Industry’s Decision to Cast Famous Actors Dulls Its Sharpest Tool

Industry had something promising when it premiered in 2020: no one recognized anyone in its cast or crew.

The show sneaked up on us when BBC and HBO teamed up to create the finance drama, and even then, it was clear Industry was all about taking risks.

This was during Succession‘s peak popularity, and Industry simply couldn’t compete. So it was relegated to streaming on iPlayer and HBO Max.

But this relative obscurity was part of what made it work because everyone gave it their all. It was confusing, embarrassing, disgusting, and exhilarating in a way most shows aren’t.

The show featured a strong lineup of unknown actors who poured their hearts and souls into their characters, including their messy sides.

Everything about them demonstrated their potential to succeed in this cutthroat world, especially through their behavior during sex.

Industry’s use of sex leans more toward revealing character psychology than mere spectacle.

Sure, you might see a headline about a recent frontal nudity scene, but sexual situations serve to highlight the relationship between a character and their mind or others.

That’s why Harper always seeks control in sexual situations, Gus commits to risky sex that could undo everything he’s built, or Robert seeks destruction.

Industry didn’t just tell; it showed. That’s a quality you want in a TV show.

Fame Changed Industry

However, starting in Season 3, sex becomes more restrained as the show gains accolades and shifts toward a more prestigious tone.

This change coincides with the cast’s rising recognition and the addition of well-known actors.

Famous actors often have clauses in their contracts that limit nudity or restrict the extent of sexual scenes.

Sex then becomes less a tool for character development and more an aesthetic detail the story seems to need but could do without.

The show didn’t turn bad, but it has become less compelling.

Famous actors have earned their acclaim for a reason. They can elevate any material, and in Season 4, the show really soars with performances from Harington, Max Minghella, and Kiernan Shipka.

That confrontation between Henry and Whitney on Whitney’s getaway plane displays the power of a seasoned actor.

Will They/Won’t They, Henry and Whitney

But it also reveals a core flaw in earlier portrayals of Henry and Whitney’s relationship this season.

Industry Season 4 tries to make us believe that Henry and Whitney share a connection that’s more than admiration, crossing into erotic.

Whitney makes a move on Henry more than once, who doesn’t refuse but doesn’t fully engage.

It’s a constant edging, hinting at a release that never happens.

A good example is after their night at a gay bar in Industry Season 4 Episode 6, where they seem close and find themselves in a sex room.

That moment early on in Industry would have been a turning point if the show had gone all the way.

Instead, Henry is fellated by an anonymous stranger while Whitney runs his hands through Henry’s hair, saying, “Everyone wants you.”

But do they, though?

If the writers want us to believe Whitney desires Henry, that would have been the perfect moment to show it, rather than tell.

And considering Henry’s reactions — his past experiences in boarding school — adding that layer would have expanded their relationship.

That’s why the fallout from Whitney’s betrayal never feels as huge. It would have made more sense if they had mutual feelings, but instead, Industry shows Whitney leering while Henry showers.

Earlier in the series, they might have been bumpin’ uglies on that floor, with Yasmin walking in at a bad moment.

Would Robert’s low self-esteem have hit the same without all those rough hookups that left him feeling used and worthless? No, it wouldn’t.

Sex was one of Industry’s sharpest tools, shaping how viewers saw these characters’ decision-making. Now, with less of it and more restraint, the show feels a bit less raw and messy.

Over to you, Industry fanatics. Am I way off base here, or did sex feel less in volume or intensity? What are your hopes for Season 5? I hope it recaptures that magic of the first two seasons.

I also wouldn’t object to past characters returning if they’re aren’t dead already.

Let’s keep the conversation going — it’s the only way the good stuff survives.

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