'Industry' Gets Wild With A Urine Motif, A Ball-Pit Brawl And A Nepo Baby Proving Her Value

I dont know if its because she triggers something within me or what, but every time Sweetpea pops up, I want to tell her to SHUT UP. In Episode 1 of the season, I kept asking myself, who is this new person? And in Episode 2, I could actually feel how annoying her energy was through Yasmins hangover. HOWEVER, Sweetpea having gossip about Sir Henry? And it being about his urine kink? It really set up the many bathroom scenes in this episode. I kind of loved how this moment that seemed like just an annoying rumor colored some of these big scenes in this episode. I kept asking myself, is Henry just obsessed with the bathroom? Is it his safe space? What else is going on here? We just met Henry in the premiere, and now I already feel like I know so much about his character. Erin

It was hilarious to me that while Yasmin is hungover after doing coke with her boss (!) and dealing with probably one of the most stressful days of her career, Sweetpea is in the background talking Yasmins ear off about what shes read about Henry, and pulling up all these articles about him on her computer: This Guardian article is spilling the tea on Henry Muck. What a nightmare. But somehow all that reading and gossiping helped Yasmin out here, I guess? Dont want to get ahead of myself here since Ive seen the whole season, but as annoying as she is, Sweetpea ends up actually being pretty helpful and good at her job, in some surprising ways. To be continued! Marina

Sweetpea makes me laugh because she represents a very specific sect of Gen Z. Follow me for a day in the life of a Big Law associate! Follow me for a day in my life at [insert company]! We have an in-office gym! (Yes, so that employees are incentivized to stay in the building and work for longer. The perks are a capitalistic ploy surprise!) Those videos and content creators make me feel icky for myriad reasons, but theyre not inherently amoral, per se. However, I know employers often take issue with them, masquerading their need to control employees on grounds of confidentiality concerns.

Hot take: Once youve given your 40+ hours to your employer, they shouldnt be able to tell you how you make money outside of work, so long as its not illegal and it doesnt impede your performance. But this opinion is likely a byproduct of a generational shift and defying institutionalism, as illustrated by Yas comment to Sweetpea last episode: You are at your full-time job. Like, Yas has no energy left to rage against the Pierpoint machine. One things for certain, Sweetpea has the tea and Yas shouldnt dismiss her entirely yet. Ruth

I really liked the structure of this episode: it picks up right at the end of Episode 1, when the power went off at 8 a.m., the moment Lumi was supposed to go public and the trading day in London began. Then, the whole episode unfolds over this particular day: essentially a day in the life of all of these characters dealing with the chaos of the trading day and trying to turn things around. I love when shows zoom in on a specific chunk of time, whether its an hour, or a day, or a week. Theres a boldness and ambition there, and its something that continues in a few more episodes this season. Marina

Yes, when I started the episode, I was so happy to see that it was mere seconds after Episode 1. It really made it feel like a two-part premiere in some ways. Erin

I love the back and forth between the chaos at Pierpoint and Lumi. On the note of the two-part premiere, its a testament to really phenomenal writing and masterful timing. Its seamless and doesnt feel jarring or even out of place. Its so entertaining watching things fall apart, no Chinua Achebe. Ruth

Im kind of living for these revelations about the Harper-Eric situation. Petra tells Harper that Eric called FutureDawn nine times to dissuade them from hiring her. Then later, when Harper calls Eric and just breathes on the phone before hanging up? I love it. Either he cant stand you or doesnt want anyone else to have you, Petra tells Harper. That quote really encapsulates their working relationship even though it sounds like shes talking about a tortured romantic relationship. Ive been slowly watching the season, so I cannot WAIT to see if Harper and Eric actually end up facing each other again. Erin

I laughed at the thought of him sending an email that reads: re: H. Stern, not a smart hire. So vindictive!

I was also struck by Harpers description of Eric: He doesnt like people who go against the grain. Both of them have had to figure out how to survive in the world of finance as people who have historically been marginalized. But Eric is old-school: he knows he cant push the envelope too much, so Harpers reckless decisions were way too much for him (which is saying a lot, given how unethical and reckless everyone is on this show). Marina

Alexa, play Obsessed by Mariah Carey. Because ohmygod, that is such unhinged behavior from any boss. Mind you, despite all this, we know fully well that he misses Harpers efficiency and tenacity on the trading floor. Harper and Eric are two sides of the same coin: both walked into the finance world with a chip on their shoulders, both Machiavellian careersists, both determined to get their lick back. I feel like more than anything, he wanted control over Harper to ensure that his pet does not become a threat to his career, which is why I believe he got her fired last season. Im interested in seeing how this unfolds as we learn more about the fallout. Ruth

