House of Guinness Recap Episode 2: So rich they don’t even know everything they own
- Cherish
- Oct 1
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 2
House of Guinness Season 1 Episode 2
When the lawyer of the late Benjamin Lee Guinness started listing his holdings during the reading of the will, surprising even his own children over their breadth, I wondered what the intent was of the scene. The easiest read would be that the show wanted to illustrate the near unimaginable wealth of the Guinnesses at that time. At the back of my mind, however, was this concern that the show of wealth was not just meant to impress upon the viewers the sheer magnitude of Guinness wealth, but to impress viewers with wealth.
Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I do enjoy wealth pron; my concern about House of Guinness is that I’m not entirely certain that it is entirely certain of its identity. When you craft a work of fiction — and this is fiction, the show itself made this clear, it is simply based on historical facts — it usually is because you have something to say, something you’d like to explore. At least for now, House of Guinness seem more comfortable with exploring family (as is) rather than the family in the context of massive social inequality. The bite I am looking for rears its head on occasion, but the show has yet to commit to its sting.
This is not to say that the second episode was not enjoyable. It was, and it was certainly welcome to learn more about the four Guinness children who by virtue of blood if not by will shall continue the family line.
Ellen Cochrane thought secrets were the way to advance the Brotherhood cause of an independent Ireland. After Rafferty tortured his way into getting information that pointed directly to Patrick, he paid him a visit, but the letter he wrote, the threat, was for Ellen, whom he viewed as the brains of their operation. Ellen responded by penning her own threat, that her group had proof or witnesses that Arthur has been having carnal relations with other men.
That was just one of two threats that faced Arthur and the Guinness clan. The second was delivered by Bonnie Champion via Benjamin, whom he did not kill after all (he never intended to, he knew his life would be forfeit if he killed Benjamin, Rafferty would see to that). Bonnie was proprietor of certain establishments that Arthur visited before he went to London, and a couple of times since he has been back. He wanted 5000 pounds in exchange for his silence. Whilst Arthur did not deny that he went to these disreputable houses, he claimed that was before he met someone.
That someone was Michael, a young lawyer, whom Arthur had clearly hoped to be with after he had received his Guinness inheritance and severed himself from his Guinness business ties. It seemed that Arthur and Michael had even previously discussed selling his shares to Edward, the very idea that Edward proposed. That was not to be, his father had seen to that. Old Benjamin Lee tied his sons Arthur and Edward together, and forced them to steward both the family and the business.
The brewery that was the source of the family wealth was left to Arthur and Edward jointly. Should one of the brothers decline, that brother was to forfeit everything. Given that Arthur had spent the last five years living in London, his father clearly knew of his intent to fly the coop, and acted accordingly. Arthur would not have known how to survive without the Guinness fortune.
Edward, too, was trapped in a partnership with a brother who had no interest in running the business. Edward to his credit did not allow his annoyance to hinder his plans for the business, specifically, the expansion to America. He also wanted to personally deal with Ellen Cochrane himself, and asked Rafferty to arrange it.
How big a deal would it have been had Ellen and Bonnie made good on their threats? According to Rafferty, it would end the brewery. I tried to find a real world case and found the Dublin Castle scandal, which happened roughly 16 years after the events at the beginning of House of Guinness. James Pillar, a respected grocery and wine merchant, who pleaded guilty to ‘buggery’, was sentenced to 20 years of penal servitude (hard labour).
Arthur brought up a good point — who would testify against a Guinness? But I suppose given the society at the time, mere whispers would have damned him. He was angry and broken hearted enough to not care about what would happen were his secret released into the world. Anthony Boyle did well on that night time brewery scene with Edward and Rafferty. Pain and defiance flashed through his eyes. He had spent years hiding who he was. His father’s will effectively prevented him from being with the man he loved. ‘Let them come. Let them see what I am.’
Once Arthur had gone, Edward calmly told Rafferty that he would arrange the money to pay Bonnie Champion. He also asked Rafferty to arrange a meeting with Ellen Cochrane somewhere that would impress her. That was Rafferty, the family protector, the Club Guinness bouncer, the keeper of secrets, the enforcer.
Was Edward being brave or stupid when he threatened Rafferty with imprisonment should he dare touch his sister Anne again? Perhaps a bit of both. If that annoyed Rafferty, he kept it to himself. He might have even respected Edward for trying to protect his sister.
Their father certainly did not see fit to protect Anne. He trapped her in an unhappy arranged marriage by ensuring that outside of access to the family properties (with her brothers’ permission), she received nothing from the will on account of her already being married. Her husband Rev. Plunket held her hand during the will reading when her name was mentioned, but as soon as it became clear that there was no money coming, he let go.
Anne had been feeling unwell, both of mind and body. She could feel herself growing weaker. She has consulted a doctor, who was running tests. The only sibling she tried to confide in was Edward, and whilst not cruel, he did not have the capacity to understand even half of what Anne was going through.
And then there was Benjamin, cut off from the will and given only a small monthly allowance. Whilst I absolutely judge Benjamin Lee’s decision to not provide for his daughter, to ensure that she would have no ideas about possibly leaving her husband because she was financially dependent on him, I cannot judge in the same manner his decision about Benjamin. Young Benjamin was an addict, and having seen what addiction can do first hand, access to an insane amount of money would likely not be in his best interest. Of course, Benjamin Lee could have added language providing for Benjamin’s future heirs, to at least show that he has not forgotten his son and has not given up on him, but he chose not to. He wanted the bulk of the business and fortune intact and in the hands of two sons – one who wanted to embrace it, and one who wanted to escape it.
The second episode of House of Guinness saw Edward not just embracing his responsibilities, but his power as well. More than his other siblings, Edward was the one who was focused on moving forward, on just getting on with things. That Edward was not yet particularly convincing as a snarling authority and looked more like a kid who tried, fit well with where the story was at the moment. After all, even their butler Potter fully expected the Guinness kids to mess up. He was probably the one amongst the staff who spent the most time with them, and he was not impressed with what he has so far seen.
Rating: B
Strays
👑Famiy was the theme of the episode, but also, chains – chains that bind, exploiting the weak links in a chain. Rafferty begun this thematic exploration by literally dragging chains through the cooperage. He wanted to know who unlocked the gates to let the Fenians in, who set fire to dozens of empty barrels. He put the men on quarter day shifts, which meant just a quarter pay, until names were written on the new lavatory wall. Later, he chained three men to chairs and violently questioned them. The weak links to the chain could also apply to the Guinness brood – Benjamin, Arthur’s secret.
👑Rev. Henry Grattan Guinness was also not happy that his cousin Benjamin Lee did not leave him money. Instead, all bequests to his missionary work would be at the discretion of Arthur.
👑Anne told Edward that he and Arthur must be generous with Benjamin. Anne is keeping this family together.
👑Edward wanted Anne to find suitable wives for him and Arthur. Later, Aunt Agnes gave Anne a list of prospective wives for Edward, and a much shorter list for Arthur. All of them knew of Arthur’s ‘complications’.
👑Edward wanted to send Anne to visit their properties they did not even know they had, and make an inventory. This is a lot of work, Edward, I hope you intend to pay your sister a good sum.
👑Edward referred to himself and Arthur as gods and, nope, this is earned, showed, not told.
Episode Writer: Steven Knight
Episode Director: Tom Shankland
Original Air Date: September 25, 2025