Industry Power Rankings: “Give Us Our Money Back, Wanker!”
Ranking Pierpoint & Co.’s yuppies after episode 305.
You find last week’s ranking here, and the episode 304 recap here.
Major Spoilers for Industry’s “Company Man.”
The British select committee has officially made its arrival. Their mission? To discuss the government’s two billion-pound rescue package for Lumi and Pierpoint’s abetment in Westminer. Taxpayers are fuming, Robert is donning Clark Kent’s iconic glasses, and accusations are flying in all directions. Let’s get into it (yuh):
The COSTUMES!
Please take a moment to appreciate the incredible costumes for Pierpoint Children's Investment Trust Charity Day! Yasmin dazzled as Princess Diana, Sweetpea channeled Ginger Spice, Eric perfectly embodied Henry VIII, Anraj transformed into Super Mario, and Rishi brought Ali G to life. I don’t think a single person got a hold of Party City rigs—kudos to everyone for their dedication!
Lisa Dearn
Oh boy. When I said representation matters, Lisa immediately stood up before jumping into action. Dearn, referred to as “The Shadow Energy Secretary” and dubbed a “fucking Rottweiler” by Eric, takes charge of the questioning at the select committee. She expresses no mercy towards Rob or Henry, quickly revealing that an unnamed woman Lumi employee fell victim to Muck’s “predation.” It makes Spearing crack in front of everyone, possibly even on national television.
Oooo. I love a formidable Scottish woman. See the way Dearn interrogates Robert, belittling his youthful traits and mocking his “statement” all at once … Lisa is in the top two, and she’s not two!
Harper Stern
Harper's hedge fund, Leviathan Alpha, is thriving, and as a result, her wardrobe is becoming increasingly luxurious. The moment her Valentino shirt glints, I couldn’t help but take notice. She also walks away with vital info. When Stern and Petra head to Pierpoint for a meeting set up by Yasmin, Harper accidentally overhears Sweetpea confiding her worries about Pierpoint’s questionable activities to Kara-Hanani. She then accepts this tidbit, cancels her encounter with her friend, and rushes back to Leviathan Alpha.
Harper chose Pierpoint as her and Petra’s broker, yet she hides the power to take it down with a single blow.
Aurore Adekunle
Aurore was nearly my top choice, but I recalled the photo of Margaret Thatcher by her old storage drawer. While testifying, Adekunle throws a bold curveball to the committee: she and her department take full blame for Lumi’s ruin and the subsequent taxpayer-funded bailout. “I still believe in accountability in politics,” she tells Dearn. “Which is why I have come from Number 10, where I tendered my resignation to the prime minister.”
Her account casts the government as the exposé, shielding Rob, Henry, and Pierpoint from additional backlash—however, Aurore has more tricks up her sleeve. Later at the St. James’s Street club, Adekunle marches inside like an Olympic gold-winning victor. “Well, if it isn’t our future prime minister!” Otto exclaims as he welcomes her. Turns out, Aurore’s gesture is a facade leading Muck, Mostyn, and Norton to rally behind her campaign by showcasing her as a powerful advocate through Norton’s media outlet.
In short, politicians are evil. You don't need to tune into Veep to grasp this, but Selina Meyer would certainly admire Adekunle’s game.
Sweetpea Golightly
Sweetpea remains brighter than she appears. Golightly's grad connections lead her to assume that the bank is making a colossal bet on ESG funds. Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, it’s not. Pierpoint hasn’t only issued an epic amount of senior secured debt; they also lack the funds to repay the companies that purchased it.
Eric dismisses her estimation, telling Golightly to be careful of her words, as Sweetpea’s knowledge could be illegal. Yet, when he faces off against Bill Adler, he discovers that her insights are spot on. Thanks to Golightly and her expertise, Sweetpea is able to liberate herself.
Robert Spearing
...and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day 2!
Robert finds himself in a gnarly role. As “Pierpoint’s whipping boy” for the select committee, his costume is a suit, a Tory-blue tie, and a pair of glasses. The bank's legal team pays no mind to his 20/20 vision; their focus is solely on optics.
