Forget Game of Thrones – Industry season 4 just aired Kit Harington’s finest hour

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*Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Industry season 4 episode 2.*

Despite featuring prominently in the latest installment of Industry, Kit Harington’s character, Sir Henry Muck, didn’t quite steal the show last season like many expected.

With everything happening – the drama with Yasmin’s father, Rishi’s gambling debts, and the collapse of Pierpoint & Co. – I, like many viewers, didn’t have high expectations for Henry’s storyline this season. Honestly, I wasn’t even particularly interested in it.

From the moment Henry arrived on the scene, he acted incredibly entitled, and when Yasmin chose him over Robert, that confidence only increased. It seemed certain this would continue to be a major part of his character in the fourth season, didn’t it?

Kit Harington, known for his role in Game of Thrones, found this particular role surprisingly easy. He’d based the character on people he’d met throughout his life. Considering his upbringing – with a father who’s a baronet and family ties to the Gunpowder Plot – portraying someone from that privileged background likely felt natural to him, much more so than playing the Lord Commander. However, simply understanding a role and actually acting it are two different things, as anyone knows.

The TV show ‘Industry’ is known for its strong writing, especially its focus on developing characters over time – something that’s rare these days. This is especially true this season with the character of Henry. Kit Harington truly shines in the role, surprisingly becoming a standout performer and adding a lot of depth to the show.

With Lumi gone, the season begins with Henry grieving at his estate, playing the harpsichord. This sets up an episode dedicated to exploring his past. It was a gamble focusing a whole episode on him, similar to the Rishi-centric episode in season 3, but ultimately, it pays off. ‘The Commander and the Grey Lady’ is a powerful episode showcasing Kit Harington’s impressive performance and Henry’s inner struggles, and it’s sure to impress viewers.

We already knew Henry had a difficult history, revealed when he told Yasmin in season 3 about his father’s suicide. He explained his father had gone out for a walk one Sunday and shot himself, and then calmly admitted he’d also struggled with suicidal thoughts as a schoolboy. However, with the fast pace of the show, this deeply personal moment was quickly overshadowed by everything else happening in the series.

Henry’s 40th birthday in season 4 highlights his recent struggles after a disappointing loss in a local election. He attempted a career change, moving from environmental work to running as a Conservative MP, but was defeated by Jennifer Bevan. True to form, Henry reacted to the loss by seeking comfort from Yasmin, and the episode jumps forward in time to his birthday, skipping over the immediate fallout.

The room is strewn with champagne bottles – a space Henry keeps separate from his wife. It’s obvious he’s ashamed of Yasmin’s habit of micromanaging the staff. And now, a lavish morning snack is served! At first glance, it seems like a perfect life.

When Henry meets with his uncle, Alexander Norton, and Yasmin, Yasmin gives him a meaningful gift: his father’s restored watch. This simple, kind act completely changes Henry’s outlook for the day.

Henry’s uncle scolds him harshly, like he’s a child, and criticizes his lack of motivation. During their argument, we unexpectedly learn that Henry has been taking lithium, a medication for mood disorders such as mania and bipolar disorder – something he’s never mentioned before. Henry angrily declares, “I hate my father and the genes I inherited from him.” His uncle, Alexander, responds by advising him to either ignore his family history, suppress it, or find a way to accept it.

Henry is struggling with declining mental health, and he’s been using drugs and alcohol to cope.

In Season 3, Henry came across as someone who believed he could achieve anything, as he was a man used to getting his way. When his business struggled, he focused on pursuing Yasmin. However, actor Kit Harington has described Henry as a complex character – charming and intriguing, but ultimately deeply unhappy.

As a huge movie fan, I was really struck by Harington’s performance in this episode. He completely portrays a prince who’s genuinely hurting, someone who’s lost their spark and is clearly buckling under the pressure of what everyone expects of him. He’s a shadow of the confident character we saw in season 3, forced to deal with a past that’s still haunting him now. It’s gotta be tough being an actor constantly measured against a role that really launched their career, and for Harington, you can’t really talk about his new work without Game of Thrones immediately coming to mind.

