Until last week, I had only watched Industry. So, with the Season 3 premiere fast approaching, I decided to binge-watch the entire HBO drama series on Max in one week.
Well, after exactly seven days of intensive viewing and 17 episodes later, I can confirm that this series is not only good, but it is addictive. It might even be as addictive as the many drugs consumed over the course of the beloved professional drama's three new seasons, something fans of the show know all too well.
This week, I took some time to recover from my week-long “Industry” high. After some reflection, I’ve identified three main reasons why I can’t get enough of this show—and why you should watch it.
3 Reasons Why I Can't Stop Watching 'Industry'
First of all, this series is very simple in its essence. You don't need to do any research to watch it, which is something I also enjoyed in “Presumed Innocent” earlier this year. This series is simply about how a group of people deal with life in the world of London finance. That's it. You don't need to watch seasons of television or hours of movies to enjoy it. There isn't even a clear goal for the characters in the series, other than making money, doing enough drugs, and having enough sex to keep their minds off their lives.
Honestly, you could come into the series at the beginning of season 3 without even having watched the previous two seasons. I highly recommend watching the entire series of course, but you don't need has.
And that’s because the show does the little things really well. In the first episode of Season 3, the show’s writers do a great job of laying out the exposition in a way that makes you know the characters’ relationships even without a “Previously on…” video at the beginning of the episode. Harper (Myha’la) and Yasmin (Marisa Abela), arguably the show’s main characters—despite it being largely an ensemble series—have a conversation that tells you exactly what you need to know about their relationship. The same goes for Rob (Harry Lawtey) and Nicole’s (Sarah Parish) relationship and how several characters feel about Kenny. It’s less satisfying than if you were already invested in the show, but you’ll still come away feeling lost.
Finally, this show is a soap opera at its peak. I know a lot of people compare it to “Succession” and “Euphoria,” but I think it's more accurate to replace “Succession” with “Suits.” Yes, the absurd amounts of money in the show are technically relevant, but “Industry” examines the relationships of real people in and out of the workplace. The end goal isn't to see one of these traders become the king of London's financial world, we just want to see what they do next.
Ironically, because “Industry” is about the relationships between these characters, they’re oddly replaceable. The show has already eliminated one point-of-view character, and several major supporting roles have come and gone. In the first episode of Season 3 alone, the show is shedding two people we’ve spent 17 episodes with, and you don’t worry for a second that the show is missing a step without them. Kit Harrington also arrives in the first episode as Sir Henry Muck, and despite his star presence, there’s a part of you that already suspects he won’t be around forever.
'Industry' Could Be HBO's Best Series This Year
It’s hard to find a weak point in Industry after getting to know it up close in recent days. Yes, there’s a lot of sex and drugs, even for HBO, but surprisingly, it never feels gratuitous. Despite the quantity, you can tell that every scene, every moment, is unmistakably intentional. Even the soundtrack choices or the conversations you overhear on the trading floor — primarily Rishi (Sagar Radia) — are carefully constructed.
In practical terms, this means that this series could very well be the best currently airing on HBO. We still have seven episodes left to air this season, but if “Industry” can keep up the pace, I see no reason why it couldn't surpass “House of the Dragon,” which has shown some signs of weakness this season.
And despite my opinion that “Tokyo Vice” Season 2 was one of the best shows of 2024, it was canceled by HBO earlier this year. I still have “Industry” ranked just below, but I wouldn’t be shocked if it continues to climb in my rankings.
So, go ahead and take the plunge. Start playing “Industry” now if you haven’t already and see if you can stop watching. Since I’m already counting down the days until the next episode, I bet you won’t.