Coming hot off the heels of an explosive Season 4, HBO has announced that Industry will end with Season 5.
And as enjoyable as it was tuning in every Sunday, I have to admit that this news is unsurprising.
For several years, Industry has felt like it’s been struggling with its identity.
From its focus shifting away from the young rising professional in the financial industry to the cast changes, this drama has definitely overstayed its welcome.
So, as we’re emotionally preparing for its final season, let’s take a look at how Industry can stick a memorable ending.
Returning to Its Roots
As mentioned earlier, part of what made Industry initially explode with such unexpected popularity was its focus on young adults fighting to make a name for themselves.
During Industry Season 4, there were a few moments when that sentiment got to shine through.
A prime example was how Industry Season 4 Episode 5 spotlighted Sweetpea’s investigative skills.
Still, the season primarily focused on Tender’s storyline and spent a lot of time exploring Henry’s psyche.
Maybe I’m just a Henry hater and don’t feel particularly attached to Kit Harington (sorry, Game of Thrones fans), but it felt like he had way too much screentime for where his story ended up.
Part of that issue stemmed from the series’ struggle to cohesively tie together everyone’s storylines and from an uneven level of focus on specific character arcs.
In contrast, Industry Season 1 had a much tighter focus on weaving together all the characters’ stories and balancing several meaningful plotlines and development arcs.
I would love the show to return to this method of storytelling, rather than the laser-sharp focus on just one or two characters’ perspectives per episode.
As much as I enjoy a bottle episode, I definitely miss the show’s ability to manage multiple perspectives throughout each episode.
To talk about Industry‘s ending, we need to address the elephant in the room: the revolving door of cast members.
From the original starting cast, only two characters, Yas and Harper, have remained.
Avoiding The Nostalgia Play For The Sake of Nostalgia
For the most part, the show has done a decent job at integrating the new characters into the plot – but that doesn’t mean I don’t miss Gus and his smart remarks.
And Harry Lawtey’s surprising exit as Robert Spearing ahead of Industry Season 4 was a personal attack on everyone who had been so emotionally invested in his character arc.
Like many other fans, I’m hoping to see some of the original members of the Pierpoint analyst class in the last season.
But I also want Industry to earn those potential returns rather than a nostalgia play for the sake of acknowledging viewers who have stuck with the show until its end.
It would be wonderful to see Gus, Rob, and other beloved characters return to the plot in a meaningful way, rather than making a quick two-second appearance in the finale.
Some of these characters have been with the show for so long that it feels almost disrespectful not to give them a proper send-off or follow up on what their post-Pierpoint lives have been like.
Of course, this is easier said than done, but I have enough trust in the Industry writers to hold out hope that we can see some of the original cast back together in action before the show’s end.
In a post-Succession world, Industry is the closest thing to an HBO original drama, bringing together viewers who love watching horrible people do horrible things.
It’s had a great run. But it’s the right call, bidding this Sunday-night finance satire goodbye.
What are you hoping to see happen on Industry Season 5? Which characters are you hoping will return?
Comment your thoughts below! Share your theories. How should the final season bow out? Do you have any thoughts?
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