House of Guinness Recap: Out With the Old

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At the end of the last episode, Arthur seemed destined for a very public scandal: a police raid was about to happen during a private dance party, and his partner, Patrick, had unwittingly led the police right to him. However, at the last second, Patrick had a change of heart and pulled Arthur away, potentially sacrificing himself to save Arthur. Arthur initially felt betrayed, but began to understand when Patrick revealed that Reverend Henry Grattan was the one who orchestrated the setup. Despite this, Arthur ended things with Patrick, promising only to send his final payment. While he felt some affection, Arthur was also a pragmatic man who knew how to prioritize his own interests.

In western Ireland, Edward is swiftly fulfilling his pledge to assist the people of Cloonboo, though his generosity isn’t entirely selfless. He tells Adelaide that his charitable acts also serve to advertise Guinness, both in rural areas and in Dublin. His decision to trademark the image of Brian Boru’s harp wasn’t just a whim – he understands the power of branding like a modern businessman. Despite the underlying promotion, Edward’s kindness is clearly affecting Adelaide.

The day after the raid, Olivia and Arthur talk, reaffirming their strong marriage and Olivia’s hope that Arthur will continue with his political ambitions. Their conversation ends when Rafferty arrives, summoned by Arthur. The next scene quickly reveals Rafferty’s purpose. He dramatically interrupts a strange sermon by Reverend Grattan, who’s preaching about the end of the world, and gives him a brutal demonstration of what that might look like – choking him with an eel. (Arthur was particularly offended by being compared to one!) Rafferty announces that Grattan needs to leave for London, backing up his statement with a clear threat. While Grattan initially seemed dangerous when he tried to blackmail the Guinness brothers, he now appears outmatched. As a final, striking image, Rafferty walks through the streets as a demolition crew destroys the slums, telling the foreman he welcomes the change. The show continues to embrace its bold and over-the-top style.

Edward shares updates with Byron in a letter, while a series of quick scenes shows the construction of new buildings and the growing connection between Edward and Adelaide. We also learn that Edward and Ellen are still secretly meeting-in fact, they’re seeing each other constantly, made possible by a payment to Ellen’s landlord. Edward closes by suggesting Byron might want to return to Dublin to assist with Arthur’s political campaign.

A year has passed, and the new houses built with the trust are complete, making Adelaide and Anne very happy. Anne would be even happier, though, if she knew for sure that Adelaide and Edward had shared at least one kiss. They both understand Edward’s complicated situation and that there’s another woman involved. However, now both women seem to want Edward to commit to Adelaide, whereas before, only Anne was hoping for that to happen.

It quickly became obvious Arthur was rooting for Edward and Ellen to get together, but Edward tried to deflect by teasing him about pressure from his party to run for Parliament again. It didn’t really work, though. When pushed, Edward didn’t explicitly say he was in love with Ellen, but he didn’t need to – his feelings were pretty clear. Arthur, clearly speaking from experience with heartbreak, gave him some surprisingly practical advice. He basically said Edward needed to focus on finding happiness within the realm of what’s actually achievable, which felt like a really poignant moment.

Edward later attempts to convince Ellen to be practical, urging her to find a stable, long-term partner like he intends to do by proposing to Adelaide. This appears to be the end of their affair, which had crossed social and political boundaries – boundaries that perhaps can’t be permanently overcome. Meanwhile, Arthur and Rafferty have a delicate conversation of their own. Olivia hasn’t been feeling well and seems withdrawn, leading both men to quietly worry she might be pregnant. They realize they need to address the situation to avoid a scandal, but any solution will have to wait until after the wedding.

Arthur and Adelaide are getting married, and everyone is there to celebrate, including Ben. However, Ben has come alone and has started drinking again. As expected, Christine is there to support him when he inevitably struggles. She feels warmly towards Ben, but criticizes the rest of the family for ignoring and isolating him. She learns the full story from her previous partner. Henrietta is upset by Ben’s drinking, but Christine reassures him that she could never be disgusted with him. They then begin an intimate encounter in the empty ballroom, and Potter instructs the other staff to pretend they don’t notice, explaining that this kind of thing is common in the house. This highlights the show’s willingness to be dramatic and push boundaries.

Shortly after the wedding, Bonnie attempts to explain that their newfound fame will come at a price if her husband wants to keep quiet. Arthur and Edward, now more secure and working together, respond by threatening to dismantle his entire operation – every building he uses – within a week. However, they offer to pay him handsomely to simply vacate the premises. Bonnie leaves, furious, but Arthur and Edward are optimistic. They’re also bringing in a political strategist from New York, Byron, to help with the upcoming election. Byron’s immediate priority is to learn all of their confidential information, but he doesn’t seem worried at all.

With only one episode left in the season of *House of Guinness*, it’s become clear the show isn’t really digging deep into the family’s history, despite early hints that it would. However, it’s still been an enjoyable watch thanks to its appealing surface-level entertainment. As the finale approaches, it doesn’t feel like much is truly at stake. The Guinness family has easily overcome every challenge, aside from minor complications like Olivia’s pregnancy, and things are generally going smoothly. That said, the show understands the importance of a good cliffhanger, so expect a dramatic ending.

Sláinte!

Edward and Byron have become close surprisingly fast, haven’t they? It looks like Edward’s success in growing the company has helped him gain Byron’s trust.

This week’s music selection starts with a classic Irish tune, “Phil the Fluter’s Ball,” sung by Ruby Murray, a singer who became famous in the 1950s. We also have a 2021 song, “Saints & Sinners,” from the Celtic punk band Feelgood McLouds, and a track called “Amphetamines” by the fantastic Cork band Cardinals. The show features songs from two artists we’ve heard before, representing different styles of Irish music: Kneecap with “It’s Been Ages,” and Lisa O’Neill with “Old Note.”

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2025-09-26 22:58