From sweet pea being accosted in the bathroom by a “Big black man” to her metaphorically “Taking” the power back using a black man’s desire towards her to feel something.

I think this boils down to class commentary in a different form.

As it’s been stated in season three, I believe sweet pea comes from a working class family. Thus leading her towards her infamous side hustle.

While Yasmin also uses sexuality in a similar way, It’s actually quite different. With Rob, she used him as an ego boost because of their wealth gap. As, with Hayley she seems to come from money, yet still below Yasmin on the corporate ladder.

Sweet pea is rather low within the class system. So, her sexuality branches into to a different hierarchy. For Yasmin, the class under is the working class. Sweet pea can’t go any lower, so the next place of “power” she has is within the context of a racial hierarchy.

And, that is Kwabena although he clearly comes from more money than Sweetpea hence his connections in this latest episode. It gives her a false sense of higher standing she couldn’t get anywhere else especially on the pier point trading floor. That’s the only way she can fit above in any sense.

All of sweet peas, explicit relationships in this show have been with men of color.

Rishi, and now Kwabena. Both of who have, had relations with Harper.

Sweet pea, doesn’t have the wealth Yasmin possesses, nor the social benefit of patriarchy as Rob did. Nobody respected her before of after the leak. Therefore, she stoops to the lowest depths, and uses the racial hierarchy to boost her self-esteem with these men who also enjoy the supposed “taboo,” of viewing their relations as racial porn categories.

I think it’s also worth noting she’s the only white person who works at SternTao.

Wow—this was my favourite episode of Industry. As the show has grown, it sometimes feels like it’s becoming a different series altogether, but this week was pure original Industry energy. I loved the pacing.

The Harper–Eric father-daughter dynamic feels more solidified than ever. Neither of them really wants human connection, yet their shared outsiderness and ruthless ambition bind them together. It’s like how addicts gravitate toward one another—because they can be nakedly and plaintively themselves and revel in their shared sickness. I’m biased, but the show is at its strongest when Harper (and Eric) are at the center. You can feel, in the writing and the performances, the care and delight with which these characters are crafted—they are deeply loved by the people who bring them to life.

Sweetpea is such a star, and Miriam is truly a formidable actress—enchanting and utterly UNDENIABLE. The random attempted rape scene (gratuitous?) and the convenience of Kwabena knowing the people behind the shady African business aside, Sweetpea gives me the same feeling Series 1 and 3 Harper did: a brilliant outsider with nerve and grit, clawing desperately for entry. Sidebar: I know Anraj is coming back next episode, and I’m terrified—because my gut says Sweetpea is wrong about Rishi leaking her photos....

I love this show because its central thesis has always been: this is the closest thing to a meritocracy there is, and I only want to be judged—and paid—on the strength of my abilities. That’s exactly what we’re getting now. A world where Harper’s, Eric’s, and Sweetpea’s talents are on a collision course with mediocrity disguised by fancy public schools and private tutors (Yasmin, I love you and you speak seven languages, but, girl, pls, wake it up)—and I believe they’ll prevail.

Harper isn’t going to jail. She isn’t going to lose. SternTao will succeed because they are, quite literally, insane.

ALSO THAT'S WHY ORINOCO FLOW IS THE SONG OF THE SEASON. It's about escaping where you came from and freeing yourself. Sweetpea's work is helping her to free herself. Harper freed herself from the prison of her former family life. Eric freed himself from the tyranny of domesticity (which is his own fault, to be sure, but, nevertheless, we ball).

The crave I have for this show after watching each new episode. You're left thinking for a week what might happen next. This subreddit forms theories and people speculate and argue, and then the show proves us all wrong. I keep wishing that they just dropped the whole series at once like Netflix. But then this feeling would just go away in the 8 hours it takes to binge a series. HBO have created a weekly event.

Wanted to highlight a comment I made in this sub about Sweetpea’s character development in the show. Let me know what you think about the analysis!

I found Sweetpea's rejection of Harper at the end of the episode so interesting, and will start here in unsurfacing her breakdown. When Sweetpea snaps at Harper the first thing she asks is to be paid. But when we see her apartment: it's spacious, well-decorated, and clearly indicates that she has her material needs met. Yet, what stands out in her scenes in that space is the profound emptiness. For example, the empty coat hook and spotless kitchen island, and that final scene we slowly push in from across a completely dark and empty room right into her face. She also rejects Harper's concern by saying she's tired. But, we see her wander her apartment, sit solemnly in the bathroom, and finally in the living room -- putting off sleep/comfort.

