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Storyline Recap

It’s All About Validation – Nicole, Robert, Eric, Yasmin, Denise, Bill

While there is always a bit of posturing amongst those who have or believe they have power, there is always someone above them. Eric may now be a partner at Pierpoint, but he still answers to clients. Bill positions himself as the person who fought for Eric to become a partner, and as much as everyone, including Robert and Yasmin, may look up to Eric, he is as vulnerable as they all are.

However, he may not be as vulnerable as Yasmin at the moment. Recently, her father, Charles, has disappeared as embezzlement charges have been filed, and people are suing Yasmin under the assumption she has access to the pension money her father skimmed from. It makes her life hell, and Bill isn’t above having Eric kick her while she is down.

Luckily for her, though, while discussing all her legal troubles with a friend, Denise, she learns Eric is separated from his wife and dating. Denise, being the best friend a girl could have, takes a liking to Eric, and between cocaine and sex, she helps make Yasmin’s spot more secure. You could also add that Yasmin has one-on-one time while high with Eric, during which they speak about the truth, ranging from their relationship to Harper, Yasmin possibly being fired, and more.

As all that happens, Robert still has sex with, and spends time with Nicole, who gives him a read about their relationship, specifically his need for validation and the functional co-dependency they offer one another. In its own way, the conversation is sweet and earnest, even if a bit blunt. But that’s Nicole, and while not a bad conversation to end things with, it is the last one Robert has with her as she dies after they sleep together outside. It’s not clear of what yet.

Equal Opportunity – Harper, Anna, Petra

Thanks to Yasmin, Harper has a job at Anna’s, FutureDawn Partners, but not as a trader but as someone handling Anna’s financial diary. It’s a job that pays the bills but doesn’t stimulate Harper or present any real challenge. Hence, her willingness to get involved in the difference of perspective Anna and Petra, one of Anna’s traders, have for the future of the business.

After all, Harper is opportunistic, and opportunity from discord is her bread and butter.

You Must Be New Here – Kenny, Eric, Yasmin, Sweetpea

With being pushed to fire someone an associate or above, Eric feels challenged to make a statement, show he is tough, despite wanting to be a bit more of a softy in many ways. He may not be fond of DEI and ESG in some matters, but he also is willing to let people be human.

I mean, look at his life. His wife left him, he is struggling to co-parent and date, and he has a substance abuse problem. One that Kenny helped him with for a while, but that might have been to Kenny’s undoing. People, if not men like Eric, they don’t like being seen as vulnerable or having something that can be held over them. So, when it comes to firing someone, Kenny is chosen, and before Kenny could use anything he knows or make this seem like a wrongful suit, he reminds Kenny of his saga with Yasmin as a defense. Thus making Kenny feel Yasmin screwed him over, and all of this in front of the new girl, Sweetpea.

The IPO – Henry, Robert, Yasmin, Alexander, Otto

Beyond Eric’s promotion, the big thing to do is that Pierpoint is supporting the IPO for Lumi. It is Henry Muck’s company that offers affordable green energy. Some are very iffy on the idea, but Pierpoint sees the potential to make money, so they are all in. Robert is Henry’s handler, and Yasmin is his second. Things are rocky, but they are working.

What makes them a challenge is that Lumi’s debt and finances are questionable, and Robert is a Yes Man. One who drags Yasmin into an awkward situation with Lumi’s well-to-do family, who desires answers about where Yasmin’s father is? While Henry gives grace, everyone else reminds Yasmin how far she has fallen.

Unfortunately for Henry, though, no one may give him grace after there is a power out right as the stock exchange is supposed to open – which he proudly notes was powered by his company before the incident.

Collected Quote(s)

ABSTBB: Always be securing that bag, bish. – Sweetpea
ESG: environmental, social and governance – Running Term Throughout Episode
The kids are always collateral. – Henry
We’re all just chimps in a hierarchy. — Nicole

New Character Descriptions

Fiona Button As Denise Oldroyd

Denise is Yasmin’s legal friend who has a thing for Eric.

Sarah Goldberg As Petra Ramdani

Petra is a member of Anna’s FutureDawn Partners who is a trader.

Miriam Petche As Sweetpea Golightly

Sweetpea is one of the newest employees of Pierpont who is heavily into social media.

