Today Is the Perfect Day to Revisit Netflix’s 8-Part Sleeper Hit Miniseries

2 weeks ago 14

Published Mar 17, 2026, 6:29 AM EDT

Jenni grew up in South Jersey and developed a love for reality television at a young age when she first watched "The Osbournes." Often describing reality television as a "docuseries," Jenni loves exploring both the entertainment the shows provide and the deeper impact they have on America's cultural footprint.

Netflix’s House of Guinness attracted millions of viewers who tuned in to see what would happen to the Guinness family’s relationships and fortunes. It was an instant hit when it was released in the fall and whether you’ve already watched it or are looking for something new to binge, today is the perfect day to dive into it since it’s St. Patrick’s Day.

The Family Drama at the Heart of 'House of Guinness'

House of Guinness isn’t pretending to be a documentary and the show’s creators tell viewers in the opening credits that it’s a fictional story inspired by true events. True history buffs might get frustrated at the creative licenses the show takes with the story. But, it made for an interesting series, and, with millions of people searching for the “fact vs. fiction” of the show, probably increased a lot of viewer’s knowledge about the brewing dynasty.

The show takes viewers back to Dublin in the 19th century and opens with the four siblings learning about the creative ways their father has decided to divvy up his fortune. The oldest son, Arthur, is required to run the brewery with the youngest son, Edward. If either son chooses to leave the business, they’re required to forfeit their inheritance. The other two children, Ben, the black sheep, and Anne, the only daughter, receive their inheritance, but it’s extremely restricted in terms of how much money they receive and their impact on the brewery.

With so many stories that follow family drama, there inevitably ends up being one or several characters that you wish would just get cut from the show. Despite having only eight episodes, in House of Guinness, each sibling is given enough room to develop as a character that viewers are able to root for every one of them at different points in the series.

And, unlike a lot of other series that deal with family dynamics, the siblings aren’t always jockeying to take the other down. Of course, there’s a little bit of backstabbing and everyone is trying to make the most of their inheritance. But, as we saw in the final scene, the siblings are rooting for each other to succeed and want to be unified as they forge ahead – or at least try to be unified. It’s not only refreshing to see a show where the siblings root for each other, but it gives each of the characters a depth and story arc that’s lacking from some other succession shows.

'House of Guinness' Characters Get Better on a Second Watch

Each character gets space in the series to be their own person and forge their own path, but with four main characters and high-stakes political tension in the background, it’s easy for some characters to fall into the background. This is especially true for Anne, given that she’s not in line to inherit, well, just about anything, and she comes off at first as a meek woman being controlled by the men in her life.

On a second watch, viewers can focus on Anne as a significant character in her own right. She’s no longer an understated character with a story line getting lost in the loud power struggles between her brothers. When viewers have a chance to give Anne the attention she deserves, her quietness can feel deliberate and, instead of being a sad character to be pitied, Anne suddenly becomes a force that uses every action as a step toward finding independence.

Ben also gets better the second time you watch the show. On the first watch, it's easy to dismiss him because his story feels familiar. He's the black sheep who is going to struggle and then either have a redemption arc, or meet a tragic fate that serves as a turning point for the family. Focus goes to Arthur and Edward as they fight for the Guinness family legacy. But, the second time watching gives viewers a chance to bring Ben to the forefront and suddenly see all the brothers as a reflection of what legacy can do. While Arthur feels crushed by the pressure of inheriting a legacy, Ben shows the consequences of what happens when someone is cast out of their birthright.

Louis Partridge as Edward Guinness pouring a beer in 'House of Guinness.'

Anthony Boyle and Louis Partridge in House of Guinness

The show follows four siblings, plus a few incredible side characters who are each on their own quests to advance their fortunes, which is a lot of storylines to stay focused on. Plus, there’s a lot of historical context playing into the show, so a lot can get missed the first time someone watches the show.

Sean Rafferty is a fixer for the Guinness family and his costume has a key detail viewers likely missed while watching the show. On his jacket is a military buckle that Rafferty rubs throughout the show. Before becoming the Guinness family fixer, Rafferty served in the military and the buckle serves as a reminder of his background.

While Rafferty is a side character that is integral to the show, one very minor character almost definitely went unnoticed for most viewers. In one scene, Rafferty gets a bottle thrown at him during a bar fight scene. The man throwing the bottle is none other than the real life dad of James Norton, who plays Rafferty. Apparently, Norton’s dad likes to hang around sets that his son is on so he can be an extra in whatever project his son’s working on.

House of Guinness is a slow-burning drama that captured millions of fans when it first came out and might not be an obvious show to rewatch. But, with so many storylines and complex characters, there’s a lot that can get missed if you only watch the show one time. So, there’s no time like St. Patrick’s Day to start rewatching a show about the Guinness family legacy.