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Storyline Recap
It’s All About Perception – Yasmin, Robert, Henry, Eric, Bill, Sweetpea, Gregory
Henry started off digging his own grave. From interviews to having a public tussle with Robert in his office, and eventually locking himself in a bathroom, Henry’s world was spinning with no signs it may stop. This makes things at Pierpoint hell for Eric who is dealing with everyone wanting to short or sell the stock and with Kenny’s firing, Bill steps in and questions Eric’s leadership.
Thankfully for all, Sweetpea gossiping to Yasmin all day about Henry puts the idea in her head that if Henry was pictured with someone like Gregory Clark of British Electric, the rumors of a downfall would be replaced with dealmaking. From what it seems, her efforts, shared with Robert, led the IPO to bounce back from a freefall, and while the long-term outlook may not be good, that is a fight for another day.
Careful about Living Up To Your Reputation – Petra, Anna, Anraj, Harper, Yasmin
Harper takes advantage of the chaos happening to get Petra some good deals out of Pierpoint. She uses Yasmin and a new person at the desk, Anraj, and Petra is initially impressed. She upsets Anna while winning points with Petra, but you know Harper can’t do a good job without gloating. Harper wickedly smiles about what she did and boldly confesses to Petra, who seems to look down on Harper’s tricks of the trade (no pun intended) even if impressed by her hustle.
Who Doesn’t Want The Love Of A Man or Paternal Figure? – Henry, Yasmin, Eric, Pip, Robert, Harper, Charles
The role men play in the lives of powerful women can seem rather strange. Some are barely more than puppets or easily seduced, like Henry. Others, like Charles, remind us of the trauma men cause because they don’t know how to wield their power for good and only know excess.
However, then there are Robert and Eric. Robert finds himself in a dangerous situation as Pip, Nicole’s daughter, nearly seduces him into doing something. Thankfully, the idea of sleeping with someone’s mom to being with their daughter is too weird for him—since she is 15.
Eric, however, has a different attraction. While not the best father to his two girls, he does seem to have an undeniable hold on Harper and Yasmin. Despite Harper hearing from Petra how Eric has made quite the effort to destroy her career, a part of her still longs for her former champion. She even calls to hear his voice.
As for Yasmin? With gaming the system and public opinion, Eric chastises Yasmin as he pushes the idea she committed market manipulation and questions her ethics. You can tell, with all she is going through, she doesn’t like how he is talking to her, and she asks of him, maybe threatens, depending on how you look at it, to speak to her as he did when they were partying. Which he does try to, seemingly due to needing some pick me up himself after Bill clipped him at the ankles a bit.
Collected Quote(s)
- I don’t think there’s one true way of doing anything. I think there are people, circumstances and opportunity. That’s it. — Harper
New Character Descriptions
Edie Lambden As Pip
Pip is Nicole’s estranged 15-year-old daughter. She seems to have similar tastes to her mom, and maybe like Nicole, she lacks the type of affection a human being needs.
Irfan Shamji As Anraj
Anraj is one of the newest members of Pierpoint, who works with Rishi regarding the buys and CDS.
Sam Bond As Gregory Clark
Gregory Clark works for British Electric, and while they were once interested in Lumi, Henry rebuffed them. However, when the stock was looking bad, Yasmin used Gregory to boost Lumi’s IPO, pushing the perception of them making a deal.
Review
Highlights
Harper Stirring Up Trouble
Harper, as an anti-hero or potential villain, is what makes “Industry.” Yes, Yasmin gets a lot of focus, and you can’t pretend that Eric doesn’t deserve recognition. However, Harper has both a love-to-hate quality and brings you the type of character who might be an underdog, but she has 0 intentions of making it purely through the most righteous path.
I love this for her because, as Viola Davis, or potentially someone else said, Black women don’t get to be messy, be evil, and play unlikable. This is especially true in the context of who and what Harper is. While clever, she isn’t always the smartest and can be outdone when people notice her moves. She is someone without a college degree and an immigrant, but she has a strong hustle that leads to her having questionable loyalty. Also, while Harper is bi-racial, she doesn’t look racially ambiguous.
