House of Guinness Season-Finale Recap: Last Call

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The first season of *House of Guinness* concludes with the unsettling reappearance of Patrick Cochrane in Dublin. He’s shed his distinctive beard from his time in New York and is now driven by a desire for revenge. As Arthur campaigns for re-election, Patrick is haunted by memories of the family who exiled him. Though he’s just one person, he’s determined to seek retribution.

Despite initial concerns, Arthur’s campaign is actually progressing well. Byron, his campaign manager, is using a strategy popular in American politics – featuring the candidate’s image on posters. One poster shows Arthur with a full beard, which is strange since he normally only has a mustache. Byron explained that Abraham Lincoln grew a beard on the advice of a supporter and won the election, and believes Arthur can grow a similar “winning” beard in five weeks – though he jokes that two weeks should really be enough. Arthur is skeptical and uncomfortable with this focus on appearances, even though the plan is already underway.

As expected, Patrick immediately goes to see Ellen, but she’s far from happy to see him, bluntly asking why he’s returned to Ireland. Patrick quickly insults Ellen about her relationship with Edward, even though she reminds him that Edward is the reason he’s a free man. He correctly guesses Ellen is heartbroken, and his tone softens as he warns her that the Fenian Brotherhood intends to use violence to disrupt the upcoming election. Despite criticizing her for betraying their cause, Ellen immediately writes a warning letter to Edward. Edward, in turn, shares this warning with Arthur and Byron after sending Rafferty to find out what’s happening.

Rafferty is unusually struggling to get reliable information, but he believes Patrick’s arrival signals a major plot, possibly an attempt on Arthur’s life. If the Fenian Brotherhood is behind it, they must be seriously worried about the Guinness family’s growing influence, especially now that they have support from both Catholics and more liberal Irish citizens. Rafferty points out that what enemies fear most is not force, but goodwill that makes the current situation acceptable. Despite telling Rafferty not to involve Ellen, Edward decides to seek her advice himself.

Edward’s arrival isn’t met with much enthusiasm. His new wife immediately puts him to work hanging laundry, explaining that doing it at night will keep the clothes cleaner, away from the smoke of his family’s factory. She also makes it clear she can’t help him if he’s searching for Patrick. She’s fallen from grace with her former Fenian associates because of Edward, and to make things even more complicated, Edward confesses he still has feelings for her.

When Edward met with Ellen, things immediately became tense back at the brewery. Adelaide was clearly upset, but as usual, she was surprisingly perceptive. She told Edward it seemed like everyone in their family struggled to find true love. Despite this, they both acknowledged they were on the verge of finding the kind of love a married couple should share. They might just have to accept their imperfect situation and make it work.

Edward insists he kept his meetings with Ellen private, unlike Benjamin and Christine, who are openly back together. They’ve been traveling and spending lavishly under the alias “Mr. and Mrs. Guinness,” which has landed them in trouble with Anne. During a stern talking-to, Anne, known for her understanding, suggests everyone needs to accept their limitations – and subtly adds laudanum to her tea. On behalf of her family, she offers Christine the chance to become an acknowledged mistress of the Guinness family, complete with a request for discretion – no more extravagant spending or damaging hotel decor.

Outside Dublin, Patrick is trying to become a local vigilante, practicing his shooting by targeting empty Guinness bottles. However, his plans aren’t exactly a secret. Potter warns Arthur that everyone knows about Patrick and his gun, and they’re all concerned for Arthur’s safety. Arthur is dealing with his own problems, mainly by drinking heavily. He’s also worried about Olivia, who has traveled to London for an appointment regarding her pregnancy. It seems Arthur would have preferred Olivia keep the baby, even though Rafferty is the father, not him, and he’s understandably anxious about the situation.

When Olivia gets back from London, Arthur tries to change the subject, but she insists on talking about how lonely and scared she felt while she was away. Instead of offering comfort, Arthur surprisingly accuses Olivia of missing Rafferty, not him. He’s incredibly conflicted – he claims to be fine with them both being free to see other people, yet he’s clearly jealous. He’s even made plans for Olivia to spend time with Rafferty that evening, telling her she doesn’t need to reciprocate his feelings. Olivia is unusually at a loss for words.

