and turmoil experienced by the Pierpoint crew stem largely from the neglectful or harmful actions of their parents, as well as their demanding superiors who struggle with nurturing their employees in a caring manner. Each episode underscores the harsh reality that ruthless capitalism often either consumes its own or transforms its participants into cold and monstrous beings, and this cast carries a collective guilt stemming from their generational experiences within this system.

Even though some might try to defend them using a “nature versus nurture” debate, the parents and parental figures in the show “Industry” are appallingly terrible. They engage in affairs with their children’s nannies, use drugs like heroin on shopping trips, and indulge in pornography during family gatherings, to name just a few examples! And this is only a fraction of the list. To commemorate season three eliminating two of the series’ most atrocious parents, we’re ranking the elders in “Industry” by how awful they are. While people are considered Pierpoint’s capital, it’s the bad parents that truly make “Industry” unforgettable.

23.
Greg’s mother

In the first season, as Greg crashes into a pane during Pierpoint’s festive gathering, he retreats home to heal. There, my mom affectionately nicknames him “Greglit” when summoning him for dinner, revealing a warm, nurturing household that clearly cherishes their son.

22.
Daria

Initially, it appears Daria is doing well. When her former coworkers from Pierpoint run into her at another bank during season two, they assume she’s left the field, but they’re wrong: She had taken an 18-month break to focus on her newborn baby. At one instance, she told Robert, “I don’t want to be a mother, especially to you,” which might suggest that she found him difficult in season one, not that she wouldn’t care for her own child. (By the way, it’s worth noting that almost every other industrialized nation except the United States has figured out how to offer paid maternity leave!)

21.
Petra Koenig

It appears that Petra comes across as indifferent towards her goddaughter Boadicea, which is not surprising given her attitude. However, she exhibits a certain vulnerability concerning her own son who battles substance abuse problems. I find it dishonest when she misrepresents her interactions with her son to evade scrutiny from Anna and Harper during the ESG conference. Yet, the disgust she showed towards Harper when he attempted to manipulate their relationship using Petra’s son felt genuine to me. Her professional boundary-setting response of “We are colleagues” is entirely appropriate when a subordinate falsely accuses you of addiction and then clumsily tries to leverage your son’s struggles for personal gain. Oh, Harper! What a mess!

20.
Danny Van Deventer’s father

Indeed, he was a professor who became romantically involved with DVD’s mother while she was one of his students. However, despite this controversial relationship, DVD apparently enjoyed a typical (and affluent), Upper West Side upbringth, suggesting that this incident may not significantly impact his position on the list.

19.
Diana

I can understand the strain Rishi’s wife is under, having to deal with a country home she didn’t desire and watching her husband’s gambling issues worsen. Though infidelity is difficult, most of her discontent about her life changing after marrying Rishi doesn’t seem to be directed toward their son, Hugo, who is too young to grasp the complexities of his parents’ situation. So, in a way, things are relatively balanced for now? Diana appears to be irritated by how Rishi has reduced her to “a mere breeding machine,” but I don’t believe she would vent that frustration on Hugo. Her advice to Rishi, “It’s simpler to raise robust boys than mend broken men,” suggests she is determined to raise Hugo correctly.

18.
Candice Allbright

Unlike Eric, who’s eagerly counting down the days until he returns to work after spending two weeks with his family and feeling restless, Candice, a high-ranking executive at Google, is deeply invested in their daughters during these formative years. However, it can be challenging when Eric’s husband seemingly finds little worth in his personal life. A scene this season suggests that Candice might have dropped the girls off at Pierpoint while Eric was working as part of their shared custody arrangement. This arrangement seems questionable, particularly when Eric himself wasn’t present during the drop-off. Yet, my sympathies lie with Candice in the potential custody battle!

17.
Reggie Muck

Henry’s father died by suicide years before his son created and then ran Lumi into the ground, and we shouldn’t judge that choice. But we can judge that Reggie’s only real piece of advice to his son seemed to be, “You’re born with a silver spoon in your mouth. People are gonna assume you’re an idiot” (which despite being accurate, isn’t exactly actionable), and that Reggie’s inner circle are pretty much classist jerks treating the U.K. like their own version of Oz they can manipulate from behind the curtain (suggesting that maybe Reggie was like that, too).

16.
Clement Cowan

Farewell to Clement, who may not have been Robert’s biological father but undeniably served as his mentor at work. While it’s true that Clement struggled with heroin addiction, I believe he was mostly not a terrible influence. His guidance on how to navigate Pierpoint, emphasizing dressing well and adapting to a higher social class, though somewhat discouraging, proved useful. His encouragement for Robert to prioritize himself in his own life was crucial. Though some of their interactions may have been questionable – like the time Clement placed his hand on Robert’s knee – I believe it was intended as a fatherly gesture, not a predatory one. The generous sum of 500,000 pounds that Clement left to Robert in his will was an extraordinary act of kindness. Unfortunately, the heroin addiction was a significant flaw.

