Performers of the Week: Marisa Abela and Myha’la
THE PERFORMERS | Marisa Abela and Myha’la
THE SHOW | Industry
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THE EPISODE | “Nikki Beach, or: So Many Ways to Lose” (Sept. 15, 2024)
THE PERFORMANCES | There’s no stopping Industry’s third season, which delivered even more stunning performances this week, as frenemies Harper and Yasmin morphed into full-blown enemies.
At the top, Abela was shellshocked as Yas confessed to Harper that she froze after her father’s fateful deep-sea plunge. Through a catatonic expression and tears, the actress flooded our screens with grief and fear as Harper scurried to pick up her shattered pieces.
With pressure from Petra to use Yasmin as their smoking gun, Harper was caught between a rock and a hard place. Myha’la expertly handled her character’s confliction, seesawing between badass businesswoman and a friend wracked with guilt. The actress even kept a collected demeanor when Eric stormed in to ream Harper out, all while managing to take a not-so-subtle dig at his broken family situation — savage!
But the real fireworks would soon explode in both characters’ faces. After Yas was fired for forking over proprietary Pierpoint information, she unleashed F-bombs on Harper, kickstarting a fiery encounter that had our jaws planted firmly on the ground. “My pain is useful to you. You revel in my disgrace,” she seethed. Harper didn’t just sit back and take it. “You are talentless and useless and a f–king whore,” she barked back.
Both actresses delivered a masterclass back-and-forth, unloading long-held resentments with a relationship-busting finality. Myha’la and Abela’s deliveries were pitch-perfect verbal beatdowns, as both performers showcased deep-seated pain through hurt eyes. Harper and Yasmin knew damn well that there were heaps of truth in the daggers they threw. And the crowning jewel: a surprising slap across Harper’s face and a second thwack returned back to Yas. The entire scene was everything — thrilling, soapy, shocking — bolstered by the dynamic showings of two up-and-comers who have so solidly staked their dramatic claim.
Scroll down to see who scored Honorable Mention shout-outs this week…
HONORABLE MENTION: Paul Rudd
Hollywood Nice Guy Paul Rudd is very good at playing a—holes. First came movie star Ben Glenroy… then came Ben’s stunt double, Glen Stubbins. Rudd’s surprise return to Only Murders in the Building this week was nothing short of sublime… you know, in an off-the-rails sorta way. He spent his limited screen time hamming it up — laying on the thick Irish brogue, referring to his fists as “Bono” and “The Edge,” and making an absolute meal out of Glen’s insane physicality. Whether he was stomping on imaginary rats (due to a probable concussion… or two… or seven) or taking it upon himself to “audition” for the Only Murders movie despite the trio’s insistence that he not purposely harm himself, Rudd was fully committed to the bit. He’s just so gosh darn convincing as an imbecile. — Ryan Schwartz
HONORABLE MENTION: Stephanie Koenig
High school teachers are supposed to be the adults in the room, but Stephanie Koenig cracked us up by acting totally immature this week on FX’s English Teacher. Her character Gwen was spiraling with insecurity and self-doubt when she learned she ranks 26th (gasp!) on an anonymous student’s list of the school’s hottest teachers. Koenig was hilariously unhinged as Gwen first declared she would shut the list down — “for feminist reasons,” of course — and then suddenly started dressing more provocatively, all while insisting, “I always look like this!” (The sight gag of her wearing a slinky pink bandage dress to a casual get-together was priceless.) She was endearingly vulnerable, too, when Gwen confronted the student who made the list… and actually ended up taking some fashion tips from him. If we made a list of the funniest people on TV right now, rest assured that Koenig would rank way above 26th. — Dave Nemetz
Which performance(s) knocked your socks off this week? Tell us in the comments!
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