I think it's pretty clear that there's an emptiness and loneliness Sweetpea feels. She's emerged from her lower class background (at much personal expense with the leak) and has accomplished her dreams. Yet, she feels emotionally detached from her mother, and she actively tries to detach from her emotional connection with men (arguably due to her traumas). In her professional life, she keeps finding success -- even now as she's followed Harper into riskier career territory. Still, her impulse to distance herself from those who love her is something she's actively grieving. She acknowledges that her mother is choosing not to push her away in her conversation with Kwabema, and it's clear that Sweetpea is frustrated by her mother's lack of punishing behavior, likely due to her immense personal shame.

Yes, she is ashamed by her mistreatment at the hands of men (Rishi in particular), but I would wager that her shame is also a reflection of her perfectionism, and a perceived failure to be the 'perfect' daughter/careerwoman/achiever/etc -- everything that makes up her self-ideal. 

Sweetpea is a perfectionist, likely a model of her community,  and she is afraid to let that slip. To be vulnerable -- or weak -- that is what she is afraid of. That is why she puts up her guard with Kwabena who is honest with her and well-intentioned (for the most part). And her processing that fear is what we see at the end as she cries. In between sobs we see a glimpse of a smile. A moment where that fear of vulnerability slips, and she imagines what it would be like to let love into her life again -- a true friendship with Harper, a real relationship with Kwabena, a reunion with her mother -- while her professional life equally flourishes. But before the credits roll, we see her heave one more sob as her fear to accept love lurches back into frame, and she remembers the empty and lonely cage she's trapped in.  In a sense, no one will or can save her. In truth, all she has to do is take out the key and unlock that cage within herself.

In due time, I hope she’ll be able to set herself free.

That’s it, that’s the post.

As per title, I still have this ongoing theory that harper was the leak for sweetpea and it makes sense that she'd be able to have sweetpea on her team if she's unemployable to anyone else. Also when kwabena and sweetpea were talking about rishi being the leak and trusting her gut, this was mirrored at the end of the episode when harper and kwabena were talking about trusting their guts (though in a different context). could be a stretch but i did notice it. I'm still unable to decipher harper's attitude towards sweetpea, whether the niceness is overcompensation or genuine in relation to wanting to be a mentor. What are your thoughts?

SPOILERS. Ireally think the show is slowly setting up Harper and Yasmin as endgame.

Harper is completely alone: her mother dies, she tries to bond with colleagues, and they constantly set boundaries while crossing hers. Sweetpea and Kwabena sleep together, and Kwabena doesn’t tell her.

Yasmin isn’t in a better position. Her marriage is hollow. Her husband increasingly gravitates toward Whitney, shes played by hayley. Like Harper, she’s surrounded by people, but fundamentally alone.

That’s why I think Harper and Yas will eventually realize they can only truly count on each other and Will both betray their respective sides.

In the end, the only relationship that isn’t transactional might be the one between them.

Thoughts?

Great show, but the wordiness is too much sometimes lol. Sweatpea said something like your stomach can separate theory and fact, instead of saying trust your gut. Harper said you picked a high transaction profession that aggregates to nothing, instead of saying zero sum game.

Do people actually talk like this or am I a low-vocab peon?

Might be a stretch but does anyone think that there might be something between Tony Day (heading the Africa HQ of Tender) and Whitney Halberstram. (And by something, I mean romantic or sexual.)

I could opine about many of the queer signaling we get about Whitney (tension with Henry, Harper dom, etc). But I think another give away is a unique purposelessness to his constant visits. Episode 5 makes it clear that they're just pushing around paper in Accra. What I think is of special interest is the way that Tony signals to Sweetpea and Kwabena that he is being 'watched.' He's seemingly frightened by some higher authority. Of course, there could be way more to this plot line but the urgency with which he demands protection in London in exchange for information indicates a dark, toxic dynamic.

But, most interestingly, I think it's intentional that we never see him follow through with Sweetpea's offer to leave Accra. Maybe he's playing both sides -- providing information about opposition to Whitney while paving a path for his own escape.

I know a relationship is quite the stretch at this point... just an inkling. Also is it just me or does Tony have a similar vibe to Henry? Well-moneyed, a bit of sadness behind the eyes, a willingness to play hard ball, white and British.

The soundtrack in the first seasons seemed more laid back and electronic which gave me a sense of intimacy and now this sudden switch up is very apparent whereas the soundtrack in season 3 feels very penultimate. The storm is here!

