Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for House of Guiness season 1.
House of Guinness had debuted to a fairly mixed reception, but while the show has its critics, it did one thing brilliantly that helped fix one minor flaw of its predecessor, Peaky Blinders. Having run for almost a decade, Peaky Blinders cemented itself as a true masterpiece, with the series remaining culturally relevant over three years after its dramatic conclusion.
Not only is it one of the best historical action shows ever made, but it has earned its spot in the all-time great debate, at least when it comes to the 21st century. Still, despite all its incredible triumphs and undisputed strengths, Peaky Blinders did have a handful of flaws, one of which House of Guinness has already learned from.
Stephen Knight’s latest production once again successfully dramatized historical events, as House of Guinness made changes to the Guinness family’s true story while still providing a mostly accurate and entertaining depiction of their life. However, the project made one subtle yet effective improvement on Peaky Blinders, and the streaming hit is so much better because of it.
House Of Guinness Avoids Confusion By Converting Money To Today’s Value On-Screen
Most historical dramas all suffer one minor yet frustrating problem, and that’s the value of money. Viewers are well aware that $1 is worth more the further back you go, but most aren’t experts who are able to instantly do a one-for-one conversion. Thankfully, House of Guinness provides just that, making it easier for audiences to understand the family’s fortune.
Simple moments like Benjamin negotiating with Agnes make it easier to understand exactly how much he is looking for, a scene that wouldn’t be as impactful without knowing that £4000 back then equates to £600,000 in the present. This simple editing decision adds so much to these exchanges while maintaining the show’s historical feel, and more period dramas should follow suit.
Given that business negotiations and the Guinness family’s net worth are massive parts of the story, there is no getting around financial discussions in House of Guinness. However, by making it clear to the audience just how much is on the line, the plot becomes much more enjoyable, making this on-screen conversion a genius trick.
House Of Guinness’ Value Conversions Are Even More Important Than Peaky Blinders
While money in Peaky Blinders was undoubtedly important, the focus was more on the growth of Tommy’s influence, rather than his wealth. In comparison, House of Guinness is much more about the financial side of things, making it crucial that viewers know exactly what kind of prices and fees are being discussed throughout the project.
Additionally, Peaky Blinders is set in the early 1900s, whereas House of Guinness takes place around the mid-1800s, meaning there is an even greater disparity in the value of currency compared to now. Fortunately, the Netflix show’s decision to make these conversions impossible to miss adds a lot to the viewing experience without feeling like an oversimplification.
With the series likely to be picked up for a second season, House of Guinness’ American expansion storyline looks bound to continue, making it imperative that these on-screen assists remain a constant part of the overall presentation, given how crucial they have been so far.