His duty is to redirect the government’s blame from Pierpoint to Lumi—and specifically onto Muck himself. Amid giving testimony, Robert becomes an inept performer. Spearing fails to see that he is a scapegoat rather than the “company man” Eric claims. The tighter Rob sticks to the statement provided to him, the more he resembles Greg Hirsh declaring, “If it is to be said, so it be. So it is.” He breaks, vomits in a sink, and the public can’t help but laugh at his expense.
Before returning home, Robert is put off by what he endures and decides to join Henry on a mind-bending ayahuasca trip, an experience he really doesn’t need, as it serves to highlight the posh lifestyle he should escape.
Yasmin Kara-Hanani
Yasmin, you in danger, girl.
Eric tries his best to convince her to take a personal day, hoping to keep Yasmin out of the spotlight, but Kara-Hanani seeks longevity in finance. She plans to introduce a charity's portfolio manager to Leviathan Alpha. Meanwhile, Kara-Hanani is too absorbed in her own distractions. Her relationship with Muck extends to the point where she indulges his golden shower zeals until the Lumi inquest brings forth allegations against Henry. This news catches Yasmin off guard, prompting her to brush aside Sweetpea’s gossip. “Don’t let the geezers get you down,” she says, grinning so condescendingly, it exudes her past behavior toward Venetia. Christ, what a mess.
To add to her discomfort, Yasmin cringes as Henry’s friends loudly remark about her intimate time with him, driving her to flip a table before storming out St. James. Back home, Robert quips that she’s fated to marry her father. Yasmin, staring at the ceiling, giggles wheezingly and retorts that it’s impossible because she killed him. The truth is, karma doesn’t always play in her favor. Karma is not her boyfriend, nor is the breeze in her hair on the weekend. Yasmin might achieve to tuck the Landry Clarke wig behind her ear, but that doesn’t guarantee that she’ll leave Pierpoint unscathed.
Henry Muck
Henry gets ranked under Rob because (1) he’s into urine and (2) he cannot take responsibility for anything. Lisa reveals that he let his former employee, Caedi McFarlane, use his Net-A-Porter discount and offered her an assistance position in exchange for his predatory behavior. After Spearing’s deposition, Muck assures him that Caedi’s avowal won’t result in any legal action since “nothing’s there.”
If you were to take a drink every time Muck utters the word “vulnerable” in episode 205, you’d end up walking into a door like Rishi … He better not ever go to cell block one.
Eric Tao
Due to Pierpoint's financial issues, Eric is on the verge of losing his job. To complicate things further, he’s in a vicious custody battle for his two daughters, and his ex-wife, Candace, is fiercely complicating the situation. Through a tête-à-tête with Bill Adler about their struggles, Tao bursts into tears. We’re unaware of who Eric is truly crying for, though. He’s under a chaotic midlife crisis, and the reality is, he’s in deep, deep trouble.
William “Bill” Adler
Bill always sashayed around Pierpoint like he was Industry’s legendary villain, the dominant presence that everyone feared. Adler now may be facing defeat, but he’s gearing up for the larger conflict ahead. How? Well, Bill is earnest and glib: Josh Lindsay is stepping down as CEO, Wilhelmina will do everything in her power to nail the ESG catastrophe on them, and no one is safe.
It has come to light that Adler has been battling a severe brain tumor, too. What’s more surprising is that Bill consoles Eric, but his intentions go beyond mere sympathy. He gives Tao his signature tenacity: “Remember, we grew up in this bank. We’re lifers. I’m glad we made that trade, but only if we truly understand its essence and are ready to defend it. Because the upcoming weeks are going to be a struggle.”
Frankly, I love this chat between them. It shows Adler’s humanity while echoing their complex dynamic, similar to Mad Men’s Roger and Don. Pure RNS here. Alexa, cue up some Coldplay; it's time for Viva La Vida.mp3!