Industry: Ambition’s Razor-Sharp Edge in a World of Cocaine and Boats
The high-stakes world of finance is a brutal arena, and HBO’s Industry is a masterclass in its cutthroat reality. The show, set in the opulent halls of London investment bank Pierpoint, follows a cohort of ambitious young graduates, each desperate to claw their way to the top, even if it means betraying their morals and each other.
The series, which debuted in 2020, immediately captured the imagination of viewers with its unflinching portrayal of the toxic competitiveness that defines the financial world. We meet Harper Stern (Myha’la Herrold), a brilliant and ruthless American, Yasmin Kara-Hanani (Marisa Abela), a seemingly naive but cunning British woman, and Robert Spearing (Harry Lawtey), a charming but ultimately weak individual struggling to find his place in this cutthroat world.
"When you go down the laundry list of what they’ve done and what they did to get there,” Industry co-creator Mickey Down remarks, “they can be considered pretty heinous individuals.” While their actions may be morally questionable, their ambition, ruthlessness, and flaws are what make them so compelling. They are characters we both admire and despise, leaving us questioning the very nature of ambition and the price one is willing to pay to succeed.
Season 3 ratchets up the tension even further, diving deeper into the power dynamics and corruption that permeate not just the financial world, but also the intertwined realms of media and politics. As Down and co-creator Konrad Kay explain, this season explores the sinister underbelly of privilege and how it dictates the rules of the game.
The season’s intriguing opening episodes, which feature a captivating "coke and boats" sub-plot, demonstrate the show’s willingness to push boundaries.
"We had a 30,000-foot view of what the season was going to be in terms of the business story. And then we thought, look, we shouldn’t be scared to have a slight genre element to the show," Down explains.
This element allows for thrilling twists and turns that keep viewers on the edge of their seats, further blurring the lines between reality and fiction. The show’s unflinching depiction of sex, drugs, and power in the lives of these young professionals is what makes it so magnetic and controversial.
"We told them that we want to dip back into this timeline when we feel like it’s good punctuation. We wanted to have this slow drip feel of what actually happened on the boat. And their response was very positive," Down adds, highlighting the trust and support that HBO has given the creators to explore their vision.
This willingness to delve into the darker aspects of ambition, with scenes that are both disturbing and titillating, makes Industry stand out from the crowd. It’s not simply a show about finance; it’s a visceral exploration of the human psyche and the lengths people will go to achieve success.
The show has been hailed as the successor to HBO’s hit series Succession, and for good reason. Both shows delve into the lives of ultra-wealthy families and the power struggles that plague them. However, Industry focuses on the next generation of power players, those who are just starting their climb. This fresh perspective, combined with its unflinchingly realistic portrayal of the financial world, makes it a powerful and thought-provoking series.
Here are some of the core themes woven into the fabric of Industry:
1. The Allure and Perils of Ambition: Industry explores the seductive nature of ambition, highlighting its ability to drive individuals to extraordinary heights, but also its potential to consume them entirely. The characters are constantly battling their inner demons, struggling to find a balance between their goals and their morals.
2. The Price of Success: The show doesn’t shy away from depicting the personal sacrifices and moral compromises that are often required to succeed in the world of high finance. The characters are forced to confront the consequences of their actions, questioning the true price of their ambition.
3. The Power of Networking and Connections: The show emphasizes the importance of connections and how they can shape one’s path to success. We see characters navigate intricate webs of relationships, leveraging their connections to gain an advantage in the cutthroat world of finance.
4. The Cultural Divide: Industry delves into the cultural tensions between the haves and have-nots, particularly highlighting the experiences of diverse characters like Yasmin and Harper. The show explores themes of class, race, and gender, revealing how social and cultural barriers can impact one’s journey in the high-powered world of finance.
5. The Moral Gray Area: Industry challenges viewers to confront their own ethical boundaries, as it delves into the world of morally ambiguous characters who are willing to bend or break the rules to get ahead. It compels us to reflect on our own values and the compromises we might be willing to make in the pursuit of success.
In a world where financial headlines constantly bombard us, Industry goes beyond the surface to expose the human cost of ambition. It compels us to ask:
- What are we willing to sacrifice for success?
- What are the unseen consequences of relentless pursuit?
- How much is too much in the quest for power and wealth?
By exploring these questions with razor-sharp wit and unflinching honesty, Industry continues to be a captivating and thought-provoking series. It’s a journey through a world of power, greed, and ambition, exposing the ruthless underbelly of high finance and the consequences it carries.