Anna makes my head hurt BAD. You are the godmother to fucking Boadecia! Chile, I dont even know whether Boadecia is Annas child or dog, but 1) what a name and 2) maam, once you put somebody on your payroll, that relationship changes. Its not like yall are hierarchical colleagues on someone elses payroll; you are literally the boss. If your employees dont actually see you as their friend, quit forcing it. Get some new friends! Outside of the office! Good Lord! The way Petra seems so distinctly different from Anna I dont know how they would ever make it work, to be frank. Anna just seems like a sheep in wolfs clothing. You want to simultaneously control Petra, but claim you all are such close confidants and equals.

Also, Harper, do your thing and get out of that office. Your talents are being under-utilized. I dont even feel bad watching her finagle her way back to trading. Ruth

We knew from the jump that Harper was going to figure out a way to form some type of alliance with Petra and maneuver her way into a better job. With the Lumi mess, she was able to prove herself to Petra. The pieces are starting to come together here: Petra is looking for a way out, but isnt sure about starting her own thing because marketing isnt really my strong suit. But you know who IS good at marketing? Im trying to figure out what to make of her criticism of Harpers methods (Harper using her inside knowledge as a former Pierpoint employee): We dont need to cheat. We just need to be better than anyone else.

What I wrote down in my notes re: Anna and Petras dynamic: Dont shit where you eat! I know some people manage to start businesses with their friends and maintain clear rules and boundaries, but I imagine that takes a lot of work and has a high rate of failure. Why did Anna think this was a good idea?! Or Petra, for that matter. Get out, girl! Marina

No shade to Petra, but Harpers usefulness lies in her ex-Pierpoint status. Petra knows that and wants to take full advantage of it, or else she wouldnt have approached Harper for advice in the first place. So that We dont need to cheat speech, to me, sounds more like, We just dont need to get caught. Everyone feels a little disingenuous. Its also a bit of a test for Harper: Can she still be better than everyone else without her typical scheming? Ruth

The trading floor scene is Industry at its best: dialing up the tension to an 11, so many moving pieces, so much dialogue that you need multiple viewings to catch. I love when we get thrown into the action like this. The big centerpiece of this scene is Rishi lashing out at everyone (typical Rishi). Eric tells him: You cant threaten violence on the floor while holding his baseball bat, of course. This sets Rishi off. He calls out Eric for the hypocrisy of being able to allude to violence, and then yells: I AM VIOLENCE!!!!! Hoo boy.

There are so many great Rishi lines that I missed the first time. Its one of those things the show does so well: while something is happening in the foreground, three other things are being said in the background. While Yasmin is on the phone with Anna, trying to reassure her that Lumi is a safe investment (false), you can hear Rishi screaming at someone: If anyone asks for an offer, theyll end up like Mussolini and his missus.

For all the Rishi stans, Im happy to inform you theres an excellent episode coming up thats almost entirely about him. Marina

My favorite Rishi line in this episode is him telling Eric to stop it with this Coach Carter comradery. I totally missed it the first time watching, but it is so funny. Erin

Such a *chefs kiss* piece of writing. Marina

Yas is fainting on the trading floor, Venetia is doing two jobs at once and Rishi is about to pop a vein while scratching his back. I love it! We are LIVING! Eric, of all people, holding a bat saying, You cant threaten violence on the floor, is rich. All of this, to me, points to how chaotic Pierpoint is without Harpsichord. I dont think weve seen it this bad since Season 1. Ruth

Lets talk about how I laughed through this whole brawl. For a split second, I thought Robert might take that moment even further because he had so much pent-up emotion over the death of his boo, Nicole. But before they start fighting in a ball pit, they have a war of words that was just so satisfying to watch. Robert really gets to lay into Sir Henry: Your wins are yours and your lashings are somebody elses, he says, calling out how because of Henrys wealth and power he never has to accept when he fails. Ill just let people call you a posh cunt behind your back! Robert says after Henry challenges him to say it to his face. After all this heightened energy, a little baby waddles into the room and breaks the tension. Its PERFECT. Erin

Yes, these two grown-ass men fighting in a playroom, presumably built for the kids of Lumi employees, was the perfect setup. While Robert rightly calls out Henry, I also loved Henry telling him: You work for an investment bank. Youre the parasites parasite. Touch.

