Industry’s Yasmin has always had the capacity to be awful, but the season 4 finale proves she’s gone to new heights

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*Warning: This article contains full spoilers for Industry season 4 episode 8, Both, And.*

Although this season of Industry gave Harper (Myha’la) more attention, which I appreciated, the finale ended up focusing heavily on a shocking and upsetting situation involving Yasmin.

These two women, who are like best friends, rivals, and sisters all rolled into one, are now heading in completely different directions. It feels like just yesterday we were celebrating their fun night out! But everything changed quickly – Yasmin (Marisa Abela) recently made some career choices that are honestly disastrous.

Although some viewers are upset that Yasmin has become a brothel keeper – as the actress Abela describes it – I believe this storyline is a logical development for her character.

Stick with me here.

Wow, Harper Sterling’s journey on Industry has been a wild ride! I remember initially rooting for her as this bright graduate navigating a really awkward work situation with Kenny. But over the four seasons, things got dark. They started hinting at a really difficult past, and then her father’s unexpected death – which she seemed to engineer – threw everything into chaos with a huge media frenzy. Through it all, it’s been fascinating to watch her, and I have to admit, I’m really invested in her budding relationship with Rob. It’s a complex character arc, and the show handles it surprisingly well.

Looking at Yasmin’s life as a whole, it’s clear she’s faced challenges despite growing up wealthy. She’s a complex character, just like anyone else in the high-stakes world of the show, which is what makes her so compelling. Her dramatic storyline in season four, while shocking to some, feels believable because she’s simply mirroring the behavior of the people she associates with.

Okay, so the film immediately throws you into a tough spot – you feel for the main character as we learn what she’s become involved in. But honestly, looking back, it doesn’t feel entirely out of the blue. It’s a really sad turn for her, but the seeds of it were definitely there from the start, making it a tragically believable arc.

It’s obvious that Ghislaine Maxwell’s life served as a major influence on season 4, with the show heavily drawing comparisons between Yasmin and the convicted criminal. Yasmin’s character arc has shifted from seeking power for herself to marrying into it, and ultimately, to facilitating the actions of influential men, regardless of the consequences.

At the end of the show, as Harper finally understands things, Yasmin shares how much this experience has meant to her, saying, “I feel like I matter here… like I’m needed. I feel like a fresh start, and I’m hurting less.” That’s all she needs, she explains.

Her “pain” isn’t simply about her divorce from Henry. Honestly, she seemed to value the status and connections the Muck family provided more than she valued Henry himself. The real source of her suffering, as highlighted by her repeated listening to her late father’s voicemail, is the lasting impact of his actions on her life.

Growing up, she felt powerless, and that’s been a driving force for her throughout the series. Now, by taking control – even if it’s unsettling – she’s finally achieved the sense of security, or “protection,” that she’s always craved, according to series co-creator Mickey Down in an interview with Variety.

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Few viewers likely predicted Yasmin would become a human trafficker by the season’s end. However, looking back at her actions, it’s not entirely shocking. Throughout the series, Yasmin consistently demonstrated a cruel, manipulative, and dismissive side, hinting at this potential turn.

Yasmin has a pattern of manipulating people’s feelings. She’s repeatedly hurt Harper and cruelly led Rob on, announcing her engagement just after making him think they had a future. Her cutting remarks often shock viewers—especially those directed at Kenny and Henry this season—and usually happen when she feels challenged or threatened.

Those actions weren’t illegal, but this season Yasmin repeatedly showed poor judgment, especially regarding politics. She admitted she doesn’t vote, even though her husband is a Conservative MP, and openly admitted she didn’t want to discourage support for a politician from the Reform party. Most shockingly, she seated a Black friend next to known Nazis at a dinner party.

Yasmin isn’t a particularly likable character, and though we might feel sorry for her at times, she’s deliberately flawed, like most characters in this world. In fact, she’s been surprisingly ruthless this season, even while trying to stay out of the spotlight.

We’re not asking viewers to justify her actions, just to remember how the character evolved over the first four seasons and understand this outcome feels like a natural step for her,” explained Mickey Down, a co-creator of the series, in an interview with Variety. “It’s difficult to watch, though, because the actress Marisa is so good at portraying emotion and making the audience connect with her character.

Down expressed his hope that the episode would provoke thought among viewers, but also that the historical context and the character’s established traits would help people grasp her motivations, even if they found her actions disturbing.

While Yasmin’s dramatic shift is important, a real disappointment of the season 4 finale was how it damaged her friendship with Harper. Their relationship has often been confusing, but it seemed they had finally rebuilt a close, sisterly connection. However, like many viewers, Harper was deeply upset and worried by the path Yasmin chose.

Throughout the four seasons of the show, Harper hasn’t shown genuine love for anyone – not her brother, mother, friends, coworkers, or even Eric, the person she mentored. However, her feelings for Yasmin are undeniable, especially considering how far she went to protect her from Kwabena’s criticism. That’s why their eventual separation is so painful to watch.

Now that Industry has been announced as ending with its fifth season, and with speculation that Sacha Dhawan will reprise his role, fans are wondering what will happen with Yasmin’s character. The show isn’t afraid to feature flawed characters, and just as Eric’s story ended when his serious wrongdoing was revealed, should Yasmin’s arc also come to a close if she continues down a problematic path?

The show has evolved from a complex financial thriller into something much deeper, exploring unexpected themes and storylines. While it’s unlikely the next season will make us sympathize with Yasmin, the show continues to present her actions in a way that almost justifies them. This raises the question: has Yasmin gone too far for a redemptive story, or is it still possible to save her?

I’m holding off on forming an opinion until I see more, but if Yasmin in season 4 was terrifying, I can only imagine what season 5 will bring.

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Industry seasons 1-4 are available to stream on BBC iPlayer in the UK.

Keep up with Industry by adding it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download now to get daily TV recommendations, news, and 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 BA degree in English Literature.

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2026-03-02 21:07