The HBO drama Industry delivered a shocking twist in its fourth season, leaving both characters and actors reeling. Episode six, “Dear Henry,” saw Eric Tao (Ken Leung) facing the consequences of a blackmail scheme orchestrated by Whitney (Max Minghella), a revelation that prompted him to sever ties with SternTao and potentially the world of high finance altogether.
The fallout from the episode has been significant, particularly for Eric’s protégé, Harper Stern (Myha’la Herrold). According to both Leung and Herrold, the writers of Industry maintain a level of secrecy that keeps the cast as surprised as the audience. “When I read episode six, I was like ‘damn, they killed my bro,’” Herrold told The Hollywood Reporter, expressing her shock at the turn of events.
The episode revealed that a woman Eric had been seeing was, in fact, a teenager hired by Whitney as part of a calculated blackmail attempt against Eric’s business competitors. This discovery came on the heels of a major win for SternTao, as they closed in on exposing fraudulent activity at Tender, a banking app they’d been investigating throughout the season. Leung described playing Eric’s relationship with Dolly (Skye Degruttola) as a genuine romantic connection, believing Eric saw potential for something real, “maybe for the first time.”
In response to the betrayal, Eric took legal action to completely separate himself from SternTao, a move intended to protect Harper from further fallout. Leung suggested that Eric subconsciously views Harper as a daughter figure, adding another layer of complexity to their relationship. “It’s his ultimate show of love,” Leung explained, according to reporting from Mashable.
The dynamic between Leung and Herrold has been a cornerstone of Industry since its inception. Both actors reflected on their four-year partnership, noting the unique chemistry they share both on and off screen. Herrold described Leung as “the grown-up” when they first met, someone she instinctively looked to for guidance. “We met for the first time in the Bad Wolf offices; remember that bear?” Leung recalled, referencing a prop from another show. “There were a bunch of props…and this big stuffed bear. Lena [Dunham] was there, too, it was just the three of us.”
As new cast members join the show, Leung and Herrold emphasize the importance of understanding the unique environment of Industry. Leung encourages newcomers to recognize that their inclusion is not accidental, acknowledging the initial feeling of being an outsider in the unfamiliar world of finance that many of them share. “I remind people that it’s no mistake that they are here,” Leung said.
The actors also discussed the show’s tendency to subvert expectations, noting that moments of genuine happiness are often short-lived. “Every once in awhile, I catch Mickey and Kon trying to put some kumbaya shit in the show and HBO’s like, you know you can’t do this, this isn’t the show,” Herrold explained, referring to showrunners Mickey Down and Konrad Kay.
While Eric’s departure from finance appears definitive, Leung acknowledged the possibility of a return, stating that it would depend on whether it serves the story. He pointed to the previous arc of Rishi (Sagar Radia), who unexpectedly found his way back into the financial world, as a precedent.
A particularly poignant moment for both actors was a scene where Harper reveals the death of her mother to Eric. Herrold described it as a rare instance of genuine vulnerability for her character, a moment she worked closely with the writers to develop. “It felt like that was earned in this moment,” she said, adding that she feels “very safe” working with Leung. Leung echoed her sentiment, noting that the scene brought them closer to the dynamic of their characters.
The actors also briefly touched on the show’s political leanings, revealing that a Trump figurine once prominently displayed on Leung’s Bloomberg monitors was digitally removed from scenes at a significant cost to the production budget. “They spent so much money erasing that from every frame,” Leung said.
Industry releases new episodes on Sundays on HBO Max.
