The guardrails are off people. THE. GAURDRAILS. ARE. OFF.

 It’s not like they were ever firmly fixed down, but with the first two seasons, you felt some concession to reality*—even with all the boobs, drug taking and crazy risks.** “Oh, you naïve fool,” I can hear an investment banker say. “The third season is exactly what it’s like. That shit happens all the time!” And, fair enough, what would I know about what goes on behind the scenes beyond what Hollywood has told me? Still… there’s a level of batshit crazy in season three, mainly centred on the personal dynamics between the characters, that goes to another level. Yasmin and her Dad (how many times do we see Charles Hanani’s peen?! One too many as far as I’m concerned). Robert and his choice of women (one who dies on him and the other, Yasmin, who twists him into a pretzel). Harper’s instinct to manipulate and use anyone who shows her a modicum of kindness. Eric’s capacity to survive, to duck and weave, when the knives are out.***

And then there’s Rishi. “White Mischief”, the episode dedicated to him, is Uncut Gems/Safdie Brother’s level of tension and anxiety. It’s one of the best hours of TV screened this year, not least of which because hating Rishi is a pastime the show actively encourages. But while this episode doesn’t cast Rishi in a totally new light—he’s still an utter prick—we are invested in his fortunes; we want him to dig himself out of his deep hole. The rest of the season never reaches the heights of “White Mischief”, but those are some Everest-level peaks.

 Kit Harrington is this year’s big star—he’s fine as the British Elon Musk, who establishes a green electricity company. His company is backed by Pierpoint, which has gone all-in on environmental, social, and governance-compliant companies. It ends very badly. There’s a great deal of cynicism toward ESG, which is probably justified given it has all the makings of a short-term fad to assuage the consciousness of capitalists. But it’s also the least interesting part of Industry. We’re in it for the craziness, the flawed characters, the twisted social dynamics and the sex and drugs. And on all counts, this season delivers big time.****

 *A grad dying on the job actually happened in the States, except the person in question wasn’t a grad.

**Maybe because of all the boobs, drug taking and crazy risks.

***And that scene in the bathroom—you know, the one.

****The last episode is a gentle kick in the nuts.