This episode, and others like it, truly showcases the actor at the peak of his career, and he unexpectedly stands out as one of the best parts of the show.

Despite his flaws, Henry remains strangely appealing – perhaps because he hasn’t changed much. He still subtly reminds Yasmin that marrying him gave her a certain social status, holding it over her as a silent source of tension. He uses this as a way to hurt her, even though their relationship initially seemed like a connection between two damaged people.

Abela is a standout in this series, and this episode truly showcases her talent. She powerfully portrays her distress at the idea of infidelity, even reacting physically, but then sharply demands Henry confront his drug use. This discovery gives her a way around their seemingly unbreakable prenuptial agreement. Harington and Abela have incredible chemistry, making even their most intense scenes captivating and compelling to watch.

The extravagant party is merely a setting for Henry’s increasing troubles, but he perks up when his old friend Edward Smith (Jack Farthing) arrives. Edward takes him to a pub and starts talking about cheating, and it’s clear he’s a negative influence. He even lets Henry brutally beat someone until they’re completely unable to defend themselves.

Edward tells Henry he wants to avoid any negativity that night at the pub. However, after the attack, a conversation with the local priest brings back memories of his father’s funeral. The priest apologizes for not speaking to Henry at the time, but when Henry tries to connect with Edward, he’s completely ignored, and Edward has vanished. Their relationship has dramatically changed – what was once a playful friendship is now marked by a cold distance.

The mystery unfolds when Edward dramatically removes his scarf, revealing a bloody neck – a truly frightening image. A pulsing drumbeat and the loud ticking of his watch create a sense of dread, hinting at something terrible about to happen. Meanwhile, Henry is shown in his garage, sealing the vents and starting a car engine, which unexpectedly causes a series of memories to flood back.

The scene opens with Edward chatting with a young boy in Henry’s kitchen, just after leaving the dining table. It quickly becomes apparent that Edward isn’t simply an old friend of Henry’s – he’s actually his father. We then see a brief, poignant image of present-day Henry caring for his father, followed by a childhood memory of watching Edward walk across their property towards a tree, carrying rope.

This episode is one of those that feels completely different after the big reveal. It’s more like a suspenseful thriller than a typical episode of the show, and it’s a really smart way to begin exploring Henry’s background.

The glimpse into Henry’s difficult childhood helps explain his enduring sense of wonder; he was robbed of a normal upbringing after witnessing something terrible. As they’ve done with other compelling characters in this show, creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay have crafted someone flawed but sympathetic. Henry may be a former politician who doesn’t even care for the area he represented, but like all the best characters in the series, he has a rich backstory, and Kit Harington delivers a performance that captures its emotional depth perfectly.

Okay, so Henry thankfully snaps out of it thanks to Yasmin’s voice and immediately rushes back to her. The moment they reunite, he falls right back into being completely submissive – and things get intense quickly, with a rather unsettling power dynamic at play. There’s a bizarre scene where they’re… well, let’s just say intimate, on top of his uncle’s car, and the uncle himself is watching from the window – seriously creepy. Henry seems oblivious to everything, but the lingering looks between Alexander and Yasmin make it painfully clear he’s being manipulated. It’s a setup, and honestly, I’m really eager to see what fallout comes from all this. The seeds are planted, and the tension is thick.

It’s challenging to stand out alongside such talented actors as Myha’la and Abela, especially with the impressive cast assembled for this new season of Industry. However, Harington delivers a powerful performance that surprises viewers and showcases his growth as an actor, offering a particularly moving portrayal this season.

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As a big fan, I’m happy to share where you can catch ‘Industry’! Here in the UK, you can stream the first three seasons on BBC iPlayer, and season four drops every Monday on both BBC One and iPlayer. If you’re in the US, HBO is where it’s at.

Keep up with Industry by adding it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download now to get daily TV recommendations and the latest features!

Authors

Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack writes about TV and streaming drama for TopMob. Before that, she was an Entertainment Writer at Stylist. She also has experience in content marketing and freelancing, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature.

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2026-01-19 16:26