'House of Guinness' is a lavish tale of ambition, betrayal and brewing tensions

If you haven’t started binge-watching “House of Guinness”, what are you waiting for? 

The eight-part historical drama on Netflix is an intoxicating mix of scandal, power struggles, rebellion, forbidden romance, betrayal and political intrigue. 

As with most influential families, the legacy is underpinned by delicious drama and secrets. 

This series, inspired by the renowned family behind the Guinness brewing company in 19th-century Ireland and New York, opens with the passing of Benjamin Guinness, the man responsible for the extraordinary success of the Guinness brewery.

While his four children - Arthur Guinness ( Anthony Boyle), the eldest Guinness son, Edward Guinness (Louis Partridge), Anne Plunket (Emily Fairn), née Guinness, and Benjamin Lee Guinness II (Fionn O'Shea) - prepare to say their farewell, there is a rebellion brewing among the Fenian Brotherhood. 

However, Sean Rafferty (James Norton), the head warehouse foreman and security for Guinness Brewery, keeps a beady eye on the rabble-rousers, preparing to act if the crowd gets out of hand. 

Behind the scenes, there is much anxiety around who is meant to take over. While the siblings are having their own squabbles, their relatives are also eyeing a piece of the empire. 

When the will is read, Arthur, who has returned from his five-year stint in London, is to take over the family business with Edward by his side. Should either of them decline to fulfil their duties in the business, they will be cut off completely. 

Anne receives nothing as she is married. However, she is allowed access to the family estates as per the generosity of her brothers. Benjamin is given a modest allowance but no real responsibility due to his ongoing battle with addiction. 

However, there is much work to be done to take the company forward, including helping Arthur further his political ambition. 

Having spent his entire life working in the brewery, Edward is not only au fait with operations but also on how to take the Guinness name forward. 

His vision includes secretly expanding operations globally while launching community uplifting initiatives, which are spearheaded by his bleeding-heart sister.

Edward is smart and artful in how he executes his plan, which includes using Byron Hedges (Jack Gleeson), a distant Guinness-Fenian cousin, to look into them trading in New York. 

Behind closed doors, Edward is busy wheeling and dealing to make things happen for the family while also endearing Arthur to the people. However, as Arthur is gay, the task proves to be more challenging. For appearances, a suitable wife is found for him. 

Lady Olivia Hedges-White (Danielle Galligan) is of the right social standing, and her financial predicament makes her amenable to the deal on the table. However, she isn’t a pushover. Her chutzpah wins Arthur over.  

As much as most of the series revolves around Arthur and Edward, Sean also plays an integral role in the storyline. Aside from fixing the problems of the Guinness family, his charming personality has led to him having an affair with Anne and, at the request of Arthur, with Lady Olivia. 

Meanwhile, Edward also finds himself in a forbidden entanglement when he falls for Ellen Cochrane (Niamh McCormack, a local Fenian organiser alongside her brother Patrick Cochrane (Seamus O'Hara).

As with dynasty stories of this nature, family and business always come first. Personal sacrifices are par for the course. 

The series effectively uses the time period and costumes to immerse viewers in a cinematic experience. It also highlights the stark contrast between the rich, the poor and the servants through its various story arcs.

The clever direction, script, and casting are all equally ingenious. Given the cliffhanger ending, I anticipate a second season is on the way.

Rating: **** a standout series with exceptional qualities.