HBO’s financial drama Industry returned with its Season 3 premiere on Sunday night, introducing Kit Harington to the chaos of Pierpoint & Co before shocking viewers with an unexpected death.
With main cast members Marisa Abela, Ken Leung and Myha’la Herrold back at the helm, the high-stakes series quickly left viewers speechless.
And the most shocking moment came midway through the episode, when Robert Spearing (played by Harry Lawtey) slept with his predatory client Nicole Craig (Sarah Parish) on his luxurious kitchen island, only to find her dead the next morning.
After having fun, the couple changed into matching pajamas and went to lie down on the garden loungers to chat.
“Why do you stay after fucking me?” Nicole asked.
Industry predator Nicole Craig (played by Sarah Parish) died in the season 3 premiere
Pierpoint & Co.’s long-time client died of cardiac arrest after sleeping with Robert Spearing, played by Harry Lawtey.
“I thought we were making love,” Robert mocked, before adding: “I don’t know why I’m still here.”
“You want me,” Nicole said. “We turn each other on. You’re you with me.”
The next morning, Robert woke up to rain falling on him. He turned around to see Nicole, who still had her eyes open and was lying lifeless beside him.
In shock, he quickly pushed her limp body away from him and she fell off the lounger and crashed to the ground.
On social media, fans shared their disbelief over Nicole’s death.
On Reddit, one said: “I gasped out loud for Nicole.”
“I’m so surprised,” another agreed, while a third added: “I was NOT expecting that!!! I was also out of breath lol.”
In X, a fourth exclaimed: “MY GOD, HE WOKE UP NEXT TO A CORPSE.”
Controversial character Nicole had sexually exploited Robert and her former Pierpoint colleague Harper throughout the show’s first two seasons.
Nicole and Robert had a complicated working relationship, with Nicole exploiting her power over the young banker.
Robert woke up completely soaked by the rain and found Nicole lifeless beside him.
After realizing she was dead, he instinctively pushed her away from him.
They then added: “What’s that 911 call like? Hey, I fucked this old lady and then we hugged and I woke up and she was dead.”
Industry insiders Mickey Down and Konrad Kay confirmed that Nicole died after a cardiac arrest.
Explaining why they decided to kill off a character in the first episode, Mickey said: ‘Look, there are a few different things.
‘There’s the practical matter of something pretty interesting and exciting happening in the first episode to a character we’ve spent so much time with.
‘But it also catalyzed one of the most important arcs of the season, which is Robert’s relationship with death, mortality, his ambition and the fact that everyone around him seems to be dying.
‘Influential female figures always die around her, which brings back memories of her mother and the trauma she had from her relationship with her.
Fans shared their disbelief over Nicole’s death on social media
“That will be explored further in later episodes, but it seemed like the perfect place to start.”
Speaking to IndieWire, Konrad added that despite filming scenes with Sarah’s eyes closed, they ultimately ended up using a shot of her with her eyes wide open for impact.
“We definitely wanted to be shocking, not in a cynical way,” she said. “We wanted people to say, ‘Oh my God, they really went there.’ And we wanted it to feel visceral when he pushes his body.”
Elsewhere, Game of Thrones actor Kit made his debut as Sir Henry Muck, the founder and CEO of green technology company Lumi, and a new Pierpoint & Co. client.
Game of Thrones star Kit Harington made his industry debut as Sir Henry Muck
Spectators were left blushing as Sir Henry showed off his toned physique during a game of handball.
Kit previously described his character as a “classy idiot” during an appearance on CBS Mornings.
“He’s always had this safety net under him, so he doesn’t need it; he can be whoever he wants to be, and that’s not always the best thing,” she joked.
Kit left viewers very angry after Sir Henry was spotted playing a topless game of handball with his uncles.
Addressing X, one exclaimed: ‘Kit Harington shirtless! Kit Harington shirtless! Kit Harington shirtless! Kit Harington shirtless!’
Another said: ‘Kit Harington is on #IndustryHBO this season, finally some eye candy.’
“Kit Harington looks amazing…” said a third.
Explaining why he was so interested in joining Industry, the self-proclaimed ‘fanboy’ previously said: ‘I just thought that, tonally, it was unlike anything I’d seen before.
‘The writing is really good, the characterization is good, the backdrop, the music… I was totally hooked.’