‘House of Guinness’ Review

Daniel Griffin

Opinion Editor

“You’ll Never Escape Your Name!” Uttered early in episode 2, this quote almost fully sums up what it means to be a Guinness in 19th century Ireland. Especially being the child of the late Arthur Guinness, a legendary beer-maker and figure for the Irish people, the beginning scenes of Netflix’s new biopic series, “House of Guiness,” has all that and more.

Setting the scene at the funeral procession of Arthur Guiness, the story takes a deep dive into the lives of his four pampered and unprepared children, Arthur, Edward, and Ben Guiness as well as his daughter Anne Plunket. Growing up with everything handed to them and life being easy, with the passing of their father and the announcement of the will in the day to follow, the Guiness children’s lives are about to be changed forever. Each expecting their fair share of the family’s riches and vast amounts of property, in the end just Arthur and Edward, the two eldest sons, end up receiving everything.

However, though this may seem like a blessing at first glance, in reality it means both brothers must equally share the pressure of running the entire business. Stating in the will that in order to keep their wealth they must continue to run the Guinness brand, while exciting for one brother, the other must put his personal plans to the side in order to follow his fathers wishes. The first being Edward, a more serious and guided figure, while the latter being Arthur, a more outgoing yet misguided individual, early on the audience learns the unique dynamic that will come to be played out.

Throughout the show having to deal with numerous scandals, as expected by a widely known family during this period, led by Steven Knight’s classic image into the darkness and mystery of the late 19th and early 20th centuries similar to his work with “Peaky Blinders,” this historical drama has it all. Most prevalent and obvious throughout the series being the conflict with the “Irish Republican Brotherhood,” also known as the Fenians, the constant battle of religion and political grounds is one that is seen out through the eyes of all characters.

Constantly in a cycle of making amends and re-evaluating, both Edward, who becomes acquainted with a woman of the IRA, and Arthur, carrying the dislike his father once had for these people of Dublin, there is much good and bad in this relationship. Also expanding their business into the United States with a family connection in New York City, these challenges and more are constantly unfolding for the Guiness family.

Additionally addressing allegations like Edward’s scandal with a romantic relationship with an IRA woman of a lower class as well as Arthur’s relationship with a man in a time which is sensitive to LGBTQ relationships, there is constant battle in the Guinness household. Constant fear, constant struggle, and constant decisions, Steven Knight truly brings it all to life in this exciting drama, one that you certainly cannot miss.