15.
(Tie) Otto Mostyn and Alexander Norton

In simpler terms, the characters Frank and Karl from the business world’s equivalent of Succession are far from admirable individuals, with their own self-serving motives for Henry that are anything but altruistic. They come across as tiresome and manipulative, much like Otto boasting about being a “troublemaker” and “bandit,” or Alexander lamenting his daughters. However, it’s important to acknowledge that they do seem to have Henry’s best interests at heart. For instance, they go to great lengths to help him avoid blame for Lumi’s collapse, and they provide Yasmin with the publicity and protection she needs to stay close to Henry. In a world where many Industry parents are indifferent, these men act like overbearing protectors armed with sniper rifles, targeting any potential threats to Henry. Yet, there is also a supportive side to them that is uncommon among other Industry parents.

14.
Bob Spearing Sr.

In simpler terms, Robert’s father appears less absent or aggressively abusive compared to some other parents on the show. Their interactions at the bar suggest more a lack of alignment rather than conflict. However, Robert’s father seems unaware of Robert’s job and personal life details, which seems to be due to his remarriage and having two other sons with his new wife. This is unfortunate neglect. If Bob had known about how much Robert’s mother, before her death, was constantly urging Robert to improve, he should have taken steps to reduce her toxic influence. As of now, it’s unclear to what extent Bob knew about Robert’s mom’s emotional (possibly physical?) abuse, so a neutral assessment seems appropriate.

13.
Jesse Bloom

Jesse Bloom is caught engaging in insider trading live on television, feigning texting with his son whom he falsely claims to be extremely close to. Meanwhile, he allows his fictional daughter, Harper (referred to as “Mommy”), to take the blame for his actions instead. It seems that Mr. COVID never misses a chance to exploit a situation.

12.
Rishi Ramdani

Transgresses with another woman during Diana’s pregnancy, the eve of their wedding. Infidelity occurs post-childbirth. Indulges in adult content while cradling Hugo, allowing his nosebleed from excessive cocaine use to stain his son. Accumulates significant family debt due to a compulsive gambling habit, even wagering money gifted as a baby shower present. As an admirer of the movie “Better Luck Tomorrow,” I wouldn’t suggest he emulate a model minority, but rather, I wish for him to exercise better judgment in his life choices.

11.
Eric Tao, as a biological father

In the initial stages, Eric was portrayed as a loving father with a soft spot for his daughters. However, as the series progresses, Eric seems to be struggling and causing harm in more direct ways. He’s forgetting important details about their custody arrangement, and overall, his behavior has become questionable. He’s overdoing hair dye, using excessive amounts of cocaine, and spending an alarming amount on sex workers. The show “Industry” finds this downward spiral amusing at times, such as when Eric mentions seeing his daughters in all the successful young women at Pierpoint only to receive a call from HR, but it’s disheartening to witness his rapid decline.

10.
Anna Gearing

She named her daughters Boadicea and Olympia, essentially cursing them to a childhood of being girlboss bullies and an adulthood of being pretentiously nationalist. Unforgivable!

9.
Harper’s father

The void left by this man heavily impacts Harper’s character. Her comment to Yas about having a father who caused harm wasn’t particularly understanding, considering Charles Hanani’s frequent behavior as a jerk. However, it’s evident that Harper’s father’s absence has significantly influenced her complex feelings towards older men in her life, demonstrating his powerful, albeit detrimental, impact on her.

8.
Newman, Eric’s mentor

In Eric’s past, his superior often used derogatory ethnic terms towards him, but claimed they were said affectionately. This left Eric feeling undervalued and questioning his worth. Interestingly, Eric still expresses love for this individual because he brought out the best in him. This problematic dynamic is evident in Eric’s treatment of his subordinates like Harper, Robert, and Yasmin. A striking example of this is when Eric handles Newman’s “Make America Great Again” hat with an unexpected emotion that resembles sorrow. It’s a chilling reminder of the complex relationships Eric has with those under him.

