What I’m Watching: Industry (Season Finale)

Industry: Season 2, Episode 8 “Jerusalem” (B+)

It’s head-spinning to consider the duplicity of the characters on this show. Harper went ahead and had sex with Rishi just before he got married while she knew that she and Eric had brokered a deal that would cost Rishi his job, and then she went in to find out that he wasn’t actually going anywhere but she was instead. This whole time, it had felt like Eric was watching out most for his beloved Harpsicord, but he didn’t seem to mind being the one to deliver the fatal confirmation that her forged transcript now meant that she was getting fired. Coming back to Pierpoint to be in-house was a strategic pivot, one necessitated by their lack of effectiveness as a standalone operation, but there are obviously additional concerns like the fact that Jesse was texting Harper while on-air and used insider knowledge to help his company. Gus got fired but didn’t seem to mind that, especially since he’s now set up with a job from Jesse that will keep him afloat if not particularly morally grounded. Yasmin taking a stand against her father brought immediate consequences that she’s going to have to deal with as she figures out how to function as an independent human being, something foreign to her since she’s always had an advantage without having to do anything for herself. After getting arrested, Robert chose to call Nicole since his phone died and he had her business card, but that also represents a connection to her that he’s not ready to completely abandon. There’s still no news of a third season, and I do hope we get one since this show has its own energy and a very strong cast.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Marisa Abela as Yasmin

What I’m Watching: Industry

Industry: Season 2, Episode 7 “Lone Wolf and Cub” (B+)

This episode’s opening was jarring since we suddenly saw three characters – two stars of the show and one seemingly irrelevant player – going out on their own and preparing to pull off the ultimate stealth separation. Rishi still doesn’t like Harper, but Eric thinks that’s actually a good thing. Their initial pitch didn’t go too well thanks to Eric’s attitude, and then Daria showing up to tank everything was a major roadblock. But then Harper went and brought Danny in, which changed everything, and he was very ready to play ball. Venetia’s efforts to sidestep Robert didn’t go well for anyone, and she wasted no time in reporting Nicole’s unwelcome behavior even though she later thought better of it. Yasmin reacted most abysmally, trying to tell her that she shouldn’t report it and then chewing Kenny out for daring to try to do the right thing after his many missteps in the past. This is all setting up an explosive finale with some intense confrontations and leadership changes, followed I hope by a third season since this show really is very interesting and underappreciated. Gus also went to bat for Leo after a sobering meeting with Jesse in which he expressed that he was rich enough to be a Democrat but obviously not politically aligned that way given that statement, and we’ll see where Jesse falls in all of this when he sees what Harper has done to set herself up for success and officially separate from Pierpoint in a dramatic way.

What I’m Watching: Industry

Industry: Season 2, Episode 6 “Short to the Point of Pain” (B+)

Harper is playing a very dangerous game, pledging loyalty to Jesse at the risk of alienating all of her colleagues and supervisors. That didn’t work well with Rishi when she told Jesse to try something that would be deliberately deceptive, and when the numbers started to work against her, he had absolutely no sympathy. And now she’s been told to leave the floor and Jesse is investing his time and energy into rebuilding a relationship with his son, something that isn’t going to make him more likely to want to treat Harper with kid gloves. Eric’s new position allows him to offer a different kind of support to Harper, and it was interesting to see that. Yasmin having a stapler she never used put in jello and Kenny expressing his affinity for having worked with her made for a sentimental sendoff, and she had quite the transformative and salacious experience with Celeste when she left the office to go meet her. The open lines of communication Celeste has with her wife should be eye-opening to Yasmin, who definitely doesn’t have that in her family life and doesn’t employ it at work either. Gus’ time with his family underlined to him that he needs to seize on worthwhile opportunities, and fortunately this one will probably be good for him too, the opposite of the soul-sucking jobs that have now already gotten to Harper and Yasmin, who have a hunger for it, and Robert, who’s still figuring out exactly what is right for him.

