Far and away the most worthwhile discovery from my time with the Guardian's TV picks of the year has been "Industry" a brutal and explicit look at life within a fictional banking institution, based in London. Whilst they get to take their time, with two years between seasons, this does feel like the best season of the show yet.
Having focused Pierpoint on environmentally conscious businesses, the bank is preparing for the launch of a green energy company Lumi, brainchild of Sir Henry Muck (Kit Harington). With an increasingly disillusioned Robert (Harry Lawtey) acting as their point man, Lumi's successful launch becomes vital to the wider business. Yasmin (Marisa Abela) has returned to the office after a holiday on her father's yacht that has had disastrous consequences, as he has gone missing, and Yasmin is implicated in his embezzlement case. Harper (Myha'la Herrold) is working for a smaller investment company but is quickly given an opportunity to shine again.
Always a fan of guest stars, "Industry" lands probably it's most high profile in Kit Harrington as Sir Henry - a morally questionable character, who ties his storylines first with Robert and then later with Yasmin. His family also appear in the form of Viscount Norton, played by Andrew Havill and his godfather, played by Roger Barclay. You also have "Barry's" Sarah Goldberg, joining as manager at Harpers' firm, with whom she chooses to strike out on her own.
Performances are great across the board again, but this is the best written the show has ever been - with each storyline connected to the others and driving on the plot. Again, you don't have to understand the specifics of banking to follow, as the show is good at explaining "we need the IPO to open at 185" for example, so whilst you might not understand what that actually means, you understand that 185 is good and less than 185 is bad. From there it's a story of shifting loyalties and betrayals again.
There is an episode of this season devoted to the story of Rishi, whose explicit language and explosive temperament has made him one of the most memorable supporting characters and this episode, and the season at large, is the comeuppance he's deserved for a while. Eric has always been a key character in the show, but he's certainly one of the leads this time, as we see him struggling to cope with everything that's going on.
This does feel like it should be the end of the series, given how it all concludes - but a fourth season has already been commissioned by the BBC & HBO. I can see a relocation to New York for some of the characters - though I can also see a big overhaul of the cast. I can't wait to find out.