7.
Gus’s parents

Parents who appear supportive on the surface but secretly disapprove, manipulating you through their words and actions. Initially, it seems harmonious as Gus achieves his parents’ aspirations by becoming an Eton and Oxford graduate, working at Pierpoint, while hiding his true identity. The family even shares a book club, creating an idyllic image. However, in season two, when Gus abandons banking for a low-ranking government job and tutoring, openly embracing his sexuality, his parents subtly express their discontent through Sadie, implying that he’s wasting his life and causing instability within the family. Their criticism, cloaked in concern, is insidious. Sadie’s final remark, “They just want us to meet their expectations. Otherwise, what else was all this for?” is a particularly hurtful jab. It’s no surprise that Gus chose to leave the U.K.

6.
Harper’s mother

In the span of 18 months, I’ve only managed to reach out to my daughter once – just to grumble about her new haircut. When Harper Stern, a relentless capitalist and, as they say, a tough cookie, refers to someone else as a “relentless American capitalist” and a “tough cookie”? Well, it’s safe to assume that her mother must embody those very traits herself.

5.
Robert’s mother

Oh, Robert, it seems like your mother had quite an impact on you, shaping you into a people-pleaser with no boundaries. This has led to others taking advantage of you at work, even burdening you with tasks such as Lumi and representing Pierpoint’s setbacks in the ESG sector. Your lifestyle appears excessive, with overindulgence in alcohol, partying, and relationships with women who don’t seem to value you. The few interactions we see between you and your father hint at your mother pushing you to become a miniature version of herself, a recurring theme that surfaces during your ayahuasca experience as well. Additionally, the dynamic between you and Pierpoint client Nicole Craig seems disturbingly reminiscent of an Oedipal relationship. Robert himself describes both women as having a shared “unfillable void of need” quality, which they’ve both exploited to their advantage and negatively affected you.

4.
Azar Kara

Initially, Yasmin’s mother appears to be rational and understanding. It makes sense for her to converse in Arabic at home, and it’s impolite for Yasmin to try to dictate this. She is correct that at Pierpoint, Yas will have to work twice as hard to achieve half as much, and her advice for Yasmin to consider other life paths seems genuinely concerned. However, when Yara decides to divorce Charles, her pragmatism no longer appears to involve Yasmin. She cuts off contact with Yasmin for maintaining a relationship with Charles and never reaches out again – not even during the turmoil of Yasmin’s paparazzi encounters, financial struggles, or rumors suggesting that Yasmin had killed Charles. It was painful to see Yasmin seemingly choose Charles in the divorce, but what kind of parent completely cuts off their child amid such chaos? And while I’m not blaming Yara for Charles’ actions (his infidelities, selling the publishing house, and mismanaging family finances), I am questioning whether she was aware of these issues during their marriage and failed to warn Yasmin about them.

3.
Eric Tao, as a work dad

Observe the consequences of Newman’s teachings! Eric initially attempts to connect with Pierpoint’s new hires based on their shared minority background (“Fellow travelers… born at the bottom”), but he consistently backstabs or offers poor counsel to almost every young person who confides in him (a pattern that both Daria and DVD pointed out before they were betrayed). Besides these individuals, he also wrongs others: Harper, by breaching their trust and revealing she didn’t graduate from college; Yasmin, with whom he parties, desires, then terminates her employment; Robert, who receives hollow macho advice (“I am a man, relentless”), leading him to sleep outside of their hotel room at the ESG conference when Eric hires a sex worker, later impersonating Robert so no one knows he paid for sex. Kenny loses his job because he witnessed Eric in a vulnerable moment, yet Kenny has since proven himself as a capable leader on the floor; Sweetpea’s concerns about Pierpoint’s future are dismissed, despite her accurate assessment of the bank’s over-leveraged status. Consider when Eric says to Yas, “You don’t have to compromise or degrade yourself to prove your value to me.” It may sound admirable, but it’s also a lie from a man who is untrustworthy and convinced of his own righteousness. Is there any man in greater need of therapy?

2.
Nicole Craig

She has physically attacked three different Pierpoint employees, leveraged her wealth to avoid consequences, manipulated Robert into a sexual relationship using his mother’s issues as a tool, and dismissed the idea that he is a victim. Regrettably, Robert suffered additional trauma when he found her dead after spending a night with her. Nevertheless, it’s hard not to feel some relief.

1.
Charles Hanani

This list is not intended to promote murder, manslaughter, or negligent homicide. However, when Yasmin expresses the idea that it’s a child’s obligation to kill their abusive parent, considering Charles Hanani’s despicable behavior – manipulating Yasmin, his inappropriate conduct during meetings with her and her boss Celeste, cutting off her finances, ridiculing her for being a nepotism case while using his power to sexually abuse women and father other children, exploiting her professionally by associating her with his embezzlement scandals, and physically assaulting her on the yacht – it’s understandable why some might see Yasmin as entering a more positive narrative for her character.

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2024-09-18 00:54