Kit Harrington As Henry Much

Henry is a lord whose company, Lumi, Pierpoint is running head-on regarding the IPO launch.

The actor is also known for their role in “The Beast Within.”

Andrew Havill As Viscount Alexander Norton

Lord Norton is Henry’s uncle who owns a news publication.

Roger Barclay As Otto Mostyn

Otto is Henry’s godfather, who has a bone to pick with Charles but has no access to him, so it seems he’ll go after Yasmin.

Georgina Rich As Wilhelmina Fassbinder

Wilhelmina is the CFO of Pierpoint, who has worked there since the dot com bubble.

Review

Highlights

Eric’s Push and Pull Towards Outsiders & Misfits

Eric’s leadership is very strange to watch play out. In various arenas, you can see the desire for acceptance. Amongst his peers, especially those in management, he wants to be one of them, even if he shows signs that he is performing to seem like them rather than his perception of them coming naturally. Yet, there is this sense that when it comes to his underlings, Eric wants to show or prove he hasn’t forgotten where he has come from.

You can see that either as his method of management, trying to keep himself grounded, or considering how he bonded with Harper and Yasmin; even if Eric isn’t full-on when it comes to DEI and things of that nature, he does like seeing non-White people who have the drive as he does. I mean, even if jokingly, Bill pushing the idea that Eric was promoted due to wanting diversity definitely messes with him, so having it where he isn’t the only one would help present the idea that he got there on merit, not because of optics.

As for the Kenny situation? Let’s look at that as a sign that the good pieces of Eric is starting to lose to this man he wants to come off as. For as much as he can give Robert a speech to get his head back in the game, he’ll betray the one person he truly owes loyalty to just because he saw him at his weakest and can identify when he isn’t at his best. Take this all as Eric showing his layers, of which some sides of him are rotten.

Harper: A Wolf Potentially Among Sheep

Harper’s appeal will always be that while capable of kindness, she constantly needs a challenging situation that stimulates her. With that in mind, her playing games with people like Anna and Petra? Oh, that is going to be fun to watch. Especially since you can see Anna is in a vulnerable position where she seems to have issues with authority. But, unlike everyone else, it isn’t about how she wields it, but just having the ability to do so. Thus making Anna a prime target for someone like Harper who has manipulated people far more capable of pushing back against her ambition. Never mind Harper’s need for chaos.

What Nicole’s Death, Eric’s Push, and Henry’s Friendship Will Do To Robert

Nicole, at best, was a divisive character. She definitely was part of that old school, take advantage of the vulnerable as a reward to making it to a position of power. We saw that with what she tried to pull on Harper. However, things were different with Robert. With his mommy issues, sensitivity, and overall vulnerability, Robert has always been someone malleable and in need of someone to provide direction.

Even if she was problematic at times, I’d submit that Nicole did give Robert, at the very least, tough love. Tough to earn, but loving nonetheless. Now, what happens to him? Eric could become a mentor, but we’ve seen Robert under the umbrella of a PierPoint exec. It’s not the worst thing, but Robert has the habit of attaching himself to people who seem to be about to go downhill fast.

Henry even hints at this when he notes his luck changed since Robert, and in extension, Pierpoint, came into his life. So, with that in mind, does this mean Henry, beyond the blackout, just before his IPO was about to hit, is at the beginning of the end?

On The Fence

The Embezzlement Princess

Yasmin has always been a character we appreciated to a point but also felt her storyline never lived up to its potential. With the whole “Embezzlement Princess” plot, it seems she is right back in the same spot for a third year.

Now, yes, she is getting the Eric time Harper used to have. Henry could be someone fun to watch her play off of, and with Henry’s associates trying to coerce her to do stuff because of their association with her father, something could come of this. However, history has shown that, no matter how interesting of a story Yasmin could have, it never fully delivers.

General Information

Additional Information

Previous Episode: Season 2/ Episode 8
Series Page: Industry

Episode Title

Il Mattino ha L’Oro Bocca

Release Date

August 11, 2024

Network

HBO

Director(s)

Isabella Eklof

Writer(s)

Mickey Down, Konrad Kay

Where To Watch

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Listed Under Categories: Season 3, Industry, TV Series

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Industry: Season 3 Episode 1 – Review/ Recap (Written)