{"id":84059,"date":"2024-09-02T19:33:11","date_gmt":"2024-09-02T19:33:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/02\/industry-season-3-episode-4-review-white-mischief\/"},"modified":"2024-09-02T19:33:11","modified_gmt":"2024-09-02T19:33:11","slug":"industry-season-3-episode-4-review-white-mischief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/02\/industry-season-3-episode-4-review-white-mischief\/","title":{"rendered":"Industry Season 3 Episode 4 Review: White Mischief"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Critic’s Rating:<\/strong> 4.7 \/ 5.0<\/p>\n

4.7<\/p>\n

Like Rishi Ramdani himself, Industry Season 3 Episode 4 was undeniably a high risk, but it resulted in one of the series\u2019 finest rewards.<\/p>\n

A fantastically frenetic \u201cWhite Mischief\u201d operated as a bottle episode that took us into Rishi\u2019s world, and it\u2019s a good thing we\u2019re only passing through.<\/p>\n

It was a taut, adrenaline-fueled, anxiety-ridden hour that was by far the series\u2019 most intense to date; merely watching it felt like running a marathon.<\/p>\n

\"Rishi\"Rishi
(Simon Ridgway\/HBO)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Industry is the Phoenix Rising from the Ashes of Premier Television<\/h2>\n

Industry has fallen frustratingly under the radar despite being the pinnacle of prestige television at its absolute best.<\/p>\n

For three seasons, it has consistently shown that intelligent, creative, character-driven, remarkable television still exists in a sea of reboots, revivals, and dwindling original ideas.<\/p>\n

The series has also shown that, given enough time and trust, just as we used to do, a series can reach new heights and \u2014 gasp \u2014 build an audience and increase ratings.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re halfway through a scintillating third season, and the series seems to have hit its stride and become a latent breakout hit.<\/p>\n

They simply aren\u2019t missing with this carefully crafted season, and it\u2019s a discernible truth as the season crescendos <\/a>\u2014 Pierpoint and all of its characters dancing on a razor\u2019s edge.<\/p>\n

\"Yasmin\"Yasmin
(Nick Strasburg\/HBO)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe Ghost of Margaret Thatcher in a Handsome Asian Kid\u201d<\/h2>\n

Breaking away from the tension-fueled season that includes a possible murder and the filial showdown of the CENTURY between Harper and Eric is a risk, a freaking huge one.<\/p>\n

Indeed Industry Season 3 Episode 3<\/a> left many of us banshee screeching.<\/p>\n

Harper fully leaned into her villainess era, toying with her former mentor like a fly in a web as he embodied the Kermit the Frog meme to avoid making eye contact.<\/p>\n

Frankly, that scene is still happily resting in my head rent-free.<\/p>\n

\"Harper\"Harper
(Nick Strasburg\/HBO)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shifting that narrative to the coke-fueled, harrowing misadventures of Pierpoint\u2019s brash, unapologetically sleazy, and diabolical trader, often on the fringes of every floor scene, was a choice<\/em>.<\/p>\n

But that choice was a damn fine one, and Industry rewarded us with one of the most gripping<\/em> character deep dives on television in some time.<\/p>\n

It isn\u2019t often a compliment when one remarks that a television series plays out like a movie, but in this instance, Industry Season 3 Episode 4 felt like a brilliant, full-featured film.<\/p>\n

Focusing on Rishi was a Risk Worth Taking<\/h2>\n

From the opening to the exceptionally great Wu-Tang Clan needle drop<\/a>, as the credits rolled, it was such a high-stakes hour of television that I felt like I stepped out of a two-and-a-half-hour fever dream of a film by the end.<\/p>\n

If there was ever a secondary character deserving of the limelight and some narrative focus, it was Rishi Ramdani.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a heavy player, but we don\u2019t always know what makes him click, but with an hour that didn\u2019t hold back, it\u2019s of no surprise that Rishi is just as eternally fucked as the rest of them.<\/p>\n

