Industry
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The other night, I was texting my friend aboutIndustry,talking about what makes this season so exceptional.
There are no easy outs in this finale.
Everyone makes a choice, succumbing to the inertia of their depravity or leaping into the motion of change.
Lets start with Yasmin, who has been this seasons dark, swirling center.
First, though, Id like to giveMarisa Abelaher flowers.
Its so clear that all of this plebeian nonsense is like water rising up to Yasmins neck.
Mere seconds, it turns out.
I think she cant quite decide either.
He offers some seed funding and invites Robert and Yasmin to stay for the weekend.
Its his uncles birthday; there will be supper and shooting.
Yas begs off, making jokes at Henrys expense throughout the conversation.
Again, its a double-edged move I cant quite see past.
On one hand, shes conspiratorially grinning at Robert.
On the other, we know Henry loves a firm, dominating hand.
Whats the play here, Yas?
The following morning, Yasmin walks downstairs to greet Henrys uncle, Lord Tabloid.
Yasmin responds that she doesnt think a random girl is going to save Henry.
Lord Tabloid disagrees, saying that Yasmin discounts herself too much and isnt just some girl.
Here is someone offering her fatherly advice and a paternal embrace without a hidden half-chub.
What follows is perhaps the most beautiful sequence Ive ever seen inIndustry.
The music turns choral, almost religious.
Yasmin sits on Muck Manors staircase, dwarfed by its grandeur, deciding what to do.
The two stumble onto the grounds, laughing and playing.
The couple finally consummate their yearslong sexual tension on a bench.
Isnt it obvious that Yasmin will never choose Rob?
Obvious to everyone but Rob, that is.
Well, he finds out soon enough.
After having sex with Robert, Yasmin goes back to the house and talks with Henry.
Robert learns of their engagement later at supper, surrounded by the wealthy, wearing his hosts old tuxedo.
Yasmin looks devastating, gorgeous, and sad, the spitting image of Princess Diana in her black gown.
Bravo to Laura Smith, costume designer!
Im thinking this was a nod tothe Travolta Dressandthe Revenge Dress.)
Guess who else is in the British country?
But when Harper gets to the stream where Otto is fishing, her reception isnt what I expected.
Otto isnt so much mad at her as he is annoyed by Petra for tattling on Harper.
Its certainly a deal with the devil, but I have to say I wasnt that moved.
She wants to knife them in the back.
And thats what she does.
Instead, Petra and Harper break up with Otto.
They dont want his influence or money anymore.
Does Harper bare her teeth and enjoy watching Rishi beg for his supper?
Is this also the most wholesome workplace shes ever been a part of?
This is what we call growth, I suppose.
Is Harper really herself if she isnt screwing someone over?
Do I want to watch Harper be a good boss in a good workplace?
(But more on this later!)
And this leaves us with Eric.
At first, Erics pep talk doesnt go over very well.
He tries to obfuscate, telling the traders things are fine, and they arent having it.
Then, he tries to go the identity route, talking about his immigrant past.
This also gets him nowhere.
So what does Eric do but launch into a sermon on the meaning of money?
After all, its why theyre all there, isnt it?
Money tames the beast.
The end of the story is money.
So says Eric, quoting a Denis Johnson story called The Largesse of the Sea Maiden.
In the commercial, a bear chases a rabbit.
The idea here is that money has the propensity even to flip the natural order on its head.
Prey can outmaneuver predators, provided they can pay the price.
And the traders agree.
Erics speech gets everyone through troubled waters.
Girls as young as 12.
Yasmin loses her mind.
Harper is, thank God, bored of the good life.
For some reason, Otto agrees to this.
She knows herself better now.
Shes struck out on her own, tried both the high and low road.
I dont think she sees herself as some sort of banking Robin Hood.
She wants to hunt big corporate game, and she wants it to hurt when she fells them.
So, the short-only fund.
Then, theres the alma mater.
Pierpoint is now Al-Miraj Pierpoint.
Wilhelmina ousts Eric, and the bank is closing its London trading floor.
Maybe thats why Eric seems less shocked when hes greeted with the news of his firing.
In the dog-eat-dog world of Pierpoint, even his Hail Mary save isnt enough to keep him in power.
When Eric told Harper to take care, it made me feel a little weepy.
Theres still love, or at least respect, there between them.
Tragic ending and an obvious call toUncut Gems.
Diana really didnt deserve that, and I dont know what Vinay is thinking.
Hows he going to get his money back now?
Will season four be in New York, following Harper?
Finally, kindly consider this my plea for Yasmins wedding to be shown in the season-four premiere.
Everyone, its been such fun watching this season with you.
I hope you enjoyed it just as much as I did.
Thanks so much for reading and engaging.
