HBO and BBC's 'Industry' TV series examines meritocracy and alienation in investment banking

The 2020 television series Industry, a collaboration between HBO and the BBC, centers on recent graduates vying for roles at the fictional investment firm Pierpoint & Co. Created by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, it showcases characters such as Harper Stern, a New Yorker, and Gus, an Etonian. The inaugural episode was directed by Lena Dunham. The narrative explores themes of alienation in taxis and office restrooms, where characters encounter sexual harassment while pursuing deals. It draws parallels to Caryl Churchill's 1987 play Serious Money and the drama Capital City from 1989-90. Harper deals with perceptions of being a diversity hire, while Robert turns to drugs to manage class resentment, illustrating a world rife with cocaine-fueled meetings and power struggles.