If Episode 6 of Industry Season 4, “Dear Henry,” left you stunned when Eric Tao suddenly quit SternTao and walked out on Harper, you’re not alone. That exit felt abrupt and noble… but something was missing. Now, actor Ken Leung has spilled the real story—and it involves a deleted scene that changes everything.
The aired episode shows Eric telling Harper he’s leaving to “protect” her. Sweet, right? But the full emotional punch was cut. Leung recently explained the key moment left on the editing floor.
The Deleted Scene That Explains It All
In the missing sequence, Eric is at home with his wife and teenage daughter, Lily. He spots a nose ring on Lily’s face. For longtime viewers, that detail hits hard.
Back in Season 1, Eric mocked Harper for wearing a nose ring, calling her “cattle.” Seeing the same thing on his own daughter brings back the old, toxic Eric. He loses control, snaps at Lily, and falls right back into his worst behavior. It’s a brutal mirror moment—he hasn’t changed at all.
Why Eric Really Left SternTao
That family blow-up makes Eric face the painful truth: he’s still the same aggressive person deep down. Even after trying to be better at SternTao—where Harper actually had top billing—he realizes he’s failing as a father and as a man. When he tells his family he’s “going out for a pack of cigarettes,” it’s the classic excuse of someone running from himself.
Leung says Eric saw Harper as a “translator” to understand young women like his daughter. For the first time, he followed her lead. Losing that connection and facing his own flaws was too much.
Will Eric Come Back in Industry Season 5?
Nothing is confirmed yet, but Leung calls Eric and Harper “addicts” to the high-stakes finance world. Even if Eric is semi-retired in a quiet neighborhood right now, characters like him rarely stay away for long. The door is definitely open.
Quick Recap of the Deleted Scene Impact
- Trigger: Lily’s nose ring → callback to Eric bullying Harper in Season 1
- Reaction: Eric explodes at his daughter, showing he’s still toxic
- Decision: He quits SternTao because he can’t fix who he is
- Future: Leung hints at Eric’s addiction to the “game” → possible return
Industry Season 4 keeps delivering these gut-punch moments. Did the Eric Tao exit shock you? What do you think happens next? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’m reading every one
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