Industry season 4, episode 2, titled "The Commander and the Grey Lady," delivered another gripping and unsettling instalment this week on HBO and the BBC, leaving viewers reeling from its intense plot developments and character revelations.
Henry's Downward Spiral Intensifies
Following his failed bid for Parliament, losing to Labour MP Jennifer Bevan in the general election, Henry finds himself in a deep personal and professional crisis. His marriage to Yasmin Kara-Hanani grows increasingly strained, with tensions boiling over as he grapples with his mental health. In a disturbing moment, Henry is seen handling a rifle in an armoury, requesting it be locked away ahead of his 40th birthday celebrations, hinting at his volatile state.
Yasmin's Attempt to Cheer Henry Up
Yasmin organises an elaborate party for Henry's 40th birthday, hoping to lift his spirits. However, Henry spends much of the event avoiding guests and turning to drugs, further alienating himself. Their marital strife escalates when Henry, in a bleak conversation, tells Yasmin she should sleep with other men if she desires, as she tries to rekindle their romance.
Whitney's CEO Offer to Henry
In a surprising turn, Whitney Halberstram offers Henry the CEO position at Tender, following the dismissal of Jay Jonah Atterbury for misconduct. Whitney values Henry for his aristocratic connections and "access" to influential networks. However, the interaction takes an ambiguous turn as Whitney appears to make advances, blurring professional and personal boundaries.
Family Secrets and Disturbing Encounters
Yasmin's paternal aunt, Cordelia Hanani-Spyrka, enters the fray, offering blunt marriage advice and revealing her affair with a younger man, which she claims revitalises her. The episode takes a darker turn when Yasmin discovers Cordelia performing a sexual act on Otto Mostyn, head of Mostyn Asset Management.
Cordelia and Otto's Shocking Revelation
Otto explicitly states that Yasmin's brother, Charles Hanani, has engaged in similar acts with him, implying a history of sexual abuse. This leads Yasmin to confront Cordelia about the abuse she endured from her father, resulting in Yasmin ejecting her aunt from the house. The scene suggests Cordelia was aware of and possibly complicit in the abuse of others, adding layers to the family's dysfunction.
The Commander's Hallucinatory Presence
In a drug-induced haze, Henry hallucinates his deceased father, known as The Commander, after a near-assault on Jennifer. The Commander encourages Henry to engage in reckless behaviour, including pursuing a maid and getting into a pub fight. Flashbacks reveal The Commander's suicide on his own 40th birthday, with Henry witnessing the tragic event, mirroring his current despair.
Henry and Yasmin's Reconciliation
As Henry contemplates suicide, he hears Yasmin's voice, leading to a passionate reconciliation where they have sex on a car, observed creepily by uncle Alexander Norton from a window. Post-reconciliation, Henry proposes they try for a baby, though Yasmin expresses disdain, urging him to accept Whitney's CEO offer as a path to recovery.
Hayley and Yasmin's Ambiguous Moment
In a subplot, Whitney's assistant, Hayley Clay, appears to flirt with Yasmin, suggesting they share a bed. Yasmin calls her bluff by arranging a separate room, adding to the episode's themes of blurred lines and complex relationships.
Industry continues to air on HBO in the USA on Sundays and on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Mondays, keeping audiences hooked with its dramatic twists and character-driven storytelling.
