Industry Season 4 premiere delivers an intense, character-driven thriller

According to Movieweb, HBO’s thriller series Industry returned with Season 4, Episode 1 on January 11, 2026, and the outlet describes the show as underappreciated and getting stronger.

Set in London’s world of finance and centered on young bankers at Pierpoint, the series follows Harper Stern (Myha'la) and Yasmin Kara-Hanani (Marisa Abela) as it broadens from workplace drama into a study of ambition, money, power and identity. The piece notes that seasons 1–3 were a non-stop ride of partying, casual relationships and emotional manipulation, and says the new premiere, titled "PayPal of Bukkake," juggles storylines about Harper’s short-only fund and a politician’s push for an online safety bill while introducing performances from Kal Penn and Max Minghella as Jonah and Whitney and a gripping opening scene with Kiernan Shipka and Charlie Heaton.

The article highlights Season 4’s focus on trust and confidence, including scenes with mentor Eric Tao (Ken Leung) and questions about whether personal relationships can survive business stress. It also points to sharp dialogue — Jonah orders a martini "bone dry" and "cold as space," and recalls the line, "In America, your story begins when you start telling it" — and argues the show deserves wider attention as one of HBO’s best.

Key Topics

Culture, Industry, Harper Stern, Yasmin Kara-hanani, Pierpoint, London