\"Rishi\"Rishi
(Nick Strasburg\/HBO)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The challenge in exploring Rishi was in peeling back layers to a certifiable repulsive asshole<\/a> in such a manner that we appreciate his complexities.<\/p>\n

And the series delivers that on a silver platter while also remarkably keeping up with the season\u2019s methodical dissection of masculinity.<\/p>\n

Industry\u2019s finest are slaves to the toxic masculinity they bear the burden of carrying, and it\u2019s eating them alive.<\/p>\n

Watching them stripped down was so delicious, and Rishi was certainly no exception.<\/p>\n

Rishi as Industry\u2019s Icarus Draws Fascinating Parallels to Harper<\/h2>\n

Do you know what Rishi is? Relentless.<\/p>\n

Throughout Industry Season 3 Episode 4, it was difficult not to recall Rishi and Harper\u2019s grimy bathroom hookup in the second season because it added more context to how they ended up there.<\/p>\n

\"Rishi\"Rishi
(Simon Ridgway\/HBO)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The two share a similar trait of running on all gas and no brakes, barreling forward and pushing everything to the limit in a quest for power, status, and prestige.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not unlike what Eric likely experienced himself, which is why his unique dynamic with Rishi and Harper falls into place so brilliantly.<\/p>\n

Truthfully, it also serves as a damningly honest reflection of their respective plights and motivations as scrappy characters of color navigating the blue-blooded, predominantly white circles.<\/p>\n

Staying afloat is a constant grind, whether you\u2019re breaking into this world, trying to maintain your place in it, or are terrified of losing it.<\/p>\n

They don\u2019t bat an eye or dwell as they dodge microaggressions \u2014 those bounce off the trio\u2019s Teflon exterior, never slowing them down from their dogged pursuit of insatiable power, no matter the cost.<\/p>\n

And it costs them gravely, but the quest never stops.<\/p>\n

\"Rishi\"Rishi
(Simon Ridgway\/HBO)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cMoney Heals Antipathy as Fast as It Creates It\u201d<\/h2>\n

Similarities aside, nothing could\u2019ve prepared us for Rishi\u2019s high-paced take on everything.<\/p>\n

Life is a game meant to be played, and he will gamble with it until he\u2019s in the ground.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a chronic gambler and addict, and that permeates every aspect of his world, whether it\u2019s pushing trades to the max on the floor, brushing past boundaries amongst his colleagues, or stretching the stability of his family and home life to the limit.<\/p>\n

Rishi makes standing on the precipice a full-blown lifestyle, and no one can keep up.<\/p>\n

Between the constant snorting up and the stress of being thousands of dollars in debt and nearly bankrupting his place of employment, it\u2019s no wonder he hasn\u2019t dropped dead by now.<\/p>\n

Every scene from \u201cWhite Mischief\u201d was more stressful than the last, particularly as all these players in Rishi\u2019s life were highly emotive and responsive to his recklessness or callousness; while he got so wrapped up in his actions, he didn\u2019t give much mind.<\/p>\n

\"Pierpoint\"Pierpoint
(Nick Strasburg\/HBO)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The HR appointment was nothing more than a joke to him since, after 15 years of Rishi\u2019s savage and reckless mouth, it was comical for them to chastise him as if there was a certain image they needed to uphold.<\/p>\n

Life is a Game that Rishi Makes His B*tch<\/h2>\n

Interestingly, even through that, Rishi can still operate under the Pierpoint regime, which doesn\u2019t hesitate to remind him that he never fully has a place or belongs there.<\/p>\n

Rishi\u2019s intervention of sorts after that teeth-gnashing gambling binge splendidly capped with The Little Drummer Boy seemed to have some impact as Rishi came down from his binge, but it wasn\u2019t enough for it to matter.<\/p>\n

In the end, none <\/em>of it matters as long as money rolls in and they secure a win, and that may be why Rishi can function as he does with little consequence.<\/p>\n

