The fourth episode of Industry's gripping fourth season, titled "1,000 Yoots, One Marilyn," delivered a pulse-pounding hour of television that masterfully escalated the tension within the cutthroat world of high finance. Airing this week on HBO and the BBC, this instalment pushed characters to their limits while exposing the fragile foundations of Tender's ambitious new venture.
A Launch Marred by Scandal and Setbacks
Following their hard-won banking licence, the partners at Tender embarked on a crucial partnership with a global wealth management firm to unveil their revolutionary 360-degree banking app at the WebHorizon conference. However, the intended triumph swiftly soured. An investigative article by FinDigest's Jim Dycker, intended to expose Tender's questionable business practices, failed to generate the seismic industry backlash that Harper Stern and Eric Tao desperately needed for their short-only hedge fund strategy. The lack of wider acknowledgement left their financial position perilously exposed.
Henry's Fleeting Resurgence and Impending Doom
Henry Muck, portrayed by Kit Harington, experienced a temporary surge of confidence. After a motivating pep talk from Whitney Halberstram, Henry delivered a stirring speech at the app launch, momentarily silencing his inner demons. This bold step forward was almost derailed by a heated argument with his wife, Yasmin Kara-Hanani, who pointedly questioned whether he had relapsed into old habits. Just as Henry appeared to turn a corner, the episode foreshadowed that his newfound stability is built on sand, with Tender's nefarious activities poised to bring everything crashing down.
The Downfall of Jim Dycker
Jim Dycker's journalistic crusade against Tender met a catastrophic end. After Hayley Clay decided to press assault charges against him following their altercation, Dycker faced a disciplinary hearing at FinDigest. This professional crisis, stemming from a severe lapse in ethical judgement, destroyed his credibility and halted his exposé just as it was gaining traction. His failure left Harper and Eric frustrated, prompting Harper to consider leaking the damaging intelligence gathered from her Sunderland trip with Sweetpea Golightly to another reporter in a last-ditch effort to salvage their fund.
Power Shifts and Manipulations at Tender
Yasmin Kara-Hanani finally secured an official title at Tender, being appointed as the firm's communications manager to control the narrative around the company. Seizing this authority, she promoted Hayley Clay, believing she had successfully manipulated Hayley following their previous entanglement with Henry in Vienna. Yasmin operated under the illusion that Hayley was firmly in her pocket, even orchestrating the killing of Dycker's story by encouraging Hayley to go to the police.
However, a dramatic power reversal unfolded. It became chillingly clear that Hayley was fully aware of Yasmin's machinations. The implication hung heavy that Hayley now holds significant leverage and possesses the potential to dismantle both Tender and the Muck family's empire if she chooses to act. The balance of power has decisively shifted, leaving Yasmin's perceived control as a dangerous illusion.
A Harrowing Climax: Rishi's Spiral and a Fatal Overdose
The episode concluded with one of the series' most intense and bleak sequences to date. A despondent Rishi Ramdani and a disgraced Jim Dycker retreated to Rishi's flat, where they consumed drugs with loud music blaring. In a state of shared despair, Dycker provocatively questioned Rishi about the traumatic death of his late wife, Diana Ramdani, reopening profound wounds.
The situation escalated into chaos. When Rishi briefly left the room to procure more cocaine, he returned to find Dycker apparently lifeless from an overdose on the sofa. Simultaneously, police arrived at the door responding to noise complaints. In a moment of sheer panic, Rishi leapt from his balcony in a desperate escape attempt. He survived the fall but sustained severe injuries and was immediately arrested by the waiting officers. The episode closes with agonising questions: Will Rishi recover? Is Dycker dead? And has Tender successfully evaded accountability for its dubious operations in Africa?
The Tragic Backstory of Diana Ramdani
For viewers seeking clarity on Rishi's haunting past, the fate of his wife, Diana, was a central tragedy of the show's third season. Her story ended horrifically when she was shot and killed by loan shark Vinay Sarkar. This murder was a direct consequence of Rishi's spiralling gambling addiction, which persisted despite Diana having previously sold their assets and mansion to bail him out. Rishi has been profoundly haunted by her death, a guilt that was powerfully revisited in this latest episode, which also featured a poignant scene of Rishi meeting with his young son and a social worker.
Industry continues to air on HBO and HBO Max on Sundays, and is available on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Mondays, followed by a broadcast on BBC One at 10.40pm.
