'Industry': A Steely, Deathly Race to Success

The first two episodes of Industry make for a promising introduction into a series that will surely take as many devastating twists and turns as possible. Written by former bankers Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, the series focuses on a group of young hopefuls entering a graduate scheme at Pierpoint & Co, a prestigious London banking institution.

 

The story is set against the grey, cold London backdrop which reflects the clinical and often cruel way these young characters are treated and, often, treat each other. When they’re not on coffee or lunch runs for their superiors, they’re on a steely mission to be the best and climb the corporate ladder. We are told early on in the pilot – directed by Lena Dunham – that half of them won’t make it. And you may be unsure whether you even want them to, as these characters are as morally grey as they are determined.

 

Harper, the main character, is a young black woman from New York who seems to be hiding something or running away from something. We see how high the stakes are for Harper and her peers with the story of Hari, a graduate who begins running on pills and energy drinks to work insane hours, and whose fate shows us early on that there will be no messing around in Industry.

 

Comparisons to shows like Skins and Mad Men are well-earned. This series is a tense, inspired watch and it’s refreshing that most of the cast are unknowns. Supported by a soundtrack featuring heavy techno which boosts the racing atmosphere led by youth and stress, Industry is a must-watch.