What I’m Watching: Industry

Industry: Season 2, Episode 5 “Kitchen Season” (B+)

This was a real family episode, looking at how the relationships the young bankers have with their parents and siblings are very different from how they interact with each other. Robert’s may have been the most jarring, since he showed up demanding a bottle of champagne and then was far more forceful than he tends to be with his colleagues, while also putting on an act to ensure a hot new prospect decided to join Pierpoint. That voicemail from Nicole that he got after ignoring her calls may be a harsh wake-up call, since she expressed that she didn’t miss him but she did expect him to call her back because of their business relationship. Harper was hoping to find her brother and then surprised to do so, and he obviously carries a lot of baggage from the divergent paths their lives have taken. Yasmin was horrified to find out about a relationship her father apparently had and the child that might have come from it, but there’s obviously a lot she doesn’t know about how he operates, even if she suspects it. Gus going with his new boss to a new political place is an exciting opportunity, and it seems to suit him much better than his last job. It was also nice to see Harper and Yasmin getting along great outside of the office and the country, finally able to connect with each other on a natural and comfortable level. Danny, on the other hand, revealed himself to be way too attached and possessive, and Harper didn’t mince words when he accused her of sleeping with someone else, and that shot of her and Eric in the elevator shows where her allegiances lie.

What I’m Watching: Industry

Industry: Season 2, Episode 4 “There Are Some Women…” (B+)

It was jarring to see Eric at home and wandering through his garden to find cigarettes, but even his daughters agree that having him there is just okay. Not being the one to give his employees their lower bonuses stung, but he also got to see that he’s not appreciated nearly as much because there’s no room for even a brief exit from the cutthroat floor in this world (unless you bring in a major client like Jesse Bloom during that stint). Finding out that he was being demoted to a role that wouldn’t allow him to be on the floor was a brutal blow, and now he’s making problematic life decisions that he previously had known were off-limits. With Eric absent, Harper is making sure to watch her back from another predatory mentor, calling Jesse from the bathroom in the middle of the night after she slept with Danny to make sure her territory was appropriately marked. I enjoyed Yasmin and Harper talking together very honestly and how Harper just wasn’t having it, and Yasmin is starting to worry about the stability of where she is both professionally and personally. Harper seems to have punctured Robert’s confidence with Nicole by asserting that her client-trader relationship is a pattern, and pissing her off is a mistake he’s not going to want to make. In his new job, Gus is having to deal with some unhappy constituents, but, in a very different type of move than the one his former job might have encouraged, he took the time to actually listen to the angry, dung-carrying man’s concerns and let him know that they were being addressed.

What I’m Watching: Industry

Industry: Season 2, Episode 3 “The Fool” (B+)

This show mostly features verbal assaults and metaphorical takedowns rather than physical violence, but Jesse shooting wildly and hitting Felim was a pretty direct attack with immediate repercussions. While Jesse is hardly the model of civility, Eric is the one who risks losing his best asset because of the way that he’s treating Harper. Responding to her assertion that she’s not a child by telling her that respectfully she is was condescending, and now it looks like she’s making her own moves that are going to leave Eric behind and make him angrier than ever. For someone who’s sleeping with Harper, Robert does seem to have plenty of thoughts about who she really is, and I appreciated that he and Yasmin had an honest conversation about what might have happened if they had just slept together and not simply played the games that dominated most of season one. After taking a backseat for most of this season so far, Gus is taking on a renewed focus and may have just found himself a great new job. While it’s all about relationships and the way that people present themselves, there’s also something to not acting the way that everyone expects and having more of a personality - and a soul - than has become the norm for people charged with making as much money as possible. It’s likely too late for this entire crowd, but Harper, Yasmin, and Robert definitely have something to offer that isn’t the same as those who supervise them and think that they’re well-versed in how to play the game.