On a related note, this episode features a lot of great dramatic uses of the open offices of Lumi, Pierpoint and FutureDawn. Characters screaming at each other in plain sight of everyone: So. much. mess. Marina

Its called selling the vision, you moron! Oooo, the class tensions were seething between these two, and it was so evident in the way Henry speaks to Robert. Like, I just knew they would get into it. But echoing Marina, I love that the goofy startup playpen is the backdrop for such a tense moment. I was rooting for Rob the whole time, candidly. I know hes had enough of Robert after working on this IPO for six months. "Lifes one long fucking MBA course, innit? sent me to the moon. Ruth

Yall. The shock on my face when that young girl said she was Nicoles kid I genuinely assumed she was the help. (Terrible, I know, but I just thought she had been summoned to clear out the rest of her belongings. Nicole is the type that would have househelp, to be very frank.) I had no clue Nicole was an absentee parent but that honestly suits her, considering Robs unresolved mommy trauma. Then, to see this young girl make a move on Rob oh, my heart broke. Also, the whole GCSE revelation is significant because that means shes not even college age (16 in the UK studying A-Levels) or university age (18). Like, she is the most minor of minors. Shes been neglected so badly. Ruth

This scene was so flabbergasting and twisted that I didn't even know what to say. There were many layers here that it was like a croissant of mommy issues. This exchange between the two of them kind of sums it all up: Were you lucky enough to have a mother? She was very present. Too present. Poor you. When she made a move on Rob, I think I put my head in my hands, and all I could summon to write in my notes was OH MY GOD. And then the final reveal that shes 15 (!!!) hoo boy, just a shitshow all around. When everybody is collateral, it leads to a lot of, frankly, sad life outcomes. Marina

I was also watching this through my hands. I was so uncomfortable watching this. In my notes, I just said, Robert, please get out of that house! Erin

Its something about finance and bathrooms, yall. I have friends who work in banking and its fascinating to me because the institutions have such extreme surveillance and watchdog measures in the building. But it seems like thats the only place where Pierpoint characters find they can be vulnerable, be it in or outside of the office. In Season 1, Hari died inside a Pierpoint bathroom and we can recall the numerous heart-to-hearts Yas & Harper had in there. By Season 3, theyre doing coke here, there, and everywhere then coaxing a grown man whos hit rock bottom out of a stall. Ruth

Ruth, I totally forgot about Hari! Theres something in me that totally nerds out about how a show can take certain settings and weave them into a storys plot. Episode 2 spent so many moments in bathrooms and each scene had a different vibe from anxiety-ridden chaos to strange sensuality. When Yas starts to pee while Henry is in the bathroom with her, and we see his sly little grin? I immediately was intrigued by what was to come from this moment. I dont even want to necessarily see them together, but watching the sexual tension play out, in these super small moments, is really rewarding. Erin

This moment felt oddly gratifying even though I mostly had no clue what was happening until the very last second. Sometimes, as a viewer, that can be frustrating. But in this case, it really paid off. Seeing Yas orchestrate this photo op with some real power brokers, to make it seem like all is well with the Lumi stock, just before the market closes? I didnt think Yas had it in her. Erin

Theres a lot of tension here: Shes so hard to root for, but this was one of those moments where I couldnt help but kind of admire her? A little? People rightly dismiss her for being a nepo baby, but here, she employs it in a smart way and proves why shes useful to the team. Theres an exchange between Adler and Eric when Adler asks: How did nepo baby get on? Eric says: She connected the right people. You can tell this pisses Eric off (rightly) and, as he points out to her later, could be market manipulation!

Yasmins old-money connections always help her out and make her amenable to these old-money white men. Shes part of this world, and she knows how to use that to her advantage. Its deeply unsatisfying to think about, and well see this advantage come into play a lot throughout the season with her and Henry. (See also: the scene at the restaurant when she and Henry bond over being nepo babies, and Henry gets the tabloid article about her scrubbed. He also gifts her some very expensive wine, the kind that I can only imagine is, like, covered in dust from some rich guys cavernous wine cellar.) Marina

Same, Erin. I was like, What is this girl about to do? Force Otto to acquire Lumi and make the purchase price skyrocket off of one transaction? Regardless, perception is reality in the business; the mere visual of Henry standing with those power players gives the illusion that the company is viable & still has legs. We can see when Bill Adler asked Rishi & co. how the day ended, he said, Another day we can chalk up as being on the right side of the market. They finished flat, says Rishi no profit, no loss. Nothing short of a miracle.

