Where Does Industry Go From Here?

As a long-time observer of the cutthroat world of finance and someone who has seen more than a fair share of power struggles and personal tragedies, I must say that the fate of Rishi, Robert, and Industry as a whole is a fascinating topic to discuss.

Spoilers follow for the third season of Industry through finale “Infinite Largesse,” which premiered on HBO on September 29.

As a cinephile, I find myself captivated by the rollercoaster ride that is “Industry.” Much like Rishi going all-in at a blackjack table in a gambling frenzy or Harper and Yasmin trading blows reminiscent of the catfights from Dynasty, this series is anything but predictable. Over its three seasons, Mickey Down and Konrad Kay’s tale about a group of ambitious graduates ensnared by the dark underbelly of finance has kept me on my toes, with characters swapping allegiances as swiftly as they swap partners and backstabbing each other with the frequency of a deck of cards. In the blink of an eye, “Industry” shakes up the corporate landscape and rearranges its players once more, leaving me wondering what fresh chaos awaits in the next episode.

Because the season finale of “Industry,” titled “Infinite Largesse,” seems to pose many unanswered questions for the series, which has been renewed for a fourth season. The ending could have just as easily served as the series finale, given that Harper ventures deeper into financial corruption with her new corporate espionage role, Robert quits the bank, Yasmin marries a wealthy man, and Rishi reaches his lowest point. Each storyline concludes in such a way that it leaves us pondering what direction a fourth season of “Industry” might take. The show’s tendency to destroy relationships, uncover hidden truths, and unexpectedly alter the plot’s trajectory gives it numerous potential paths forward. Let’s discuss both the short-term and long-term future of “Industry.

What happens to Eric and Harper?

The biggest lie Eric tells Yasmin is when he says of his relationship with Harper, “It was nothing special.” It was. These two loathe each other because of how vulnerable they’ve been, how much they know that the other can slash their soft bellies whenever they please. Am I, a sicko, still rooting for them to somehow get back together? Of course, especially because their enmity has softened by the end of “Infinite Largesse.” Harper was never going to be placated working in a place where the employees share doughnuts; she hates that she’s shown Petra how impetuous and personally obsessive she can be. Harper has already planned an exit strategy by securing funding for a short-only fund that will rely on corporate espionage and financial fraud to make money, and Eric could absolutely be swayed to her side again. He still calls her Harpsichord! He’s fresh off stabbing Bill Adler in the back; he sold out his “immigrant mentality, American promise, this place made me” story to a company that fired him; and his family is gone. My man has nothing left to lose. (Except for hair dye; he could definitely lose some of that.)

What happens to Henry and Yasmin?

This season, the show devotes considerable attention to establishing Henry Muck’s network of power – his uncle Alexander who owns a newspaper, his investor mentor Otto, and their Tory protégé Aurore Adekunle. It seems like Henry is being guided towards a career in government service along the path of a “spoiled son.” Given that Kit Harington was not brought on just for a single season, it appears there will be a time leap where Henry attempts to rebuild his life as an elected official. Since he’s already part of the nobility and has a trusted ally like Aurore, Otto, who is favored by Alexander and considered a potential future prime minister, supporting him, it should make things easier for Henry. However, whether this new path will bring Henry happiness remains to be seen.

In the show, it seems like certain aspects of Ghislaine Maxwell’s life have been incorporated into Yasmin’s character throughout the season, such as Charles Hanani’s abusive behavior towards young girls, reminiscent of Jeffrey Epstein. However, I don’t wish to see Yasmin being held accountable for Charles’s misdeeds or even concealing them herself. Instead, it would be more intriguing if her character was portrayed as a dominatrix, given her expertise in psychosexual games. It’s time for her to embrace this side of herself.

It seems unlikely that she will do so, but instead, it’s more plausible that Henry, who has also invested in the ayahuasca startup where Robert works, manages to get into politics and establishes himself as a conservative with compassion. Recall how he skillfully shifted blame onto Pierpoint during the hearing about Lumi’s downfall, saying “The only thing I’m guilty of is optimism. If there is a predatory side to capitalism, they are on it, we are not.” Perhaps Yasmin’s magazine photoshoot featuring tweeds and a rifle marks a complete political makeover aimed at presenting Henry and Yasmin as adversaries against the financial sector. However, they won’t encounter any real opposition from figures like Henry or new relatives such as Yasmin, as they both have too much to risk losing. In fact, Yasmin barely has any friends left besides Harper!

What happens to Al-Mi’raj Pierpoint?