Beatdowns, bookies, berating coworkers, and partnering with adversaries are all part of the game.<\/p>\n

Even Risk Takers are Truth Tellers<\/h2>\n
\"Rish\"Rish
(Photograph by Nick Strasburg\/HBO)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the most captivating interactions in \u201cWhite Mischief\u201d was Eric attempting to assert some authority over Rishi and reining him in.<\/p>\n

Somebody needed to call Rishi out for what little good it actually did, but then Eric deserved that verbal lashing as well.<\/p>\n

Rishi hit the nail on the head when he read Eric for Filth about how he carries himself at Pierpoint and his relationship with Harper and Yasmin.<\/p>\n

If Eric was worried about Kenny \u201cseeing\u201d him, Rishi\u2019s insight was far more astute and on the nose.<\/p>\n

Due to Eric\u2019s vulnerability, Kenny sees Eric for what he could be, but Rishi sees Eric for who and what he really is and doesn\u2019t mince words when he feels Eric is calling him out.<\/p>\n

He plays power games with everyone around him, and he\u2019s tough to read, so the junior associates never know where they stand with him.<\/p>\n

\"Eric\"Eric
( Simon Ridgway\/HBO)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Eric is pulling that similar move with Yasmin and Robert that he did with Harper.<\/p>\n

But he\u2019s also ego-bruised and paranoid about Harper on his heels, outplaying and maneuvering him.<\/p>\n

Eric likely has the same impression of Yasmin as Harper regarding her being amenable and eager to please, so she\u2019s safer.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Much Easier to Raise Strong Boys Than Fix Broken Men\u201d<\/h2>\n

Industry Season 3 Episode 4 takes us behind the curtains of Rishi\u2019s home life, and it is one of the most fascinating we\u2019ve seen yet.<\/p>\n

When it comes to his wife, two things can be true at the same time.<\/p>\n

Rishi likes her as his \u201cEnglish Rose\u201d and a status symbol one step closer, presumably to him climbing the rungs to the higher crust.<\/p>\n

\"Staring\"Staring
( Liam Daniel\/HBO)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He\u2019s gone into debt purchasing the pavilion, drives obscenely expensive and flashy cars, and relocated to the countryside, all for the sake of this coveted image and symbol of prestige.<\/p>\n

But neither he nor Diana wants this life that they\u2019re cosplaying in, as deep down, they know they don\u2019t genuinely desire these things.<\/p>\n

Rishi and Diana Have a Rare, Brutally Authentic Marriage and Partnership<\/h2>\n

What\u2019s captivating is realizing how much of a genuine partnership he and Diana have.<\/p>\n

She knows about all of his vices and attempts to manage them as best as she can, but more than anything, she wants him to simply try to do and be better for her and her son\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n

She knows that Rishi is a chauvinist, not misogynist, and how much of a cruel streak he has, but she distinctly implies that he isn\u2019t normally cruel to her; they\u2019re cruel together.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an unexpectedly raw, candid look at a marriage built on a genuine partnership involving two undeniably flawed people<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Brittany\"Brittany
(Nick Strasberg\/HBO)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Diana isn\u2019t just an esteemed White woman who married a Brown man to rebel against her aristocratic parents, and Rishi didn\u2019t solely marry her as a mark of his status climbing.<\/p>\n

Infidelity isn\u2019t a deal breaker that tears them apart, as it\u2019s more about radical honesty than betrayal.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re two people who recognize that they only married because they thought they were supposed to, even though it wasn\u2019t what they wanted.<\/p>\n

While their son is a gift, they don\u2019t hide that they didn\u2019t plan for him or that parenthood wasn\u2019t a title they actively pursued.<\/p>\n

Rishi even pointed out that she was a mother, and she later asserted that it was a title she didn\u2019t even want.<\/p>\n

Somehow, as fucked up and utterly broken as Rishi is, a thrill-seeking addict and gambler who breaks out in stress hives, they\u2019re a healthier couple than you\u2019d expect.<\/p>\n

