Industry Season 3 Is a Searing Takedown of Socially Conscious Capitalism

As a film critic with a background in economics and a cynical view of the world, I must say that HBO’s Industry is a rare gem in today’s glutted market of financial dramas. The third season takes the series to new heights, delving deeper into the dark underbelly of capitalism while still managing to keep viewers engaged with its compelling characters and propulsive storytelling.

As a cinema enthusiast, I’d rephrase the motto of Pierpoint & Co., the financial titan from HBO’s series “Industry,” to: “People are our currency” might be their slogan. Initially, it appears as a heartfelt corporate mantra intended to instill a sense of care for employees and showcase the human side of business transactions. However, upon closer examination, could this phrase not also hint at a more chilling—yet literally accurate—interpretation? Isn’t Pierpoint suggesting that people are no different from cash, just another resource to be bought, sold, manipulated, and exploited, much like the vast sums of money that circulate through their investment banking and wealth management sectors?

The third season slogan of the show, which debuts on August 11, reflects the main conflict of the series, where it portrays ambitious young individuals dealing with the unpredictable financial markets and dominant personalities at Pierpoint’s trading floor. This gripping drama has always presented an unvarnished view of finance’s ruthlessness. It doesn’t shy away from showing how far people are willing to go, not just for profit but also to dominate in a never-ending power struggle that may eventually consume their lives.

Previously, the Pierpoint team was left in a tense situation, as Harper Stern, an ambitious newcomer portrayed by Myha’la, and her mentor, Eric Tao, played by Ken Leung in a stellar Season 3 performance, found themselves in a heated power struggle. Eric was grappling with whether to become a rebel, a family man, or remain loyal to Pierpoint; he opted for the latter. This led to Harper, who had been manipulating her career, being dismissed. As the new season unfolds, Eric finds himself divorced and promoted to partner. In his elevated position as the least powerful individual in the London office’s top management, Eric now faces demands to reduce staff. Simultaneously, Harper is working her way up from a lower position at a socially responsible investment fund, trying to gain the favor of a shrewd, practical coworker (Sarah Goldberg’s Petra) who often clashes with their superior.

From a film enthusiast’s perspective, I must say that this ensemble drama has taken an interesting turn in Season 3. Previously, Harper seemed to be the main character, but this season appears to focus more on Yasmin Kara-Hanani, skillfully portrayed by Marisa Abela from ‘Back to Black’. Her character exudes a compelling blend of charm, disillusionment, brash arrogance, spoiled entitlement, and fragile rich-girl vulnerability.

In my perspective, Yaz’s character is still evolving rather than set in stone. The sudden disappearance of my father, Charles (Adam Levy), during a lavish Mediterranean yacht party that coincided with legal issues in the UK, and my subsequent rise as a tabloid figure upon returning to London, has left me in a vulnerable state at the start of this season. My tenure at Pierpoint, where I’ve been a nepotism hire who’s never truly shone, is precarious, given the concern among executives about the press making disturbing allegations about embezzlement and an absent father. It’s ironic that they are scrutinizing me for my father’s misdeeds when I no longer enjoy the perks of them. He severed ties with me in the Season 2 finale.

The development of characters has consistently held greater significance in the industry compared to the technical aspects of financial services, and this trend continues in Season 3. However, the overall narrative arc for Down and Kay’s storyline concerning Pierpoint seems more deliberate this time around. The season begins on the brink of an IPO for Pierpoint, which has been handling for a green energy startup named Lumi. Yaz’s working-class companion, Robert Spearing (Harry Lawtey), is dispatched to Lumi headquarters to keep tabs on its arrogant founder, Henry Muck (Kit Harington from “Game of Thrones,” delivering a somewhat unremarkable performance), who sees himself as a visionary. Similar to Harper’s new employer, Pierpoint has invested heavily in the green shift, a concept championed by an ascending female executive. Buzzwords such as ESG and impact investing permeate the boardroom. Despite concerns from traditionalists and manipulators like Harper that “woke investing” or “greenwashing” is a fleeting trend—and growing doubts about Pierpoint’s assessment of Lumi’s value—the suspicion lingers that Pierpoint may have overestimated the startup.

The ESG plot raises a question that television, despite the current vogue for class-conscious, eat-the-rich shows, has rarely tackled head on: Is capitalism capable of enacting positive change for its own sake? Or is it a system that, by definition, values the bottom line over all other considerations, and thus will—not unlike Harper—always make the most selfish decision available? At the same time, individual characters are struggling with their own answers to a personal version of the same question: Is it possible for relationships in this fundamentally transactional industry to also be loving, caring, ethically and emotionally pure? Yaz finds herself in a love triangle with Rob, who genuinely adores her, and Henry, who has the money and influence to solve her scariest problems. Harper has to decide whether to use Yaz’s professional deficiencies for her own gain, despite knowing how much she’s hurting. A superior confides in Eric, who must choose what to do with a secret that might improve his position in the company.

In a capitalist system, Industry posits that decency, whether on an individual or corporate level, may struggle to thrive. While it’s ideal when financial gain aligns with ethical actions, Industry suggests that in situations where self-interest and the greater good clash, greed usually prevails. Anyone who doesn’t treat people as anything other than a means to generate profit is merely performing their job incorrectly.

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2024-08-02 11:06