Season 3 of Industry has been shown in the US, but not yet in the UK

"Industry is set in London with a mostly British cast and British creators, it’s genuinely astounding that *we* get it like a year after they do in the US,’ 

- Posted by user txadel posted on X (formerly Twitter)

British fans of the BBC Two and HBO series Industry are irritated that show's new season is already being shown in the United States, while they don't even know when it will be available in the United Kingdom.  The series is a co-production between the BBC and HBO.  It debuted on November 9, 2020 on HBO in the United States, and on November 10, 2020 on BBC Two in the UK.  It chronicles the fortunes of a group of young graduates as they vie for permanent positions at Pierpoint & Co, a distinguished London investment bank.  

T\he co-creators of the series, Konrad Kay and Mickey Down, both have backgrounds in the cutthroat world of finance.  Therefore, it is not surprising that Industry is cynical and controversial.  It also very popular with many viewers.

The second season of Industry was released in August 2022  The series was renewed for an eight-episode third season, which premiered in the United States on August 11, 2024.  Fans in the UK are disappointed and annoyed that they won't be able to watch the new season for a while.  An air date has not even been confirmed yet.  British viewers were only informed that "Industry season three will be available to stream in the US from 11 August and on the BBC in the UK later in the year."

On HBO, Industry now gets a coveted Sunday night slot, replacing House of the Dragon, which just completed its second season.  Francesca Orsi, head of drama for HBO stated, "We have high hopes tor the show.  She said that if "the world embraces Season 3 in the way that we have, both in its critical praise but also its viewership, there's no question that we want to continue moving forward with it."

For its third season, Industry is presenting a wider vision, which it hopes will attract larger audiences  The show is not restricting itself to events directly involving Pinepoint & Co.  It is moving beyond the financial happenings on the trading floor.  The new season begins with a flashback to hedonistic party on a luxury yacht.  It features a drug-induced hallucination sequences, plus several mysteries and deaths.  The storylines are more complex and there is wider range of tones and filming maneuvers.

For the third season, there is also an important addition to the cast of Industry - English actor Kit Harrington, known for his starring role as Jon Snow on the HBO series Game of Thrones.  Harrington has taken on the role of the aristocratic Henty Muck,  Muck operates Lumi a green-tech company. Pierpoint & Co is handling Lumi's initial public offering (IPO).

Kit Harrington

Entitled "Il Mattino ha L'Oro Bocca" ("Early to Bed, Early to Rise"'), Season 3's premiere episode on HBO received rave revies from fans and critics.  Here is the official synopsis of Industry's new season.

"In season three, as Pierpoint looks to the future and takes a big bet on ethical investing, Yasmin (Kara-Hanani), Robert (Spearing), and Eric (Tao) find themselves front and centre in the splashy IPO of Lumi, a green tech energy company, led by Sir Henry Muck, in a story that runs all the way to the very top of finance, media and government."

Yasmin, played by English actress Marisa Albea, a graduate from a wealthy background, is fluent in several languages.  She is assigned to Foreign Exchange Sales (FX) desk at Pierpoint.

Marisa Albea

British actor Harry Lawtey portrays Robert Spearing, a graduate of  Oxford University.  Robert comes from a working class Welsh family and is assigned to the Currency Processing Solutions (CPS) desk at Pierpoint.

Harry Lawtey

American actor Ken Leung plays Eric Tao, the CPS managing director.

Ken Leung

SOURCES: New York Times, "Industry' Is Back With Boats, Cocaine and Bigger Ambitions," by Esther Zuckerman. August 9, 2024;; Express, "BBC viewers furious as they're unable to stream much loved series: It's a British Show!" by Kelly Smith,, August 19, 2024; Wikipedia,

- Joanne

Son of a Critch will be back for a 4th season

Son of a Critch is one of my favourite shows on Canadian TV.  Based on comedian Mark Critch's 2018 bestselling memoir about his childhood in 1980s Newfoundland, the series explores such themes as friendship, family, bullying and coming-of-age.  According to Deadline, it has been renewed for a fourth season.  Season 4 will focus on the beginning of Mark's high school years on the cusp of the 1990s.  There will be 13 episodes, filmed in St. John's.  It will air in the winter of 2024 on CBC.

