House of Guinness parents guide: Is the historical drama suitable for kids?

Netflix's House of Guinness has expanded the historical genre library on the platform, and is currently ruling the streaming scene in many countries.

Created by Peaky Blinders fame Steven Knight, the show is based on the real-life Guinness family dynasty, one of the largest stout manufacturers in the world. After the death of their family patriarch, Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, the responsibility of their family brewery falls on his four children, who will decide the future of their family and Ireland.

The real-life family tale of greed and betrayal is likely to make parents wonder: Is House of Guinness suitable for children? The simple answer to this question is no. While Knight's show is quite subtle compared to his critically acclaimed 2013 gangster saga, it is rated TV-MA and contains mature themes and violence, making it unfit for children.

More on this in our story.

House of Guinness parents' guide: The Netflix historical series is rated TV-MA

Historical and period drama series are bound to fascinate young minds (especially if they are little history buffs), but one should note that House of Guinness is created by Steven Knight, the mind behind Peaky Blinders. The filmmaker's early work was bound to earn a mature rating for his latest work, and the show is rated TV-MA in the US, meaning it is only suited for mature audiences.

The TV-MA rating is usually awarded to shows that feature one or more of the letters LSV, meaning graphic violence (V), indecent language (L), and explicit sexual activity (S).

Knight's latest historical series contains two of the above, thus earning a TV-MA rating. The show features severe profanity, violence and gore, and alcohol and smoking, making it an inappropriate streaming option for children. Even under adult supervision, House of Guinness is not suitable for your children, as it not only features an intense family saga, but also certain creative liberties and fictionalising of the Guinness family tale that the creator has taken.

Expect themes of power, money, betrayal, and corruption running wild in the show's narrative, which should not be exposed to individuals at such a young age.

House of Guinness parents' guide: Things to look out for

In addition to the TV-MA rating, there are many other things to look out for in House of Guinness before you decide to make it your next family binge.

Knight's historical series opens in 1868 Ireland, in the wake of Sir Benjamin Lee's death, which creates political and religious unrest in the country. The Fenian unrest in the opening episode is violent (partially fictional) and exposes the political extremities of that time period. Like Peaky Blinders, Knight explores the political background of Ireland, which was tumultuous after Sir Benjamin's death. Fenians burn Benjamin Guinness' caricatures and break into street fights, making the violence and gore unfit for children. Additionally, there is also the use of coarse and explicit language when the Fenians accuse Benjamin Guinness of exploiting the Irish population through his Black Gold.

Secondly, as a show centred around an alcohol manufacturing company, House of Guinness features alcohol, substance abuse, and smoking, practiced by various characters throughout the eight episodes. The Black Guinness liquid rules Knight's narrative, like the British marketplace, and should be considered before watching with family and children.

Lastly, Knight's Guinness family saga is laden with mature themes of betrayal, power, and money. Greed and corruption run rampant in the family and should not be watched with children. The emotional bonds between the family members are hollow and fragile, which might inculcate toxic familial values in young minds.

While the Guinness family saga is an intriguing tale of a real-life family dynasty, fascinating for adults, it is not an appropriate streaming option for kids.

House of Guinness is streaming on Netflix.

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