'Death by Lightning' Review: A Forgotten President, a Deranged Assassin, and the Politics of Power (Netflix)
This miniseries explores the 1881 assassination of President James A. Garfield by focusing on the intertwined lives of the idealistic president and his disturbed assassin.
Historical Context
Over nearly 250 years of American history, four presidents have been assassinated:
- Abraham Lincoln in 1865,
- John F. Kennedy,
- William McKinley in 1901, who was killed during his second term, an event with significant political impact,
- and James A. Garfield in 1881, whose assassination has become a mere historical footnote.
Miniseries Overview
Death by Lightning brings this overlooked chapter of U.S. history back to life. Told across four gripping episodes, the show was created by Mike Makowsky (Bad Education) and fully directed by Matt Ross (Captain Fantastic), who is also known for his acting career.
The narrative follows two main threads that eventually merge:
- The ascent of President James A. Garfield, portrayed by Michael Shannon,
- The troubled and desperate path of his assassin, Charles Guiteau, played by Matthew Macfadyen.
"This riveting new miniseries revisits the 1881 killing of James A. Garfield through the intersecting lives of the idealistic president and his delusional assassin."
The series plays almost like a lengthy feature film and sheds light on this little-known event with engaging storytelling.
Cast Highlights
- Michael Shannon as President James A. Garfield
- Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Guiteau
By retelling this story, the miniseries revives the memory of a president whose tragic death is often overshadowed in American history.