What does proletariat mean? Behind Henry’s breakdown in Industry Season 4 Episode 2

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In Season 4, Episode 2 of Industry, titled ‘The Commander and the Grey Lady,’ Henry and Yasmin playfully argue about class differences while ironically dressed in expensive clothes. This scene, and others in the episode, clearly show that the initial excitement and good feelings within the firm are fading.

There’s a ton of new TV coming out this month! You can watch shows like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, The Pitt Season 2, His & Hers, and Tell Me Lies Season 3. Plus, the popular show Industry is back with a new season.

In the first episode of Season 4, Harper and Eric team up to launch a new investment fund. Meanwhile, Whitney, a new character, arrives with his fintech company, Tender, and immediately makes an impact. Yas later throws a party to help Whitney network with key contacts.

She suggests Henry could be joining Tender soon, but it’s odd her husband didn’t share the news himself. Yas initially claims he had a minor cold, but the latest episode reveals that wasn’t true – it was a cover-up for a much larger issue. Be warned, spoilers follow!

What does proletariat mean?

Okay, so I was reading about this concept called the ‘proletariat,’ and it basically refers to all of us regular working folks. Think about it – it’s people who don’t own stuff like factories or land, we just have our time and skills to trade for a paycheck. It’s usually talked about alongside the ‘bourgeoisie,’ which is the group who do own all the wealth and have the real power. It’s like the difference between us grinding for loot and the guys who already are the loot, you know?

During an argument in Season 4, Episode 2 of Industry, the word is mentioned by Henry and Yasmin while at a lavish party hosted at the Mucks’ estate. The irony is that they’re both dressed in 18th-century royal attire – it’s Henry’s 40th birthday celebration.

Previously, Henry attempted to become a Member of Parliament for the Conservative party in Wakefield, but lost to Labour MP Jennifer Bevan (played by Amy James-Kelly). This defeat led to a period of depression, which he’s been battling with the help of Yasmin, who’s been trying to support him through it.

Whitney accepted an invitation to the party and then surprisingly offered Henry the job of CEO at Tender. However, Yas later discovered him in their bedroom, disheveled and using drugs, which caused a furious outburst.

“Are you seriously asking me to dress you?” she snapped, implying he was acting like a baby. Henry retorted, “And I get to sit in on engineering meetings now, apparently,” revealing his annoyance that she’d arranged the meeting with Whitney.

Yas desperately tried to reason with him, pointing out that Whitney thought highly of his abilities. But Henry angrily demanded, “What talent are you even talking about? And why did we waste money on that shed in Wakefield if you weren’t going to support me?”

“Get real,” she snapped. “I’ve never voted, and honestly, one vote isn’t going to change anything.” Henry retorted, “Are you suddenly concerned about the working class? Is that hitting a little too close to home?”

Yas questioned what he meant by that, and he replied, “It means my situation is unchangeable – completely set in stone. There’s really only one important thing left for me to do with my life.”

She criticizes Henry for romanticizing suicide, pointing out that he seems to think his death would be unremarkable and simply a matter of routine. Essentially, she’s rejecting the idealized version of death he’s creating for himself.

At first, Henry uses the word “proletariat” to playfully criticize Yas for not caring about politics. However, he then starts using the same language to describe his own situation, suggesting he feels powerless and destined for a certain outcome. Yas gets upset, accusing him of making suicide seem appealing.

What’s wrong with Henry?

Henry is struggling with depression and past trauma, especially related to his father’s suicide. However, his difficulties seem complicated by a life of privilege, emotional immaturity, a sensitive ego, and heavy drug use.

This becomes evident in Season 4, Episode 2 of Industry, when he quickly recovers from a setback, highlighting the advantage of having unlimited resources when facing challenges.

Following his defeat in the Wakefield election, Henry falls into a depression, turning to drugs and experiencing a loss of interest in intimacy, which deeply troubles Yas. Both she and Henry’s uncle, Lord Norton, attempt to help him regain his passion for life.

Norton advises Henry that while he doesn’t need to be overly devoted to his wife, he absolutely needs to be more considerate, or he risks losing her.

Henry is haunted by his father’s suicide, which occurred on the man’s 40th birthday. Now approaching that same age, Henry fears he’s similarly destined, a thought Yas finds overly dramatic and self-focused.

Because Henry won’t seek treatment for his depression and instead uses illegal drugs, his mental health is likely declining.

He has a surprisingly delicate ego. Even small failures can really upset him, but even the smallest compliment can quickly cheer him up.

It’s clear he feels entitled to special treatment, especially on his birthday. He caused a disruption at the dinner Yas planned for him, and then things escalated when he went to the pub with a friend. He brutally attacked someone, leaving the person seriously injured.

He doesn’t seem concerned about facing any real repercussions, even now. Because the Mucks own the pub and the property, they’ll handle everything and protect him from the fallout.

After this, Henry goes outside and discovers his supposed “old friend” is just a ghostly image of his deceased father. This shocking revelation deeply upsets him, and he retreats to the garage, starts the car, and tries to end his life with carbon monoxide poisoning.

Just as things were about to go wrong, Henry heard Yasmin call out, giving him a chance to escape. Though deeply disturbed by what happened, he drove back to the house where he and Yas were reunited, culminating in a passionate moment on the hood of his car.

By the episode’s conclusion, he’s eager to become CEO of Tender and even talks about starting a family, showing how quickly he’s recovered. However, despite feeling better, he hasn’t really grown or changed as a person.

The first two episodes of Industry Season 4 are now available on HBO Max. If you’re looking for more recommendations, you can find a list of new shows coming to streaming this month and a complete TV release calendar for 2026.

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2026-01-19 05:20