Netflix has just released House of Guinness, a new series which is undoubtedly one of the biggest Irish shows ever made.
Boasting a huge ensemble cast and created by Steven Knight (the maker of Peaky Blinders), the epic drama’s opening titles state that it is “a fiction inspired by true stories”.
Beginning in 1868 in British-occupied Ireland, the series revolves around the uber-wealthy and Anglo-Irish Guinness family in the wake of its patriarch Benjamin’s death.
As the Irish republican movement is growing, it soon becomes clear that Benjamin’s four squabbling young adult children (played by Anthony Boyle, Emily Fairn, Fionn O’Shea and Louis Partridge) must adapt with the times if they want their family’s business to survive and thrive.
Having watched six of House of Guinness’ eight episodes, our verdict is that the show is well worth seeking out.
The pilot episode does throw a lot of different characters and information at the viewer, perhaps at the expense of establishing a consistent pace or tone. Indeed, during this opening hour, you may wonder why you are watching a show focused on the Guinness family, as opposed to the Fenian revolutionaries (represented by the excellent Niamh McCormack and Seamus O’Hara).
That said, the show snaps into focus within the opening moments of episode two. This is when a will reading for Mr Benjamin Guinness spurs on some big revelations to viewers, while also sending each of the four main siblings on their own separate and compelling character arcs.
Most of the fun of the series is witnessing these individual journeys ping-pong against each other and the changes in Irish society unfolding around them in thrilling, unexpected ways.
It’s clear that creator Steven Knight looked at the broad history of Ireland and the Guinness family, using it as a jumping-off point to craft another one of his now trademark yarns about the clash between commerce, crime and revolution.