What I’m Watching: Industry

Industry: Season 2, Episode 2 “The Giant Squid” (B+)

Harper and Yasmin are both taking very big swings to advance their careers, and it looks like that paid off for Harper in a major way at the end of the episode. I won’t pretend to understand a word of what she was saying regarding what was being purchased and why it was whatever price it was, but there was a thrill factor to Jesse calling Harper with literal moments to spare so that he could negotiate something at the very last minute. Harper even had to loudly call in an immediate favor from Yasmin, who complied despite their earlier skirmish that nearly turned into a physical confrontation. Eric doesn’t seem too pleased since she did this all independently and tanked a relationship with another client in the process, and he’s not going to be happy if she rides the success without him. Yasmin’s new career prospects are interesting since she absolutely misread the situation, but her new mentor didn’t seem at all bothered and was all for explaining the way that world works to her. As with everything on this show, some intense sex is key to decompressing, and Robert managed to get some of that to go along with his very first booked trade. Being drawn into another submissive relationship doesn’t seem like the best business decision, but if it helps get him somewhere and fills a sexual need, maybe it won’t work out terribly. Yasmin is certainly crossing personal-professional lines by trying to bring her father’s money into Pierpoint, something that she certainly shouldn’t be managing but might get credit for if he does end up moving it over.

What I’m Watching: Industry (Season Premiere)

Industry: Season 2, Episode 1 “Daddy” (B+)

It’s interesting to see how this show has incorporated the pandemic into its narrative, with Jay Duplass joining the cast as Jesse Bloom, a wealthy investor nicknamed “Mr. Covid,” Harper working exclusively remotely from a hotel while everyone came back, and just one employee wearing gloves and a mask in the office while breath and particles are constantly floating around him. Eric is still firmly trying to help Harper, but that involves forcing her to get him coffee even though it wasn’t just if she was getting for herself anyway and suggesting that she get some therapy that clearly is of no interest. With Yasmin not at all interested in being on remotely good terms, Robert is currently the best friend she has, taking her back to her hotel room after she got very drunk at the drinks for Rishi’s engagement and refusing to engage with her in that state. This is a workplace where people absolutely air their grievances and launch psychological warfare on each other, and the new hire isn’t into that, something that got Yasmin very angry when she tried to enforce the same abusive behavior that she had been subjected to when she first started. Losing her biggest client is a problem, but she may have a new opportunity even after mistaking a high-powered colleague for a sex worker at the party. Eric was very rattled by the New York import likening him to George Clooney, and he may be able to help his position if Harper’s risky gambit with Bloom ends up paying off.

Interviews with Abe: Industry

As Emmy voting is underway, I’m delighted to share some of the interviews I’ve been able to conduct with contenders across all categories. 

For HBO’s “Industry,” here’s stars Myha'la Herrold and Ken Leung. Click through to read the conversation we had for Awards Radar.

What I’m Watching: Industry (Season Finale)

Industry: Season 1, Episode 8 “Reduction in Force” (B+)

If things hadn’t seemed cutthroat already, having each of the characters we’ve come to know present to an unforgiving panel while being broadcasted to the floor was an extremely intense way of winnowing down the competition. It’s not that it actually mattered much, since each of them had a fate set before they even walked into the room. Gus chose to read what he knew would net him the best payout from his immature colleagues, and he walked out right away without any concern about what might come next. Robert didn’t do all that poorly, nosebleed aside, but Daria was intent on telling him just how useless she thought he was as a person. Yasmin has her own connections and had to worry more about the way that Kenny and Seb tried to distract her at exactly the wrong moment. And then there was Harper, who ran out when she froze yet somehow managed to be the top pick from both camps. Being invited to dinner with Adler was a surprise, and then we saw Eric there, clawing his way back in despite his firing in a move clearly designed to subvert Sara’s authority. Finding out that she decided to recant and instead get Daria fired for pressuring her into making a false claim showed how much she feels that it’s important for someone – namely Eric and Adler in this case – to owe her so that her standing can be protected. Yasmin was understandably furious at her, and I’m honestly not sure what things will look like when season two begins. I wasn’t so sure about this show at first, but it did end up being engaging and very watchable. I’ll be back for the second season, and I have a feeling that this show is a dark horse for a Golden Globe nomination for Best TV Series – Drama. We’ll see if that happens.

