Industry Season 4 Review: HBO’s Most Underrated Series Reaches All-Time Great Status

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Since debuting on HBO in 2020, the show Industry hasn’t gotten as much attention as some other dramas. It’s often compared to Succession and Euphoria, and originally focused on recent college graduates navigating the competitive world of finance at a London bank called Pierpoint & Co. However, especially with its excellent third season, it’s become a show with a much broader and more compelling scope.

The fourth season of Industry begins after the dramatic events of season three, which left the characters dispersed and the Pierpoint trading floor closed. Some viewers may have wondered if the show’s creators, Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, had painted themselves into a difficult situation, but those concerns are unfounded. Down and Kay intentionally created this chaotic ending, as they weren’t sure if the show would be renewed, and wanted to see what new stories would emerge. Watching them skillfully navigate this challenge and build a compelling new season is truly exciting.

Industry Season 4 Levels Up Again

With Yasmin and Harper now experienced and having faced numerous challenges, the fourth season of Industry unleashes them within the cutthroat world created by Down and Kay. The series has evolved beyond its initial focus; Pierpoint is now a less central figure, and the financial world serves as a setting for exploring themes of sex, politics, media, and technology. Throughout it all, Harper and Yasmin remain connected, constantly pulled back into each other’s lives.

After a scandal, Abela, the publishing heiress, found herself seeking comfort with Kit Harrington’s character, Henry Muck, who has a bigger part in this season. Meanwhile, Harper is navigating challenges at work as a fund manager. When a trendy new payment app called Tender tries to gain more customers, both Harper and Yasmin become involved in the plans of Whitney Halberstram, the CFO played by Max Minghella.

Anthony Minghella stands out as a key new addition to season 4 of Industry, bringing a captivating, subtly unsettling quality to his character, Whitney. The show’s growing popularity on HBO has also attracted several other well-known actors. Charlie Heaton (Stranger Things) joins the cast as finance journalist James Dycker, alongside Kiernan Shipka as Hayley Clay, an assistant harboring a secret, and Toheeb Jimoh as Kwabena, a new colleague who becomes a love interest for Harper. Miriam Petche is also back as Sweetpea Golightly, and her character will have a more significant role this season, giving the actress more opportunities to shine.

Yasmin & Harper Are Industry’s Beating & Bloodied Heart

After taking some creative risks in season 3 and receiving positive feedback, Down and Kay seem to be continuing that approach. A particularly memorable episode focused on Rishi Radia’s gambling addiction paved the way for a new, atmospheric storyline centered around Henry Muck’s estate in England. The season finale also explored different genres successfully, making the show feel more intense and unpredictable than ever before, culminating in a shocking ending that sets the stage for a potential fifth season – which now seems more likely thanks to a new deal with HBO.

Season 4 of Industry represents a significant improvement across the board, thanks to fantastic costumes, music, and directing. The score effectively shifts between intense suspense and dark comedy. Directors Kay and Down focus on the nuanced performances of stars Abela and Myha’la, allowing their expressions to guide the narrative. At its core, the show remains a story about the complex and often difficult relationship between Yasmin and Harper. The series has streamlined its focus by letting go of some characters, including Rob (Harry Lawtey), who’s now pursuing other ventures, which allows the central relationship to take center stage.

Fans of Yasmin and Harper should be prepared: season 4 of Industry is its most intense yet. The characters undergo significant changes, a result of the strong work from the actors – notably Myha’la Herrold and Marisa Abela – and the writers, Konrad Kay and Ben Black. The show’s creators have put the characters in a difficult situation, but the real appeal now is watching how they fight to overcome it, and who ultimately makes it through the fallout.

Industry season 4 premieres on Sunday, January 11 at 9pm ET. New episodes air weekly.

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2026-01-06 18:28