For fans of scripted dramas, Netflix is the place to be in September 2025.
We’ve been watching intense thrillers like The Guest and Black Rabbit, and now the streamer has released a new historical drama series inspired by real events: House of Guinness.
This well-written, creatively designed series from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is our latest television obsession — and it should be yours, too.
Pour yourself a tall, cold glass and find out why the Watch With Us team recommends House of Guinness as your next binge.
‘House of Guinness’ Is From the Same Writer of ‘Peaky Blinders’
Steven Knight, the writer and producer behind the BBC hit Peaky Blinders and now House of Guinness, is known for action thrillers like the Jason Statham film Hummingbird (released in the U.S. as Redemption). He brings that same brutal intensity to his new series.
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If you’re a fan of rough-and-tumble action, clenched fists and gritted teeth, House of Guinness could be the show for you.
It’s a Family Drama at Heart
As the title suggests, House of Guinness focuses on the Guinness family behind the now-iconic porter beer. It begins with the death of patriarch Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, who leaves behind grown children Arthur (Anthony Boyle), Edward (Louis Partridge), Anne (Emily Fairn) and Benjamin (Fionn O’Shea).
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From the moment we meet the four siblings, their dynamic feels authentic and lived-in. Getting sibling relationships right in a script can be tricky, but here their roles are instantly clear. They feel like people who love each other and grew up together. Just before their father’s funeral, Ann steps into the no-nonsense caregiver role, giving her brothers advice: “Edward, you change your shirt, Benjamin, change into some clothes you haven’t slept in, and Arthur, just change.” Their affectionate dynamic makes the disappointing bequests in their father’s will all the more dramatic — Anne is given nothing from her father because of her gender, Benjamin is kept out of the business because he is an alcoholic and Arthur and Edward must run the family business together or not at all.
Fans of Succession will enjoy the way business intrigue collides with family tension in House of Guinness.
It Examines a Historical Period That Hasn’t Been Explored Much
Historical accuracy isn’t the priority in House of Guinness — the onscreen text at the beginning of the show warns that “This fiction is inspired by true stories.” Don’t take every plot point as gospel. Still, the setting presents real social dynamics that defined the late 19th century — namely, the conflict between the working-class Fenians (rebellious Irish Catholics who sought independence from Britain) and upper-class Irish families allied with the Crown, like the Guinnesses. The two main Fenian characters are siblings Ellen and Patrick Cochrane (Niamh McCormack and Seamus O’Hara), who seek to bring down the Guinness family.
Other timely historical threads include Arthur’s homosexuality, which the family tacitly accepts but agrees must remain secret, as well as the pressure of advantageous marriages.
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It Has a Rock and Roll Aesthetic That Stands Out
Alongside its loose approach to history, House of Guinness embraces a rebellious aesthetic in its production design. Bold onscreen text breaks the fourth wall to provide context, while a rock-heavy, anachronistic soundtrack gives the 1860s setting a modern edge.
With only eight episodes, this stylish family drama is a quick binge — and a worthy one. Check out House of Guinness on Netflix now.