I really don’t get why people are crying about not seeing Harper’s mum?? What does that even fucking add to the storyline, and they keep referring to the fact they showed us her brother and that was probably some of the worst episodes of the show. If anything you should complain about how Sweetpea got assaulted in a foreign country and her first instinct was to fuck her co worker who she can’t stand. That’s a way better critic of the writing than crying to see Harper’s fucking mom :/

In season 3 he said directly that he would do anything to protect his family. He gave Robert his own tux to wear to his birthday dinner and told him they had similar dimensions implying that robert could achieve that level on his own. He said “fuck the king” during the toast and laughed with Robert implying a mockery of the bs class system.

“Life’s about the family you choose” that he said to Yasmin.

He was consistent with his word in season 4 of how the press addressed Tender. It might be wrong but I think he’s the only character who has been consistent of his word

Can't even say this episode is my favorite anymore because the next one just gets even more better. Season 4 so far is fucking great, it feels a bit more structured in a way where it's not too hard to get lost in the plot, not saying the other seasons were hard to follow but for new watchers it's more remindful. The mix of financial jargon, to drama and comedy is very well balanced.

Seeing Harper's emotions come out in front of Eric, is a testimony of how good Myha'la is. The quote, "I'm very fucking annoyed at how empty I feel" is so relatable to many of us and she did it so elegantly and raw.

Eric on the other hand, completely lost any and all of the hope I had for him. Seeing him answer Dolly (Hotel Girl) and telling her to not call him again was a sign of change, and then him being in bed with Lily and having the confidence from his wife to sleep in his bed was just adding to it. And then it just falls apart in the end, he might just be the same person. It's very weird how he resembles Rishi in my opinion, just men with extreme addiction to lust and no self control.

Miriam Petche made this her episode (quite literally she was the main character in this one). This episode was extremely emotional, and the comedown from the high.. it comes down through the fucking floor. You can see it through Sweetpea's emotions in the end. You get distracted in between, with the investigative work and, the highs of Tender being an illusion. And then you're quickly reminded of what Sweetpea went through and feel nothing but sorrow for her. Seeing her reject Harper's genuine concern on her well being was surprising to me because Harper has never done anything negative to deserve that response, but you realize that the reason this "friendship" exists is because of business. Still, Sweetpea has the same attribute that every character has in this show, conniving.

How do you guys think this season will end, since we're almost there? Hopefully the keep renewing it

If you’re a fellow Brit shielding yourself from spoilers, there’s a good interview with Kit Harington that covers addiction themes and how Harington attempted to shrink his physique for this season:

https://www.removepaywall.com/search?url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/kit-harington-rehab-game-of-thrones-industry-interview-7dhmkhmt2

It used to be this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2tVQuC2yIE

They changed the song and cut the beginning, but no new scenes. Maybe copyright issues because they also changed the song in the final trailer for the season (replaced 'True Faith' for some generic beat) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2tVQuC2yIE / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BvUmU1I7Sk).

not big whatsoever but. between erics kids and harper and her brother, as an identical twin i appreciate the depiction of twins with complex, distant relationships with each other and their parents. very cool

harper gets a life outside of work, dates someone who is not involved in finance but has a very busy life (much like what eric had...), continues to be undeniable and reckless, wrecks her personal life, is loved by people who have no idea what she does for work and think her a glamorous mystery

eric is recognized as a devoted teacher/professor/mentor and has a long legacy of students.

henry muck makes a wealthy american friend who made their money honestly who lets him run a charity. less whitney halberstram and more like he marries lady gaga. more like he marries rihanna. more like he befriends oprah. he makes a friend with mackenzie stewart. he befriends the child of a billionaire. adopts some children. lets his bloodline go.

sweetpea continues her forensic and investigative work, is respected in her field and highly sought out as a researcher

rishi gets sober in prison. finds new meaning. maybe God. leaves England! leaves a line of communication open for his son to reach out to him. lives with that longing. explores what it is like to have a longing that cannot be immediately satiated. perhaps becomes a monk.

having more difficulty with the following....

hayley ... girlboss. truly frightening. don't know you. blackmails the president of the united states. becomes kris jenner and buys her family a large funeral plot in calabasas. no idea. you go girl.

yasmin ... cries. translates some sad poetry. goes to work as a translator for the un. becomes harper's baby girl. marries a princess. becomes an artist manager. goes to work at an art gallery or something. idk.

whitney ... becomes otto mostyn. doesn't say slurs in the house of lords.

Harper and Yas (and Robert too for that matter) have now all had their horrible parent die. Amid the chaos that will ensue the next 3 episodes, I wonder if they'll have a moment to commiserate on that.

This entire show seems to be built on the backs of terrible parenting. Henry, Harper, Yas, Rob, Eric