Overly commercial yet charged, and witty, House of Guinness (2025) seems to be the lovechild of Peaky Blinders and Succession – just infused with an Irish spirit, modern, fast-paced montage, and a killer score!

Steven Knight’s new historical drama series aired on Netflix yesterday, September 25th, and social media platforms are already raving about the Guinness family scandals and the “badass”-ness of the actors portraying them. The star cast surprisingly did not disappoint! (for a Netflix series, given I had 0 expectations)

Dublin, 1868. “Inspired by true stories,” the plot revolves around the Guinness family, more so the four children of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, as they try to keep the legacy of their father’s successful brewery business, as well as his reputation as a Member of Parliament for Dublin City, while fighting each other, their relatives, and outside enemies for power.

The first episode begins with Guinness brewery men trying to get their deceased boss to his funeral while fighting the resistance and attacks from the Fenian Brotherhood and fellow Dubliners. In the meantime, the four heirs (Anthony Boyle, Emily Fairn, Louis Partridge, and Fionn O’Shea) try their best to stay united and survive the day as their deep, dark secrets become key instruments in the schemes of the enemy.

Going back to the Netflix point, this series definitely has that “effective commercial formula,” YET it doesn’t seem to have the sophistication of Peaky Blinders OR the multifacetedness of Succession plot and characters, and drama. The core is brilliant and quite catchy, yet peakier critics might say the modern twist of the Irish tunes makes the series go deeper down the rabbit hole of a commercial masterpiece, instead of an art pour l’art.

Yet. Although obviously commercial, this series seems to have a drive that I haven’t seen in any other this year – the camera angles, the seamless editing including the slow-mo power walk scenes, the well-written dialogue that seems so predictable yet so very effective, made me hooked within the first 5 minutes!

And, as the rain puts out the huge fire Fenians had set on the barrels prepared for the grieving family’s beer, the Guinness’ right-hand man (James Norton) declares that God might actually be on the heirs’ side, leaving the audience not on a stereotypical cliffhanger but a promising full stop of an episode that will make the audience watch the next one.