But also this means that Yas should be reassigned from the trading floor to something different. I would say she should pivot to Private Wealth Management working with these sort of individuals, but she did that in Season 2 and found issue there, so I dunno, she needs to find her utility sooner rather than later. Because it is not on the trading floor, especially with how Eric accosted her. Something about his high and mighty ethical act is so nauseating. Like, no, he doesnt want the feds on his back, but you also know youre relieved that the trainwreck is over. Eric is just irritated hes not the one who saved the day in front of Adler. Ruth

They come from similar worlds and have similar struggles, so theres nepo baby kinship, I guess. But I feel like these two are gonna get together, unfortunately. Yas will once again find herself in the clutches of an egotistical, temperamental rich man like her father. If Yas wants to know real peace, its never gonna come from a man. He did a nice thing. Youre not beholden to him. Move on. The singular tear Yas shed when Henry told her, Nobodys ever gonna see that image again? Marisa Abela was acting DOWN! Speaking of bathrooms, Yas show of appreciation in that restaurant restroom appealing to Henrys urine kink yall, we must discuss. My jaw dropped. Ruth

Yep, you can bet your bottom dollar Yas and Henry will become a thing because she cant help but be drawn to someone from the same world as her. Also, this is going to be the beginning of a urine motif throughout this season. Yes, urine motif is a real thing I just typed. Marina

Honestly, I love a good motif. So to hear that this continues on is great news to me. Do I wish it was a motif of say, croissants, instead of urine? Absolutely. But I will be ready for this motif to return. Erin

I was going to break out a whole thing on William Adler coming down to the trading floor, but I actually think it makes sense to talk about it from the sense of his seeming distrust of Eric as a manager. We see Adler take a call or two in the episode and everyone stares in awe of him as he tries to get things under control. I just imagine that Eric was seething in that moment, but couldnt even do anything about it. Weve all see white men come and swing their you-know-whats in the workplace. And woo, it felt enraging to watch it play out on this show. Then, after all that, he admonishes Eric for firing Kenny just before the IPO, calling him out for a big mistake (it definitely didnt make sense!). Its also interesting to think about Eric and Henry as managers; they come from very different backgrounds Henry with a silver spoon, and Eric as an immigrant who worked his way through the ranks but theyre both in these positions of power and not being great at managing the chaos! I find it so fascinating. Erin

Yes, I really felt for Eric in that moment, watching the ease with which men like Adler get to move through the world, and how Adler smoothed things over essentially swooping in and saving the whole team, which Eric couldnt do and made it look so easy.

As we discussed last week, Eric firing Kenny was purely impulsive: He was really feeling the pressure of having to prove he finally earned the leadership position, and then overshot it. It was funny watching Adler being like: When I said you had to make a bold move, I didnt mean, like, right this second! And Adler only picks up on it because he notices how understaffed they are. Erics brash decision is already coming back to bite him.

Erin, this is such a fascinating observation. We also, of course, see how different the consequences and circumstances are for each of them as leaders. Henry gets so much of the benefit of the doubt. And if Lumi faces rough waters, he can just go ask his rich relatives for more money, or get someone to fudge the numbers for him, or broker some kind of backroom deal. That visual of him meeting them in that wood-paneled gentlemens club says it all. Marina

I think the most fascinating part about the Adler-Tao dynamic is that theyre allegedly longtime friends and colleagues, but it is so evident that Bill literally does not trust Eric in the slightest. It goes back to the statement Eric made to Bill in Episode 1: You dont think I can manage people. And great point, Marina, about Erics brash decision-making and firing Kenny. Because I knew that he was moving mad for that.

All Ill say is their relationship is really emblematic of the culture Pierpoint begets. Everyone is collateral. And if people arent capital, theyre obstacles and cant be trusted. Ruth

So Yas and her dad get into a fight, we see her crying afterwards and the omnipresent Harper shows up to console her. That still doesnt explain her fathers disappearance! But Im kind of obsessed with how theyre incorporating the boat flashbacks? I love a little tease that keeps us wanting more. In the words of Love Island contestant Olivia Attwood, Im SAT. Ruth

The wine being the connection between the yacht flashback and the present was an inspired choice. Throughout the season, Ive been taking note of how the show utilizes time in more ambitious ways than in previous seasons. There are two approaches in this episode alone: a laser-like focus on a specific chunk of time, like how this entire episode unfolds over a day; and the intermittent flashbacks to the yacht trip, which, per Episode 1, was six weeks prior. I also like how we keep getting different angles on what might have happened on this yacht trip, enough to give us some insight into the headspace Yasmin is in, but not yet enough to piece together the whole story. Itll be interesting to look back on these glimpses once we get the full picture, which, spoiler alert, is coming in an episode toward the end of the season, which I think is possibly the best episode thus far. Marina

When Yas dad splashes that win in her face in that boat flashback? Whew! And then when shes guzzling that bottle of wine in present-day, and its dripping all over her face? I love this show for small moments like this! Erin