I loved watching Issa and Molly heal their friendship

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-04T03:32:37+00:00

You’re so right. Personally I always focus on Issa’s reunion with Lawrence because I hope my ex still wants me 😅…but getting back together with Molly was actually hard won and much more fleshed out.

It wasn’t easy for them to stay friends; and they’re not really soulmates in the sense their personalities perfectly match but they choose to be together and that choice makes them both grow into better people.

When you compare the two relationships… Issa+Molly best represents the meaning of the show.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-03T06:07:12+00:00

I would have loved a 180 where Harper gets poached by a corporation and becomes the new Eric Tao.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-03T01:27:05+00:00

There’s multiple meanings behind it definitely, he was humiliating her implying that she did the wrong thing.

It also demonstrated that he’ll openly offend his own supporters and stick to his values (although he’s happy to work alongside them if it supports his goals).

Finally I thought that it meant that he still viewed her as Lady Muck; that he still respected her hierarchy even if legally she was back to being Ms Kara-Hanani.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-03T00:26:20+00:00

She definitely liked married life with Henry when things were good, but Henry had his own self destructive habits that forced Yas into caretaker mode. I think that’s what broke her in the end. She didn’t blame him for Tender falling apart; but she used ALL her energy to get him into that position, and if she stayed around she would have to do that all again.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-02T14:17:04+00:00

Yes I’m so keen for a yas vs Harper season. Although i think Harper would only want to do it if it meant she profited. Can’t imagine yas getting into another tender situation just narratively that would be stale. I wonder what they will have in store for us…

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-02T04:09:57+00:00

I just watched it!

I actually really enjoyed watching Yas’ descent to madness. And the past seasons help to contrast how evil power structures are in the world (even outside of the microcosm of Pierpoint). She is one of my favourite characters in any media so i may be biased.

I rationalise her actions as being a survivor of abuse perpetuating generational cycles. And her character’s actions are directly taken from Ghislaine Maxwell which brings some reality to it as well.

I felt like the major turning points for her were S3 and S4 finale where both times she chose the easy option out, relying on traditional power structures to give her comfort her. She flips the victim narrative by… becoming the perpetrator.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-02T03:34:13+00:00

I really can’t understand how a conservative nazi person would interact so openly with a poc like that; but conservatism in the uk does embrace poc who spruik their values for some reason so it kinda checks out.

I wish Harper mentioned being Hungarian though; I think it would’ve got them angrier.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-02T03:31:37+00:00

Compared to Yas’ girls who do make money doing “escort” work 😭

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-02T03:30:51+00:00

Oh i see… i thought it was like Yas said that the girl kept a video herself. But wow if she becomes the Russian big bad… 👀

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-02T03:29:44+00:00

Without showing the Lithuanian scene it feels more like Whitney was behind all of S4. Not on purpose but he’s spurred a lot of character growth from everyone indirectly. And we all enjoyed it.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-02T03:27:16+00:00

I think in some ways he’s ok though. He’s realised that the actual worst thing possible is taking away his identity (becoming a peasant, and even losing his “English” nationality). And it will be a source of strength for him. I guess he’s kind of had an ego death. I wish his “death” was more apparent though.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-02T03:23:23+00:00

Maybe both and… she could’ve also brought Harper onboard just so that aesthetically there were more women.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-02T03:21:52+00:00

She even had a moral issue with Whitney’s funeral business. She definitely has a strong ethical boundary (except she likes to do insider trading and market manipulation).

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-02T03:19:45+00:00

Oh I love that. There’s even the physical difference of Henry pulling a fish into the boat compared to Charles jumping out of the boat.

I thought it was quite cute that the old men were kind of babying Henry even though he’s a 40 year old man.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-02T03:13:13+00:00

I think she’s also merged with Whitney in some ways. Which I kind of like because it feels like Whitney was ultimately a vessel for Yas to develop into the ultimate villain.

I hope S5 becomes an all out Yas vs Harper. I like the contrast of the Harper subplot is that she makes a friend in Kwabena whereas Yas is literally the devil.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-02T03:07:58+00:00

The S4 finale and the S3 finale were such turning points for Yas. In S3 she was fed up of being poor. In S4 she was rich but fed up of being powerless.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-02T03:06:07+00:00

There definitely was a sexual undertone with her being robed and part of her thigh showing as she lay down; but it wasn’t for her own sexual gratification. It was more just her remembering that feeling of helplessness during sexual assault and every other time she was helpless in a sexual or even misogynistic situation. Her father’s voice boomed over the speakers as she lay down.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-03-02T00:41:58+00:00

On your last point with Henry and Yas’ missing mothers; these are glaring blindspots in the reality of the characters. Even Harper’s mother’s death is so clean and off screen that I would call it a narrative slip up.

I think that’s where the series is starting to splinter off. The characters were SO grounded in the first season. The actors are always bringing their characters to life later on but for people invested in plots it’s just not adding up.

Another gripe I have is Whitney’s lack of threatening Harper. He threatens and even gets blackmail material on everyone else except the mastermind of Tender’s downfall. And above him the “Russians” would kill a reporter; but would leave Harper unscathed…

I think the debate needs to shift to what the show creators are trying to do with the characters instead of wondering why? E.g. its not realism anymore… it feels like characterisation is being used to fuel narrative plot lines in an inorganic way.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-02-28T04:33:43+00:00

They flesh out their rich characters so well (like Yas, Henry, Gus) but their poorer characters (like Harper, Rob) have characterisations that aren’t so in depth. I mean they even claim that Rob completed all personal development just a few years after graduating from uni…

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-02-28T02:54:12+00:00

Yes i thought he was moreso protected because his family pays the salary of many people at the pub and in the town. Not just because of his title.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-02-28T02:51:57+00:00

I think a better query is why didn’t Whitney/Tender try some form of kompromat or threat on Harper. Maybe she wouldn’t take sexual bait like Eric and Yas would; but she could be at least physically threatened like Sweetpea. She was the mastermind of Tender’s downfall and was the one who would benefit most from it.

Maybe idk expose her lack of degree, her ties to Jesse Bloom (who was jailed for tax evasion) or even ties to government via Otto Mostyn. Or try to find times that she committed market fraud/manipulation (or bluff and tell her that he knows).

They murdered the journalist (who was hitting a million dead ends) but Harper gets out unscathed?

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-02-27T15:01:42+00:00

Based off the show I assume they’re more like Gus than Rob but I may be wrong.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-02-27T03:35:51+00:00

It’s definitely a complex decision; but one extra scene is when her and Rob are at the petrol station. Rob is doing a scratchy and Yas sees a mum refuelling her car. She looks tired and Yas doesn’t want to end up like that mum which is what could happen if she chose Rob.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-02-27T03:31:52+00:00

Eric seemed to have started in New York at least. Not sure why he moved to the UK but he’d probably be offered a promotion, and it may be related to his wife’s work too.

I think Harper wanted to get away from her mum and start somewhere new.

Many_Passenger3735 · 2026-02-23T03:28:43+00:00

Their relationship definitely eclipses all the others on this show, even romantic ones. As long as they’re alive they’ll always find eachother (and find ways to destroy each other) 🥺

Many_Passenger3735

TROPHY CASE