I was so relieved when she finally went to see Rafferty, especially since he’d requested it. That’s where everything started to make sense. He told her, “They took our baby,” and it was heartbreaking. But before he could say more, she just needed to be held by him. It was then, in that closeness, that they both admitted they were truly in love. It was such a tender moment, but honestly, it also felt a little unsettling. I got the sense that Arthur was okay with her having fun, but real, lasting love felt like a threat to him.

Arthur later has a serious conversation with Olivia, pointing out their original agreement allowed her to have casual encounters without emotional attachment. Olivia responds that she had a fling but couldn’t quite move on. Arthur presents her with a choice: she and Rafferty can leave, but he’ll be unable to work and she’ll have no money. Alternatively, he can change their contracts. They can stay in their current positions, but they must end their intimate relationship. Olivia reluctantly agrees and wryly promises to remember to detach emotionally from future partners.

Olivia manages to get five final minutes with Rafferty, thanks to Potter. Instead of telling him the news, she unexpectedly blurts out a defiant phrase in Irish, essentially rejecting everything and everyone involved. She tells him she’ll claim to be visiting a lover at a distant cousin’s property. Rafferty tentatively agrees to this arrangement, but insists they’ll be together someday-just not right now.

All the ongoing turmoil seems to have left Arthur feeling like his fate is sealed – that he’s destined to be killed by an assassin, even though Byron is doing everything he can to locate Patrick before that happens. Byron’s search involves Rafferty using his particular set of skills – mainly intimidation and violence – to question a group of dangerous men before a major rally. Unfortunately, this doesn’t provide the information they need, and Patrick is still missing when the rally begins.

With the important event drawing near, the season feels like it’s coming full circle, mirroring the beginning. The three Guinness brothers, along with Anne, struggle with their ties. Arthur notices how much they’ve all grown and improved since their father’s funeral, and tries to express it. Benjamin seems to be drinking less, Anne, despite her health struggles, has become known for her generosity, and Edward has transformed the Guinness business into a global powerhouse. Arthur himself has gained a newfound appreciation for what it means to be a Guinness.

When the Guinnesses arrived, the crowd reacted with a blend of cheers, applause, and some jeers – things hadn’t fully calmed down since their father’s funeral, which nearly caused a large disturbance. Inside, Potter reassured Arthur that Rafferty and his men would protect him. With Byron enthusiastically building excitement, Arthur began a speech aiming to unite the people of Dublin. Rafferty, already on edge, was worried to see Ellen in the crowd, but relieved to learn she was also searching for her brother, hoping to save him from execution. She even gave Rafferty a whistle to signal if she spotted Patrick. However, Patrick had his own agenda. While other Fenians created a diversion, he secretly retrieved a hidden gun, aimed, and fired just as Ellen blew the whistle.

That wraps up the first season of *House of Guinness*. While history tells us the original Arthur Guinness wasn’t assassinated, the show has taken liberties with the facts throughout the season, so who knows what the future holds for this version of him? The fast-paced storytelling kept things exciting, and the finale leaves you wanting more. More importantly, the characters have all changed by the end of the season, though not necessarily for the better. Anne is experiencing both success and hardship, Edward and Arthur are navigating complicated marriages, and Benjamin has cut back on drinking… but is still quite a bit drunk. Whatever happens next, these characters seem headed for even more trouble.

Sláinte!

While the actual Arthur Guinness lived until 1915, the family experienced tragedy through assassination in other instances. Walter Guinness, the son of Edward and Adelaide and a friend of Winston Churchill, was killed in 1944 by a Zionist paramilitary group known as Lehi or the Stern Gang. The details are complex, but this event could provide compelling material for a future season of the *House of Guinness* if the show expands into a multi-generational story exploring Middle Eastern politics.

As expected, the season finale featured a diverse range of Irish music. Highlights included the energetic “For Everything” by post-punk band The Murder Capital, and “Lawman” from Dublin’s Gilla Band. Irish folk duo Ye Vagabonds collaborated with the American trio boygenius on a moving rendition of the traditional song “The Parting Glass,” recorded in 2023 as a tribute to Sinéad O’Connor. A distorted version of the Chieftains’ take on the classic “O’ Sullivan’s March” appears during a lively bar scene. And the season ended perfectly with a cheerful song about beer – the vintage Clancy Brothers track “Beer, Beer, Beer” played over the credits.

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2025-09-26 23:56