Season grade: B+
Season MVPs: Myha’la Herrold as Harper, Marisa Abela as Yasmin, Freya Mavor as Daria, and Ken Leung as Eric

What I’m Watching: Industry

Industry: Season 1, Episode 7 “Pre-Crisis Activity” (B+)

In the wake of Eric’s termination, it’s interesting to see Daria step in to take charge, trying to put into place some professional systems that rub those less used to being supervised the wrong way. Clement did not react well to it and found himself summarily dismissed as a result, and seeing the look on his face when he came back to sit down indicated just how monumental the meeting he had just come out of was. Yasmin and Harper also had grounding conversations, with Yasmin getting warned about the conversations that had been overheard and Harper having her overly generous bonus from Eric taken back because she did exactly what she had agreed not to and told people about it. There were some intense moments at the dinner party, with Seb slicing his hand, Robert freaking out, Yasming showing up drunk and telling Seb that she was essentially his mother, and Yasmin offering up a threesome with Harper and Robert before Harper promptly nixed that idea because she just wasn’t into it. Nicole also made it very clear that she wasn’t going to be doing business with them anymore, something that should clue Daria in to the fact that she needs to be more on top of Harper and the boundaries she doesn’t seem to set. Closing the episode with a slow version of “Believe” by Cher was haunting, and sets the tone for what’s sure to be an eventful season finale that will lead into the second season that’s already on the way.

What I’m Watching: Industry

Industry: Season 1, Episode 6 “Nutcracker” (B+)

There was something about the way in which Eric was summarily dismissed for the simple act of locking Harper in an office – not any of the very concerning and unacceptable behavior that also occurred at the same time – that felt very believable. Evidently, an inquiry was conducted and that got us to the closing scene in which Harper was told of his separation and asked to sign the NDA, but I know that it’s also common that, regardless of the history someone has, one action can end a career. Harper was clearly uncomfortable when she met Eric’s wife and heard the way that he talked to her, including the fact that he told her about the bonus he was giving Harper for which she was “allowed to thank him.” Eric was even harsher to Greg when he demeaned him for having written a script, in a scene that reminded me of when Ken was admonished for being a sci-fi writer on the side in “Mad Men.” After initially seeming like a nemesis for Harper, Daria has become her strongest ally, even stepping in to try to handle the situation with Nicole that she might not fully understand. It also appears that Kenny is actually going to keep being nice to Yasmin, but it’s precisely her willingness to forgive his previous behavior that made Maxim not want to work with her. Her mostly non-physical affair with Robert took a new step in the bathroom at the party, and even the way Harper admonished them isn’t likely to deter them from continuing. This show has been renewed for a second season, which makes me feel better about sticking with it since now I feel like I’m managed to get moderately invested in the characters.

What I’m Watching: Industry

Industry: Season 1, Episode 5 “Learned Behaviour” (B+)

It’s been almost two months since I watched the first four episodes of this show over the course of a day or two when they first premiered at AFI Fest. Now, the back half of the season is available to stream on HBO Max, but I’m going to take it one episode at a time and follow their airing schedule on HBO on Monday nights. Getting back into it didn’t feel too difficult since the power dynamics and the relatively graphic sex are still there. Yasmin’s sexting relationship with Robert was extremely intense, starting with her taking topless photos of herself and him waking up in a bathtub to enjoy them. Accidentally pairing her phone so that Seb could hear it wasn’t great, and he knew exactly how to sure her how unhappy he was when she walked in on him passed out on the bed with his computer still open to what he was watching. It seemed like Kenny was going to treat Yasmin more nicely, but his behavior after the meeting was despicable and showed how insecure he was about her success. What Robert is seeing in all of the time he’s spending with Clement is interesting, and the relationships between the newbies and the established pros are what make this show most worth watching. Gus got chewed out loudly and publicly by Eric when he showed up in a purple sweatshirt, but it wasn’t anything compared to the way he took down Harper in the office. Todd’s presence wasn’t terribly helpful, and it’s a good thing that she and Yasmin are able to support each other while dealing with this very stressful and demoralizing work environment.

