The second episode of Netflix’s new drama, House of Guinness, showed the four Guinness siblings learning a hard lesson: inheriting one of the world’s largest fortunes can feel more like a prison than a prize. The reading of their father’s will revealed a clever and binding plan from beyond the grave, setting the stage for intense family conflict and personal turmoil.
The episode, which debuted on September 25, 2025, shifted the show’s focus from the funeral of patriarch Benjamin Lee Guinness to the messy aftermath, where his children discovered that their futures were not their own to decide.
The Will That Changed Everything
The core of the episode revolved around the reading of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness’s will. The family gathered, each with their own expectations, but the terms laid out left nearly everyone disappointed and questioning their father’s intentions.
The brewing empire, the source of the family’s immense wealth, was not given solely to the eldest son, Arthur. Instead, it was left to Arthur and his younger brother Edward as joint proprietors. The will contained a powerful clause designed to force them together: if either brother refused to run the brewery or went bankrupt, they would lose their entire inheritance.
This was a direct blow to Arthur, who had spent the last five years in London and had no desire to be tied to the family business in Dublin. His father’s will effectively shattered his dream of a different life.
The treatment of the other siblings was equally restrictive. Their sister, Anne, received no money from the estate. The will stated that, as a married woman, she was to be content with her husband. She was granted access to the family’s various properties, but only with her brother Arthur’s permission. Their brother Benjamin, struggling with addiction, was largely cut out, left with only a small monthly stipend and no control over the family business or fortune.
Arthur’s Secret and the Threat of Blackmail
While Edward began to embrace his new power, Arthur faced a growing personal crisis. His secret life in London, which included a romantic relationship with a man named Michael, was under threat. The show explores Arthur’s sexuality as a major plot point, a fictional addition that has sparked discussion.
Arthur met with Michael in a park, hoping he would move to Dublin. When Michael refused, their relationship ended, leaving Arthur heartbroken and trapped. This secret soon became a weapon for the family’s enemies.
The foreman, Sean Rafferty, discovered that both the local crime boss, Bonnie Champion, and the Irish Republican leader, Ellen Cochrane, knew about Arthur’s private life. They planned to use it for blackmail. Bonnie demanded cash for his silence, while Ellen had a more political goal: she wanted to force the Protestant Arthur to become a voice for Irish independence in the British Parliament.
When Rafferty and Edward confronted Arthur with the blackmail threat, a pained Arthur showed defiance. Having spent years hiding his true self, he was initially defiant, with Anthony Boyle’s performance capturing a mix of pain and rebellion. He declared, “Let them come. Let them see what I am.”
Edward Steps Into Power
The episode also marked the rise of Edward as a new force within the family. As the youngest brother who had actually dedicated himself to learning the brewery business, he was ready to take charge. He immediately began giving orders to the household staff and making plans for the future, including a bold idea to expand the Guinness empire to America.
Edward also took a firm hand in managing the family’s crises. He calmly told Rafferty that he would arrange the blackmail payment to Bonnie Champion. He also ordered Rafferty to end his scandalous relationship with their sister, Anne, showing a new willingness to assert his authority.
Edward’s reaction to the Fenian blackmail was notably different from his brother’s. He was intrigued by Ellen Cochrane’s strategic mind and asked Rafferty to arrange a face-to-face meeting with her, setting the stage for a dangerous alliance.
A Family Bound by Chains
The theme of chains and bondage ran throughout the episode. Rafferty literally dragged chains through the brewery cooperage as he investigated who helped the Fenians set the fire. He violently questioned workers, creating an atmosphere of fear and control.
This physical imagery mirrored the metaphorical chains placed on the Guinness siblings. Arthur was chained to a business and a city he wanted to escape. Anne was chained to a husband and a life without financial independence. Benjamin was chained by his addictions and effectively disowned. Only Edward seemed to welcome his new bonds, seeing them as a source of power rather than restraint.
Actor Louis Partridge, who plays Edward, noted his character’s logical and assertive nature, which came to the forefront in this episode. Meanwhile, Anthony Boyle brought a complex vulnerability to Arthur, masking his anxiety and anger behind a cool exterior.
The second episode of House of Guinness established the central conflicts that will drive the series. The siblings, each struggling with their own burdens, are now bound together by their father’s final wishes, setting them on a collision course with each other and the dangerous world of 1860s Dublin.
Also Read: Who Plays Ellen Cochrane in House of Guinness? The Actress and Character Explained