\"Rishi\"Rishi
(Simon Ridgway\/HBO)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rishi Has that Dog in Him in Industry Season 3 Episode 4<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s not surprising that Rishi has the layers he does, but it\u2019s refreshing that the series explored them in depth.<\/p>\n

In a long line of incredible performances that are worthy of Emmy nominations, Sagar Ridia was remarkable and worthy of every accolade.<\/p>\n

Give. Sagar Radia. All. The. F*cking. Awards.<\/em><\/p>\n

When given a full hour to show what all he can do, he delivers tenfold with one of the best uses of a bottle episode in ages.<\/p>\n

Rishi\u2019s highs were outlandishly high, and the lows were so crushing that it always felt like he was down and out.<\/p>\n

Their full breadth was captured well within Industry\u2019s high-stakes trading on the floor.<\/p>\n

Half the time, you don\u2019t know what\u2019s happening, but the intensity draws you in and stresses you out.<\/p>\n

\"Sagar\"Sagar
(Photograph by Simon Ridgway\/HBO)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was sensory overload with all the shouting, blinking red lights, numbers jumping all over the place, and the tension so thick in the air one couldn\u2019t even cut through it with a classic sharp comment.<\/p>\n

In one minute, Pierpoint seemed on the brink of ruin and collapse, all at the hands of Rishi, a man who treated his $300 million risk limit as if it were a mere suggestion.<\/p>\n

And the next minute, he\u2019s responsible for making them $18 million across the books.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s all grit and glory for Rishi.<\/p>\n

Industry\u2019s Dictatorship of Dying Men<\/h2>\n
\"Venetia\"Venetia
(Simon Ridgway\/HBO)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rishi taking his power back and destroying the wall of founders at the pavilion was gratifying.<\/p>\n

Nicholas was a prick, an entirely different sort than Rishi, and it was tiresome seeing Rishi at the service of this man who acted as if the property was still his, whether it was land, the pavilion, or Rishi\u2019s wife.<\/p>\n

But it was also nice to see Rishi get his comeuppance, even if it came at the expense of Venetia.<\/p>\n

She got him good and nearly hemmed him up with HR.<\/p>\n

And then she made her grand escape, resigning from Pierpoint\u2019s toxic (but fun for us) work environment <\/a>with its sexism, brutality, and lack of moral strength.<\/p>\n

\"Sweetpea\"Sweetpea
(Simon Ridgway\/HBO)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loyalties change daily, all in the name of what\u2019s good for the bottom line and procuring money.<\/p>\n

In the hour, we saw Rishi\u2019s fast life, which illuminated why this job was perfect for him.<\/p>\n

The man is pure luck; even on his worst days, he has the staying power of a cockroach.<\/p>\n

Unsung Heroes and Gamechangers on the Horizon?<\/h2>\n

No matter how often he hits rock bottom<\/a>, he keeps bouncing back to take a bite out of life or fate\u2019s freshly shaved c*nt, as he so vulgarly mused.<\/p>\n

I certainly won\u2019t look at Rishi the same way, and I appreciate his insight.<\/p>\n

As an aside, though, inquiring minds would love to know more about Sweetpea.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"
(Nick Strasburg\/HBO)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was her porn that Rishi was watching while bouncing the baby and battling a coke nosebleed.<\/p>\n

But Sweetpea contains multitudes, and whatever figures she gathered together and has been dying for him to peruse, it\u2019ll likely be a game changer.<\/p>\n

And I\u2019m still clamoring to know the significance of Fady El-Sayed\u2019s mysterious and snarky character, who has now caught the attention of both Eric and Rishi and may be in cahoots with Adler.<\/p>\n

Bring it on.<\/p>\n

Over to you, Industry Fanatics.<\/p>\n

Did you love the Rishi-centric? <\/p>\n

Unpack Industry Season 3 Episode 4 and all of your thoughts with us below!<\/p>\n

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