I can’t lie; the Gulf representatives who ask Pierpoint’s snooty board, “We would like to know why you think your imperialism is better than ours,” did get a fist-pump out of me. As Eric told us in the season premiere, Pierpoint was established by slavers, and we’ve seen the generations of awful people who have risen through its ranks, and the board’s implicit distrust of the Egyptian Ali El Mansour, his powerful family, and the Al-Mi’raj Holding Company — the bank’s own clients! — does have a racist quality. But then Industry does what it does so well, reminding us that everyone at this upper level of wealth, power, and class sucks.

It’s clear that the sovereign wealth firm forcefully imposes its traditional values onto the bank they’ve just bought, aiming to legitimize their control and exert influence abroad. It’s also understandable that Pierpoint executives don’t challenge the relentless cuts and automation, as it’s a means of keeping their jobs. Eric may pacify the disgruntled employees with a speech about money being synonymous with peace and civilization, but he then criticizes Wilhelmina for becoming the voice of the state, implying she’s no better than a hypocrite herself. Wilhelmina is correct when she says “We both know it’s all the same”; figures like Otto Mostyn and Alexander Norton, who stir up fear and manipulate the political landscape, are likely not much different from those running Al-Mi’raj Holding Company and handling their royal funds. Ultimately, whatever changes Pierpoint undergoes, on a fundamental level, it may not differ drastically at all.

What happens to Sweetpea and Anraj?

These two unconventional young individuals. He’s aware of her coffee preferences, and she secured him a position at Leviathan Alpha. Together, they managed to outsmart their mentor and supervisor, Rishi, during this process. Now, let them share a kiss.

What happens to Rishi?

How does the show manage to recover from the shocking event of Diana, Rishi’s wife, being murdered in front of him? It seems that the series “Industry” had always planned for Rishi’s downfall, as he grapples with his addiction and narcissistic tendencies, which are traits shared by many characters within his circle. His rejection by Leviathan Alpha, the strained relationship with his son Hugo, and the disintegration of his marriage all point towards a difficult time for Rishi. However, Diana’s murder at the hands of Rishi’s bookie Vinay, who he owes over half a million pounds, seems to mark an irreversible turning point in Rishi’s life.

In this scenario, there are two possible outcomes: the first is similar to the storyline in “Friday Night Lights,” where a murder eventually becomes less relevant to the characters, and the second resembles “Succession,” where the guilt from such an act grows into a powerful, destructive force. Alternatively, “Industry” could continue its trend of featuring men of color as victims at Pierpoint, with Rishi joining Hari and Gus in being discarded by the bank and removed from the show’s main storyline. This would be a harsh conclusion for Rishi, whose last moment involves Diana’s decapitated head landing on his birthday cake, but “Industry” is known for its ruthlessness when it desires to be.

What happens to Robert?

I just want him to be this happy and carefree for the rest of his days, especially if that means sashaying to America as part of his new pharma job and reuniting with former BFF, roommate, and colleague Gus. (Who presumably was not in the series’s third season because of his work as an android in Alien: Romulus.) If Emily can be in Paris and Rome, why can’t Robert be in Joshua Tree hocking ayahuasca? Be free, my sweet prince!

What happens to Industry?

The establishment known as Pierpoint underwent a significant transformation: Eric dismissed Yasmin, forced Bill Adler out, and eventually lost his position himself. For the time being, Harper, Sweetpea, and Anraj are stationed at Leviathan Alpha. There’s speculation that Robert may relocate to the United States, Yasmin is tying the knot with nobility, and Rishi has hit a low point in his life. Essentially, the heart of the Industry’s storyline disintegrated, effectively wrapping up all plots, making “Infinite Largesse” a possible final chapter.

Given the similarities between Eric and Harper’s relationship and Don Draper and Peggy Olson from ‘Mad Men’, it’s possible that the show could follow a similar path by reuniting the main characters for a common cause, like setting up their own fund. As I suggested earlier, I believe Eric and Harper might work together again at Otto, and I still support this idea! Looking further into the future, however, there’s a chance ‘Industry’ could imitate the formation of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce by bringing Eric and Harper together to form a team of misfits. This group, if you will, would employ questionable strategies and tactics that could potentially bring down anyone who dares to oppose them.

The industry thrives on a mix of tension and collaboration, with everyone intermingling and sometimes competing, to keep interactions dynamic. On a practical level, it’s most effective when everyone is involved in a single, shared environment or working towards a common goal. However, too much division among the players isn’t sustainable. So, let’s bring Rishi into this scheme, have Yasmin and Henry finance it, and have Robert encounter them while seeking venture capital for his pharmaceutical company. Picture “Mad Men”‘s “Shut the Door. Have a Seat,” but with the door locked and no escape, as we’re delving into your pockets for funds. This is how business gets done in this world!

2024-09-30 06:54