At its surface, Industry seems to be a show about finance, but if you dig a little deeper, it has casually made queerness an essential part of its storytelling.
In the past few years, there have been a ton of advances in LGBTQ+ representation on television, especially given the popularity of shows like Heated Rivalry.
But despite having multiple queer storylines, Industry often gets overlooked in such conversations.
Throughout Industry Season 4, queerness has been a pivotal part of the power plays that make the show so addicting to watch.
So, let’s dive into how this show has stealthily managed to pair trading stocks with gay yearning.
Gays Can Be Evil Too
Most LGBTQ+ representation on television often aims to portray queer characters in a positive light, such as how Heartstopper primarily follows the friendships of young queer folks.
But on Industry, the gay characters are just as morally grey and twisted as the straight characters, which I would argue is truly a sign of progress toward equality.
While Industry isn’t the first show to let queer characters’ dark sides shine (see Interview with the Vampire and Yellowjackets), it doesn’t market itself as a queer show, even though Season 4 focuses on Whitney, a gay character.
Industry Season 4 Episode 6 was pure gay chaos at its best, as the episode centered on Whitney’s attraction to Henry.
But the series also doesn’t take its eyes off the prize of money. Whitney’s desire is inherently tied to the power that he holds over Henry and their business partnership.
With this in mind, Industry seamlessly integrates Whitney’s queer passion into the story while maintaining its central message about corporate greed.
Additionally, Whitney is far from a good person; he’s manipulative, cunning, and will stop at absolutely nothing to get what he wants.
What’s so great about this is that the show never tries to position Whitney as evil because of his queerness.
Instead, Whitney’s sexuality is simply just as much a part of him as his unstoppable desire to make Tender a success story.
I love a show that normalizes queer identity without diminishing it, and Industry definitely had a lot of fun spotlighting Whitney’s over-the-top affection for Henry.
Girl Power!
It would be impossible to talk about queerness in Industry without mentioning Yasmin and Harper’s kiss in Industry Season 4 Episode 7.
I personally have been rooting for these two to kiss for several seasons now, so that scene at the club brought me immense joy.
Even though the show doesn’t clarify the relationship between the two after that moment, it’s still refreshing to see a series that isn’t afraid to also highlight sapphic desire.
It’s also notable that actress Myha’la has openly identified as queer for a few years now, so it’s wonderful to finally see an LGBTQ+ storyline for her character, Harper.
Additionally, Yasmin had a queer romance with Celeste in Industry Season 2.
Similar to Whitney’s attraction to Henry, Celeste and Yasmin’s fling was inherently tied to their struggle for power, as both women sought to use each other for professional gain, even though they were attracted to each other.
Yasmin’s relationship with Celeste serves as a clear contrast to her shared kiss with Harper because Harper and Yasmin’s connection is founded on the bond they’ve formed over the years.
However, the world of finance is still tied to Yasmin and Harper’s relationship.
Harper and Yasmin’s kiss follows Yasmin’s decision to finally abandon Henry after the downfall of Tender, so it’s clear that Yasmin wants to join Harper’s firm.
The seamless integration of these two girls’ romance into the wider narrative illustrates how Industry Season 4 has successfully incorporated queerness as an important aspect of its storytelling.
It’s also worth mentioning that Industry Season 1 featured a prominent storyline between Gus and Theo’s relationship, so it’s clear that LGBTQ+ identity has always been an important part of the show.
As someone who loves both queer stories and shows about toxic power dynamics, Industry has really been fulfilling a niche in television that deserves more recognition.
Of course, I’m rooting for Yasmin and Harper to get a happy ending, but this series has certainly made it clear that whether a character is queer or straight, nobody is immune to power trips and cash grabs.
What do you think of Industry Season 4 so far?
What are your favorite queer moments of this season?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
Even though Industry may not market itself as an LGBTQ+ show, queerness is essential to the dynamics that make show so great.
Tender is falling, and everyone is jumping ship on Industry Season 4 Episode 7, leading to shocking betrayals and Harper and Yas’ reunion.
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