Industry season 4: wealth's shadowy facade takes center stage

The opulent settings of HBO's Industry have always been a draw, but season four delves deeper, using lavish locations – from historic estates to modern skyscrapers – to expose the darker underbelly of wealth. The show's production design has evolved beyond mere backdrop, becoming a character in itself.

Season four uses sets to portray the dark side of wealth

The series, which follows the ambitious young financiers at the fictional investment bank Pierpoint, has expanded its scope beyond the confines of the office. Characters like Harper Stern (Myha'la) and Yasmin Hanani (Marisa Abela) navigate a world of high-stakes deals across UK estates, sleek tech headquarters, and even a Welsh castle. This shift isn't just about visual spectacle; it's a deliberate commentary on the moral compromises inherent in the pursuit of money.

Production designer Simon Rogers emphasizes that the show avoids the glossy portrayal often seen in dramas about wealth. Instead, he aimed to reveal the decay and secrets hidden beneath the surface of these affluent environments. “We’re literally representing every single aspect of UK life,” Rogers explains. Unlike shows like Succession, which often present wealth with a certain reverence, Industry’s settings are imbued with a sense of unease.

One key set is the office of Tender, a fintech startup run by Whitney Halberstram (Max Minghella). Rogers opted for a space dominated by glass and hard surfaces, creating a sense of opacity. “It’s not a very safe place for any of the characters there,” he notes, highlighting how the design reflects the company's potentially deceptive practices.

Eric Tao (Ken Leung) establishes SternTao, his short-only fund, in a hotel suite saturated with gold, a deliberate nod to the myth of King Midas. The lavish space, costing an estimated $100,000 a month, underscores the immense financial stakes involved.

The most striking locations belong to the characters with established wealth. Henry Muck (Kit Harington) shares a country estate, which was assembled from multiple historic houses, including Longleat, a 16th-century estate. The show deliberately highlights the age and decay of these properties, exposing the dark history often associated with such fortunes. “They show their age, and it was just great,” Rogers says. “It’s a space full of decay and misery and terrible secrets and guilt and horror.”

For a pivotal episode involving Austrian banking interests, the production team sought a castle in Wales, Castell Coch, a Gothic Revival structure. While adjustments were needed to remove Welsh iconography, the castle provided the desired atmosphere of old money and hidden intrigue. Even seemingly small spaces, such as Harper’s modern apartment overlooking the London cityscape, contribute to her character’s trajectory.

The series also ventures to Ghana and South Africa, showcasing a range of environments from storefronts to beachfront bars. This ambition to visually represent a spectrum of experiences reinforces the show's exploration of wealth's multifaceted nature.

Rogers’ meticulous approach to set design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a narrative tool. Each location serves to amplify the characters’ inner lives and the moral ambiguities of their world. The settings are not mere backdrops; they are active participants in the unfolding drama. The choices made reflect not only the characters’ financial status but also the emotional toll of their pursuits.

The final episode of Industry season four will likely reveal even more about the characters and their fates. The show's visual storytelling already cements its position as a sharp commentary on contemporary finance – and the price of ambition.