Industry Lost Its Plot When It Shifted Away from Its Younger Characters
Out of all the dramas I’ve watched this year, Industry was the first show to really hook me in.
The first season is easily one of the most thrilling and tense seasons of a TV drama in recent years.
However, as I continued watching the show, I began to slowly lose interest in the story and found that none of the subsequent seasons had the same draw as Industry Season 1.
Even ahead of a new season, there’s hesitancy that it’ll hold up to the quality of its past.
Upon reflecting on this show, Industry began losing its appeal by shifting its perspective away from the fresh faces in the finance industry.
One By One, They All Fall Down
As Industry has progressed, the cast members portraying junior employees at Pierpoint have slowly begun to leave the show.
For example, Theo Turner, portrayed by Will Tudor, was a main character only in the first season and didn’t appear in later ones.
The next big loss was Gus Sackey, portrayed by David Jonsson, who was no longer part of the show after Industry Season 2.
Most recently, HBO announced that Harry Lawtey, who portrays Robert Spearing, will not be part of Season 4.
The show has tried to combat the gradual loss of the junior characters with the introduction of new, younger analyst characters like Sweetpea.
However, the show doesn’t spend enough time fleshing out these newer characters, who have little screen time and not as much depth as the characters who have exited.
Thus, over time, Industry came to rely heavily on Harper and Yasmin for offering the perspectives of younger people working in finance rather than having a full ensemble of characters who each have unique experiences with learning about the industry.
The first season’s appeal came from the fact that many viewers were learning about how cruel the finance world can be from the perspective of these junior employees.
But without that angle, the show just seems to be a series of ruthless events that happen in the industry without the specific perspective that made the show so fascinating to watch.
Older Perspectives Without New Lessons
The third season has the most apparent shift to highlighting the perspectives of the more senior members of Pierpoint.
Most prominently, Industry Season 3 focused more on Eric and Rishi’s stories.
Although their stories are interesting to follow, it doesn’t feel like we’re learning new lessons from these old dogs who have been around in the industry for a long time.
I suppose we’re seeing that experienced experts in the field don’t have their lives together and also face personal challenges outside of work, but that’s already covered quite thoroughly through subtext in earlier seasons.
So, by zooming in on Eric and Rishi’s lives, Industry then spends extra time rehashing what viewers have already gathered without offering a substantially novel take.
The adjusted focus also detracts from the time viewers spend with Yasmin and Harper, making it difficult to understand how they’re being changed by working in the finance industry, both professionally and personally.
Furthermore, this circles back to the idea that Industry’s unique angle is primarily showing the world of finance through new eyes.
Of course, the show must find new ways to keep viewers engaged, but I think there are definitely ways to maintain the signature perspective that helped Industry stand out as a prestige drama without growing stale.
What do you think about the future of Industry?
What are you hoping to see in Season 4? Comment below! Excited to hear what other fans might want the show to cover.
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