What I’m Watching: Industry

Industry: Season 1, Episode 4 “Sesh” (B+)

Certain elements of this show feel predictable, and therefore it’s good to see them play out in a slightly different way. Things seemed to be going so well for Harper as Eric offered to help with visa issues and Daria gave her birthday donuts, and I knew that something bad was going to happen as a result of the party, even if it was just impaired judgment. Learning that she used the wrong currency for a trade should have resulted in her going to the very supportive Eric for her, but instead she tried to deal with it with Aubrey, which got him angry when she asked him to eat the loss, and then attempted to offer an unamused Duncan a chance at a better job in exchange for his silence. Going to her most supportive client was a bold move, one that got her chewed out for her dishonesty and lack of dignity, but ultimately it appears to have worked. It was good to see Eric react to both that news and the fact that he found out she didn’t graduate college with acceptance that both of them had gotten far despite adversity. Robert and Yasmin had an interesting experience at the recruiting event in which neither of them were fully honest, and even Yasmin didn’t know what she was going to do next when she started telling Robert what to do with her underwear. Gus’ sexual orientation obviously had not come up before at work, and he once again went a bit too far with a manager and earned himself another stern warning in response.

Take Three: Industry

Industry: Season 1, Episode 3 “Notting Hill” (B+)

I’m glad to see that the relationships on this show are transforming, and we’re starting to see some complexities coming out in problematic ways. Daria telling Yasmin and Harper that it was cute that they were living together but that they needed to keep things professional at work was the understatement of the hour, and it was actually relatively kind given what she was put through by Eric as a result of Yasmin’s actions. Harper wasn’t in a particularly good position with both Daria and Eric expecting things from her, but it’s that very ability to thrive in a high-pressure situation that helped get her this position. Eric chewed Daria out very publicly, and it’s never pleasant to see that kind of takedown happen, especially when Daria was just insisting that she wanted the respect she should be afforded. Yasmin did push to get herself into that meeting, and I thought things would be much worse after Harper brought home a date for some loud sex. Instead, they solved that problem with Harper getting to feel good about paying rent, something she advocated for even if she didn’t want it to be quite as high as Yasmin suggested. Though we are seeing some other relationship drama, I think that Yasmin and Harper’s storylines are the most engaging. Harper’s love life is certainly not simple, but that moment with Yasmin starting some excitement with a dishwashing glove was the awkward highlight of the episode that ended rather unfortunately when a cleanliness question ruined all the fun.

Round Two: Industry

Industry: Season 1, Episode 2 “Quiet and Nice” (B)

I wasn’t sure what would be the focus of this second episode in the wake of Hari’s suicide. At first, I wasn’t sure how much time had passed since no one mentioned it, and then it became clear that the biggest impact it had was on encouraging the bank to protect itself against possible charges of wrongdoing. Gus, who was already setting his own boundaries, to a degree, absolutely crossed them by speaking brashly about where he did and didn’t want to work when Sara told him his division was being shut down. Harper continues to stand out, and Eric, who isn’t abusive and manipulative like Kenny, has noticed and even tried to recommend her to more important people. It seems that his record isn’t entirely clean, and his style might be just as offensive to some for other reasons. It’s good to see Yasmin and Harper finding support - and roommates - in each other, and maybe Harper’s more positive experience, however built on fabricated history it may be, can rub off on Yasmin as she faces constant demeaning harassment. Harper’s forged transcript is likely to catch up with her eventually, but what happened on the ride home in the previous episode seems like it would be more of a present threat. It seemed like Daria, played by actress Freya Mavor, a standout performer in the film “The Keeper,” would be a nemesis for Harper, but she may well be yet another ally given the supportive way she interacted with her in this hour.

Pilot Review: Industry

Check out my one-minute take on every new pilot, which is embedded below and you can also watch by subscribing to movieswithabe on YouTube.