Netflix series creates division in the Guinness family
In Netflix’s House of Guinness, the death of patriarch Sir Benjamin Guinness left more than just the fortune. It left a battlefield. Instead of rallying around their famous name, his children splinter into rival camps, each carrying their own secrets and grudges.
What this series shows is less a story of unity and more a story of how inheritance can tear siblings apart.
For context, House of Guinness is set in 1860s Dublin. It follows Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben as they step into the spotlight of their family’s brewing empire after their father’s death. But here’s where we learn that carrying a legacy isn’t the same as agreeing on its future.
Every sibling has a different dream and ambition, and they are not contradictory to their actions. Arthur, the eldest, would rather sip wine in London than pour pints in Dublin. Edward, the youngest, sees himself as the true brains of the operation and is more than eager to claim control. Anne, weighed down by poor health, still pushes to use the Guinness wealth for good. And Ben? He is the wildcard who seems determined to gamble away both money and reputation.
How does the Guinness family fall apart?
The first major split comes between Arthur and Edward. Arthur, who is polished by London society, would rather drink wine at an art show than manage barrels of stout. He treats the brewery like a prison, and on the other hand, Edward, the youngest, can’t stand it. Edward is ambitious, sharp with numbers, and convinced he should be running the show. But every time he pushes forward, Arthur pushes back, and their brotherly bond turns into a rivalry.
Anne, meanwhile, feels completely out of place. She’s sickly but determined, trying to use her family’s money for charity and social change. But in a household run by men, she is brushed aside again and again. That dismissal becomes its own kind of division, where Anne is fighting her quiet battle while her brothers fight theirs.
Then there is Ben, the family’s loose cannon. If Arthur is reluctant and Edward is ambitious, Ben is reckless. He drinks, gambles, and jumps into scandals with both feet. His mess undercuts every attempt at stability, making him less of a partner and more of a ticking bomb. Instead of supporting his siblings, he makes their lives harder at every turn.
Love doesn’t save them either. Rather, it makes the divisions worse. Arthur marries Olivia in what looks like a practical match, only for jealousy and secrets to poison the union. Olivia’s affair with factory foreman Sean Rafferty turns into a mess that pits loyalty against desire. Edward isn’t immune either: his romance with Ellen collapses when ambition gets in the way. Every broken promise adds another layer of mistrust.
By the finale, the cracks are wide open. Arthur and Edward are at odds over power. Anne is sidelined despite her strength. Ben is spiralling out of control. Even their closest relationships outside the family turn into sources of betrayal. The Guinness name might carry power, but the siblings themselves can’t hold it together.
In the end, House of Guinness proves that money can buy power, but not peace. The Guinness siblings had everything: a name, a fortune, and a legacy. Yet every choice drives them further apart. If division is what makes drama worth watching, then the Guinness family has more than enough to pour.