Sixty-two minutes into the Season Three finale ofIndustry, you might have mistakenly thought it was safe to exhale.
College dropout Harper Stern (Myhala) was having a #GirlBoss moment inForbesmagazine.
Even so-called sad boy Rob Spearing (Harry Lawtey) was getting a fresh start in Silicon Valley.
Sagar Radia as Rishi in ‘Industry.‘Simon Ridgway/HBO
But,IndustrybeingIndustry, the show had other ideas.
The finales brief flicker of harmony was shattered by Rishi Ramdani (Sagar Radia) finally getting his comeuppance.
Their dispute escalates and Vinay shoots Rishis wife, Diana (Emily Barber), in the head.
Her blood splatters all over him.
The shocking moment came out of co-creators Konrad Kay and Mickey Down ruminating on the idea of repercussions.
Because Rishi, like a lot of the characters, has never had to face any.
Rishis tumultuous narrative arc began in the seasons fourth episode, White Mischief.
It was the twentieth episode ofIndustry, so we wanted it to be high-octane and fast-paced, Down says.
Sort of like a palate cleanser, but also not, because its so anxiety-inducing.
In White Mischief, Rishi careens from one calamity to another as his gambling addiction spirals out of control.
Debt collector Vinay keeps appearing at random intervals, upping the tension.
You have a moment of terror, then you get to work.
Prior to this point, the audience didnt know a huge amount about Rishi.
On the surface, the show revolves around the pursuit of money.
But really, its about theU.K.s elitist class system, which you cant always buy your way into.
And for a character like Rishi, its also about what it means to be a man.
We soon learn that Rishi has two distinct personas.
At work, hes bullish and brash.
But at home, we see hes much more insecure.
He has moved his wife a self-described English country rose to the leafy countryside.
Living near where she grew up, Rishi uses Diana to fulfill some kind of upward class-mobility fantasy.
(Cricket is most popular in former British colonies, including Pakistan and India.)
Its something Radia can relate to himself.
Being a British South Asian, I know that feeling of othering, he says.
Whether its his dirty jokes or flashy sports car, Rishis bravado is a protection tactic.
Obviously Rishi behaves appallingly, says Down.
Finally, he seems ashamed of his behavior.
In many ways, Rishi is a character who doesnt fit within existing stereotypes.
It made sure the story never lost any energy.
And just when it looks like he might start to sort himself out, he immediately starts betting again.
This is maddening to watch, but its not far removed from what Radia discovered while researching the role.
Its almost as if the lower the low, the higher the high will be.
Its about that process.
And theyveryrarely say that.
Normally they want us to push it further, be darker, and be more provocative, Down says.
Even after filming had wrapped, HBO still had reservations that the scene didnt feel like the show.
It was only when they saw it in the context of the episode that they agreed it worked.
The act feels like retribution for Rishis treatment of women, too.
Throughout Season Three, he continually slut-shames Sweetpea, a junior colleague he is sleeping with.
(Or she puts it, a dull breeding machine.)
I believe his story isnt quite closed, says Radia.
I think theres still something there, and Ive been thinking a lot about what that looks like.
It signals that the show is going to be very, very different now, Kay teases.
Were going to see a part of London and the finance world that is even more complex and corrupt.