Son of a Critch's stellar cast will also be returning. 15-year-old British actor Benjamin Evan Ainsworth stars as the young Mark Critch.  Benjamin plays his role excellently and I am an admirer of his acting ability.  He is known for his performances in The Haunting of Bly Manor and Flora & Unlysess  He also provided the voice of Pinnochio in Disney's live-action remake.  In Son of a Critch, he convincingly portrays young Mark, an adolescent who uses comedy to fit in, make friends, and find his niche in the world.

Ainsworth, a native of Nottingham, East Midlands, England, will turn 16 on September 25, 2024.  He portrays Mark with a General North American accent that could be from Toronto or Los Angeles.  In a 2022, the actor responded to a comment from a Big Issue interviewer that watching him in Son of a Critch and Pinnochio, "I'd never have know you were English. . ."    Ainsworth replied, "It takes a lot of work.  And with Son of a Critch, the Newfoundland accents are so particular.  I go back to normal between scenes.  On set it's so relaxed and everyone's really chilled.  It's nice to just be my normal self.  And then when it's time to roll, step into that character."

In the penultimate episode of the third season of  Son of a Critch, entitled "Cabaret,"Ainworth, as young Mark starts to get his feet wet as a stand-up comedian.  Lacking a voice of  his own, he imitates the distinct Newfoundland accents of those with whom he's most familiar, his family and friends.  

Ainsworth

The real Mark Critch is the star of CBC's long-running sketch comedy show, This Hour has 22 Minutes.  In Son of a Critch, he portrays his own father, Mike, a broadcaster for local radio station VOCM.  Crich co-created this original CBC comedy in which he relives his own awkward adolescence. He serves as actor/producer and writer for the series.

Mark Critch

Rankin

Claire Rankin, who was born and raised in Prince Edward Island, plays Mary Critch, Mark's mother. Rankin is a trained singer and dancer, and she has performed with the Shakespearean Stratford Festival.

McDowell

Veteran English actor Malcolm McDowell, 81, plays Mark's mischievous grandfather, Patrick "Pope" Critch, with whom Mark shares a room.  Director Stanley Kubrick cast McDowell as Alex in his 1971 film A Clockwork Orange.  On television, McDowell appeared as Domford Yates' gentleman hero Richard Chandos in the BBC;s 1978 adaptation of She Fell Among Thieves.

Gobbo

Colton Gobbo, 23, a native of Sudbury, Ontario, plays Mark's long-haired older brother, Mike Critch, Jr.  In 2021, Gobbo was cast in his first major role.  He played Noah, the son of Naomi Watt's character in the thriller film The Desperate Hour.  

Powers

Sophia Powers plays Jennifer Fox, Mark's red-haired bully turned love interest.  Born and raised in North Vancouver, Powers has also appeared in the TV movies Fourth Down and Love (2023) and Unexpected Grace (2023).  The character of "Fox" was written as a female for the TV series.

Rivera

Mark's best friend, Richie Perez, is portrayed by Mark Ezekiel Rivera.  Ritchie is of  Filipino background and seems to be the only student of colour at his school. He is bullied because of his Asian heritage.

Son of a Critch premiered on CBC on January 4, 2022.  In an article in The Canadian Press, just before the show's debut, Mark Critch is quoted as saying, “It’s not a biopic, it’s not a documentary, but the spine of every episode is a true story.” The series, however, can best be described as semi-autobiographical.  There are both difference and similarities between Critch's book and the TV series.

Every chapter of Critch's book focuses on one day of each year of his early life in Newfoundland.  His mother is featured most prominently in the memoir. while the roles of his father and brother are expanded in the television series.  Mark's grandfather, who wasn't mentioned as living with the family in the book, is also given an expanded role in the series.

In Son of a Crich's third season finale, entitled "Forever Young," Mark is given the task of delivering the valedictorian speech at his school's graduation.  It causes him to reflect on how his family and friends have affected his life.  

I'm looking forward to the show's fourth season as Mark begins his high school years.  How will things go with his romance with Fox?  What's in store for the Critch family?  

END NOTE

* Mark Critch's real-life father, Mike, passed away in 2015 at the age of 93.  According hi obituaries Mike Critch was a journalist for VOCM for over 20 years, beginning in the 1960s.  Mark's real-life brother, Mike Jr., also became a radio personality.  On the TV series, Mike Jr. works at VOCM and changes his name to Mike Campbell, in order to avoid confusion with his father.  The real Mike Critch, Jr. actually did change his name to Mike Campbell.  Michael E. Critch was married to his wife, Mary, for 49 years when he passed away.

Mike Critch, Sr.

- Joanne