Unpacking The Cliffhanger & Character Fates

House of Guinness’s first season offers plenty of complex material to unpack. Netflix’s latest series by the creator of Peaky Blinders is rich in real-world history, the context of which can be used to interpret the show’s meaning and potential future events.

With eight episodes released, House of Guinness’ ensemble of characters has proven worthy as the basis for the next addictive family drama show, following titles like Succession and the aforementioned Peaky Blinders.

The series follows the titular family following the death of Benjamin Guinness in 1868, as the late patriarch’s four children are left with his estate. By the season 1 finale, it seems that they’ve come together for Arthur’s election, until things take a dramatic turn during his speech with a shocking plot twist.

Arthur Isn’t Dead In House Of Guinness – But Did Paddy Shoot Him?

The season 1 finale ends with Paddy Cochrane firing his gun, and the scene cuts to black before we can see who or what his target was, and whether he succeeded. Given his intention of dealing a blow to the Guinness family and the numerous hints at Arthur’s assassination, such as the Abraham Lincoln mentions, it would make sense if he were the target.

However, it doesn’t take more than a glance at history to understand he’s not dead. Arthur Guinness lived on until 1915, decades after the events of season 1’s finale. This leaves a few possibilities. He could have been shot and wounded, which would be a notable historical change, but not one that would break the story.

Alternatively, Paddy could have fired at someone else, whose fate we’ll have to wait until season 2 to see. Paddy Cochrane isn’t a real historical figure, nor is this shooting a real event, so House of Guinness’s open-ended conclusion leaves way more questions than answers.

The Real Meaning Of The Guinness Siblings’ Season 1 Finale Reunion Scene

Benjamin, Edward, Arthur, and Anne Guinness in House of Guinness season 1

Despite being called House of Guinness, the eight-episode Netflix series scarcely features the four main family members on screen at the same time. Arthur and Edward share a significant amount of screen time, but the four aren’t together much aside from the first and last episodes.

That said, the imbalance in focus split between the siblings didn’t leave any without an arc. All four of them were forced to undergo changes in the absence of their father, and they take a moment in the season 1 finale to reflect upon this, demonstrating what their personal sacrifices allowed them to accomplish.

Rafferty & Olivia’s Real Plan Explained (& Will They Ever Be Together?)

Lady Olivia in a crowd in House of Guinness season 1

Olivia and Sean Rafferty’s forbidden romance subplot is one of the most appealing in the series, as though Arthur is open to his wife having lovers; her pregnancy crossed the line of what he was willing to accept. He demands that Oliva cease her relationship with Rafferty, but she refuses to do so.

Olivia tells Rafferty to continue seeing her at a new location every Wednesday, meaning they’re going to remain together on a less consistent, more secretive basis. As for their fate, it’s hard to say for sure, as Sean Rafferty is a made-up character for the series.

What Edward & Adelaide’s Compromise Means For His Romance With Ellen

Louis Partridge talking to someone from House of Guinness

Speaking of forbidden romance, the other Guinness brother found himself in an unexpectedly unprofessional fling with Ellen Cochrane throughout season 1. When Arthur accepted he would have to make sacrifices and run for election, Edward finally agreed to marry Adelaide, the woman he’d been working with on philanthropic projects.

Edward and Adelaide got along well and worked together in the final episodes of season 1, but the pairing lacked the passionate romance he had with Ellen. Still, Edward and Adelaide both agree that they feel as close to loving one another as possible, which is good enough for a marriage agreement based on political and financial opportunity.

Unfortunately for everyone involved, Edward and Ellen are going to have to put their romance to the side for the time being. As the series will surely continue to demonstrate, however, love and desire are nearly impossible to walk away from, and it’s likely not the last time we’ll see the two together.

Why Anne Allows Ben & Christine’s Affair To Be “Official” & What It Means For His Marriage

Anne is typically the one keeping everything together in House of Guiness season 1, including monitoring the youngest brother, Benjamin, whose consistent struggles with alcoholism keep him out of the will. Benjamin finds himself married to Henrietta, but Christine continues to support him with intensity, nearly ending her life over it in episode 7.

Christine offers Benjamin something he isn’t getting elsewhere: respect. This leads Anne to accept Christine as his “official mistress,” a role that’s been held by women in connection to the Guinness family before, so long as they remain discreet in their affair.

What Happens To The Guinness Siblings Next In Real Life & How The Cliffhanger Sets Up Season 2

Jack Gleeson as Byron Hedges in House of Guinness

It’s difficult to say precisely where House of Guinness will lead, given how much the show has already deviated from history. That said, many of the important pieces of each family member’s life have been set up, such as Arthur’s political career and Edward’s philanthropic and housing development work.

The season 1 cliffhanger will surely proliferate the drama between the Guinness Family, the Fenians, and the Unionists, but it likely won’t stop the company’s continued success. Arthur Guinness should win the election, gun wound or not, and House of Guinness will continue to examine the events leading up to Irish independence.