‘Death by Lightning’ Review: A Presidential Assassination Thriller on Netflix
Death by Lightning is a four-part drama about James Garfield, executive produced by Weiss and featuring performances from Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Betty Gilpin, and Nick Offerman.
Content Warning and Artistic Context
For Stephen Sondheim fans, prolonged exposure to Death by Lightning may lead to uncontrollable singing of the entirety of Assassins. Avoid watching if you are allergic to Assassins. Side effects might include cravings for Sweeney Todd or Company.
The series is surprisingly available on Netflix, given the recent tendency of platforms like Apple to sideline similar content, such as The Savant. Instead of burying it, Netflix chose to air the show despite its provocative subject.
Theme and Narrative Approach
Death by Lightning explores political violence and assassination attempts, alongside the troubled minds behind them. It contrasts this dark reality with the idealized American Dream, revealing an uncomfortable but compelling intersection of celebrity and tragedy.
Creator Mike Makowsky adapts the series from Candice Millard’s acclaimed book Destiny of the Republic, navigating this complex subject with balanced confidence. The narrative notably focuses on Matthew Macfadyen’s portrayal of Charles J. near the end of the third episode.
Summary
This tightly paced series thoughtfully examines the violent fractures within political history, blending true events with nuanced character study to challenge the American ideal.
Would you like the summary to be more formal or conversational?