HBO’s Upcoming TV Slate, the Many Ghosts of ‘Industry,’ and ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ E3

Summary of HBO’s Upcoming TV Slate, the Many Ghosts of ‘Industry,’ and ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ E3

by The Ringer

1h 19m•February 2, 2026
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Overview of The Watch — Episode: HBO’s Upcoming TV Slate, the Many Ghosts of ‘Industry,’ and ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ E3

Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald recap recent pop‑culture news, dig into HBO programming strategy after Casey Bloys’s Deadline interview, deliver a detailed episode breakdown and thematic reading of Industry (episode 4 of the new season), and react to episode 3 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (the House of the Dragon spinoff). The episode mixes show analysis with casting and industry takeaways, plus the hosts’ usual tangents (live show reports, gaming/parenting notes, and neighborhood gripes).

HBO’s slate & Casey Bloys interview — what matters

  • Big casting and program headlines from Casey Bloys’s interview:
    • The White Lotus season (next cycle) will include Helena Bonham Carter and Steve Coogan; other named cast: Alexander Ludwig and Chris Messina.
    • House of the Dragon is expected to end on season 4; A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (the Dunk & Egg series) is shooting season 2.
    • Euphoria is slated to return for season 3 in spring and could do a season 4.
    • HBO is developing companion/broadcast‑style projects for HBO Max: a cop series titled American Blue (Milo Ventimiglia cast; David Ayer to direct pilot) — part of a strategy to broaden shows into more traditional broadcast genres (cops, doctors, family).
  • Bloys emphasized cost‑efficiency and strategic franchise management (licensing deals, careful renewals, annual scheduling for some shows). Hosts note:
    • HBO is publicly framing decisions as “savvy business” moves — balancing prestige tentpoles and lower‑cost/franchise work.
    • The potential Warner/Netflix (or broader consolidation) question: what happens to HBO’s staggered, week‑by‑week release model and the brand stewardship in a new corporate structure? Hosts discuss how release cadence is central to HBO’s cultural footprint and how changes could alter conversation rhythms around shows.

Deep dive: Industry — episode recap, performances, and themes

Episode highlights (spoilers)

  • Major plot beats:
    • Jim Dyker (Charlie Heaton) delivers a long, philosophic speech (his “piece”/last will) and then dies (OD) by episode’s end.
    • Rishi (played by another lead) spirals and throws himself from his flat’s balcony as police arrive — survives with injuries.
    • Work/romantic tangles: Henry (Kit Harington), Whitney, Yasmin, and Haley (Kiernan Shipka) scenes escalate; Haley is promoted at Tender after a sexual encounter with Henry (a morally fraught plot choice).
    • Smaller threads: Pierpoint’s return as a brand/IP, Stern Tao short‑selling tensions, and the “ghosts” concept — recurring absent/mentoring figures (Clement, Nabhan Rizwan’s trainee) haunting characters’ arcs.
  • Music and direction: Ultravox and strong needle drops enhance the episode’s cinematic tenor; the show leans into stylized, clubby rhythms and late‑night energy.

Thematic reading & showcraft

  • The hosts argue Industry is now explicitly a show about performative adulthood: characters are “play‑acting” at responsibility—young people running massive ideas with hollow institutional scaffolding.
  • The season emphasizes:
    • A hollowed middle: old‑guard institutions remain as shells while the upstarts run markets and narratives.
    • Feedback loops: personal and professional lives blur (work and vice overlap on screens and in public).
    • Moral erosion & consequences: new characters (Diker, Rishi) are written into corners and allowed to crash — the show commits to dark, sometimes sudden outcomes rather than neat redemption arcs.
  • Standout performances:
    • Charlie Heaton (Jim Dyker): memorable, committed final arc; his monologue is singled out as a powerful closing testament.
    • Kit Harington (Henry): praised for physical acting, menacing presence, and emotional projection (noted as Emmy‑caliber).
    • A recurring note: the show’s staging, movement, and music make it feel more “lived‑in” and cinematic than many finance dramas.

Notable quote from the episode

  • Jim Dyker: “We age without getting older, stuck on a wheel of prediction and consumption.” (used by hosts as a thematic hinge for the season)

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms — episode 3 reaction

  • Big moment: the episode ends with the reveal that Egg is actually Aegon Targaryen — the hosts (both spoiler‑aware and delighted) praise the timing and staging.
  • Why it worked:
    • The reveal landed midseason at a dramatically fraught moment, maximizing emotional stakes rather than being delayed.
    • Direction (Sarah Dollard/Sara Dinah Smith?) and staging — low angles, score swell — were praised. Dan Romer’s music and even a standout horse performance were noted as elevating the 30‑minute format.
    • Performances: Finn Bennett’s antagonistic turn and the chemistry between Dunk and Egg were highlighted (teacher‑protégé dynamic).
  • Overall verdict: “Good telly” — the episode is fun, well‑crafted, and skillful about tempo and audience expectations, even for viewers who haven’t read the novellas.

Other shows, recs, and industry asides

  • New/ongoing projects to watch:
    • White Lotus upcoming season (casting excitement).
    • American Blue (cop show, Milo Ventimiglia) — watch for pilot/director David Ayer’s take.
    • Steel (Sophie Turner) — recommended by hosts as a satisfying heist/thriller on Amazon.
  • Industry conversation: hosts repeatedly return to the release model debate (week‑by‑week vs. binge), how HBO’s brand may be treated in any acquisition, and how executive public framing (costs, licensing) is shaping viewer expectations.
  • Side notes: Mal/Joanna reaction content for House of the Dragon is available elsewhere; media coverage around shows sometimes misses deeper programming philosophy (hosts wanted more probing questions in Bloys interview).

Other topics & light banter (short)

  • Chris Ryan’s Boston live shows and Travel Companions anecdotes.
  • Gaming and parenting: a quick discussion of indie game “What Remains of Edith Finch” and children’s YouTube/Roblox viewing habits.
  • Neighborhood rants (dog walkers/stop signs), music festival anecdotes, and brief sports mentions (Paul George news referenced obliquely).

Takeaways & what to watch next

  • Watch this week: Industry (current season) — episode 4 is a pivotal, dark turning point; A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 3 is a must‑see for the big reveal.
  • Keep an eye on HBO headlines: White Lotus casting updates; American Blue development; House of the Dragon / Knight of Seven Kingdoms production news; and possible shifts if corporate mergers happen.
  • The Watch’s coverage plan: hosts say they’ll return Thursday to discuss “The Pit” (HBO project conversation) and will post more coverage after the Friday releases (Super Bowl scheduling note).

Notable insights & moments

  • Bloys’s messaging = balancing prestige and cost‑efficiency; HBO is publicly justifying strategic, efficiency‑driven choices.
  • Industry’s creative risk: writers/directors are willing to write characters into corners and let them fall — rewarding, unpredictable storytelling.
  • A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms proves midseason reveals can be theatrically satisfying when staged and scored deliberately.

If you want a quick checklist:

  • Watch: Industry (new season, episode 4) and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (ep. 3).
  • Read: Deadline Casey Bloys interview (hosts linked it during the show) for the full HBO slate quotes.
  • Look out for: White Lotus casting news, American Blue development, and how HBO release strategies evolve if deals/change occur.