This, from my viewing experience, makes Harper a very rare character to see excel and, even when knocked down, get her way back up. Add in she goes low and says f going high, there is still a part of you either rooting for her or wanting to know what’s next because you know she is a menace.
Yasmin and Harper Longing For Eric’s Approval
It’s very interesting to watch Yasmin and Harper, two women who are looking to establish themselves, seek the validation of someone like Eric. Note that we’re more aware of how precarious his situation is than them, but I wouldn’t say him enjoying their admiration is purely about ego.
A part of me thinks Eric already recognizes with his own kids, he has begun to fail and I think two women like Yasmin and Harper looking up to him gives him hope. It helps him think when Bill questions his leadership; maybe he didn’t get his job strictly due to DEI, and even though his personal life is in the toilet, and he isn’t fully stable professionally, he does get this because these young kids look to him as a senior worth trying to get the validation of.
Also, what’s wonderful about Eric’s portrayal is that you can see him capable of becoming a privileged man, but whether it is because he lacks whiteness or because of where he came from, he can never fully embrace it. So when Yasmin humbles him, it seems less like an insult and more of a reminder of who he is and maybe what he may not want to be. So, rather than get defensive or throw his title and position around, he takes well to being checked, for it keeps him from becoming like everyone else and losing something beyond his edge.
On The Fence
What’s To Do With Pip?
Robert loves a weird situation. If it wasn’t being Yasmin’s boy toy or part of some game Yasmin and Harper were playing, then it was working out his mommy issues with Nicole. Never mind him also seeking out a father figure that is more in line with what he wants to be than his origin.
So, with that in mind, it feels only right to question what will go on with Pip. She’s 15, so hopefully no funny business, but she is Nicole’s daughter and a part of me thinks Robert’s love for Nicole could be inherited by Pip. It’s just, how?
Will he try to be a big brother or paternal figure to her? Maybe just a friend who she can rely on? I don’t feel like she’ll stop coming onto him and could do like her mother and be devious. So, where is this going and how much will not only Robert be tested but our faith in him being a good guy is worth questioning.
The Gist
With the IPO opening a utter disaster, everyone is in crisis from Eric to Robert, and Henry only makes things worse with interviews and fighting Robert who has to walk off.
As that happens, Harper starts to get in bed with Petra over making moves to start a new fund, and Anna peeps this and goes off. After all, with Lumi going down, it is looking bad for her.
Thankfully, Yasmin saves the day and makes it look like negotiations with British Electric were happening which saves the IPO and Henry’s ego.
However, Eric doesn’t necessarily praise Yasmin for playing dirty and finds himself in another situation where he has this woman willing to bend the rules for his praise.
While it is easy to question why Harper and Yasmin are friends, there are times when Yasmin takes a page from Harper’s book and you realize the only thing separating them is culture and who grew up privileged. | Sam Bond As Gregory Clark
With that said, seeing Charles, at the end of the high point of his life, mount his daughter like he was going to do something disgusting was worth a side eye and helped you understand Yasmin’s need for a male figure to praise her.
Though, it seems more than Yasmin wants praise, as we meet Pip, Nicole’s daughter, try to get Robert caught on charges by being a 15 year old messing with an adult. | Edie Lambden As Pip
It’s a weird scene, but “Industry” loves to balance brilliant moments with that which could make you notably uncomfortable to keep you from thinking this is another post show seeking prestige. | Irfan Shamji As Anraj
General Information
Additional Information
- Previous Episode: Season 3/ Episode 1
- Series Page
Where To Buy, Rent or Subscribe To Watch This:
Episode Title
Smoke and Mirrors
Release Date
August 18, 2024
Network
Director(s)
Isabella Eklof
Writer(s)
Mickey Down, Konrad Kay
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