'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 through the intertwined lives of the idealistic leader and his disturbed assassin.
Throughout nearly 250 years of American history, four presidents have been assassinated. Two cases dominate public memory and media portrayals: Abraham Lincoln in 1865 and John F. Kennedy. A third, William McKinley, was assassinated in 1901 during his second term, an event with significant political consequences. The fourth, James A. Garfield's assassination, is often relegated to a historical footnote.
The miniseries Death by Lightning revives this overlooked episode with compelling storytelling. Spanning four engaging episodes, it could nearly pass for a feature film with some editing. Created by Mike Makowsky (Bad Education) and directed entirely by Matt Ross (Captain Fantastic), the show follows two parallel stories converging over time.
“One character in this story puts it, ended up as a mere footnote in history.”
The narrative tracks the rise of President James A. Garfield, played by Michael Shannon, alongside the disturbing path of his assassin, Charles Guiteau, portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen.
“This riveting new miniseries revisits the 1881 killing of James A. Garfield through the intersecting lives of the idealistic president (Michael Shannon) and his delusional assassin, Charles Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen).”
The series sheds light on this lesser-known chapter, offering fresh insight into the complex political and personal dynamics behind the tragedy.
Author’s Summary
Death by Lightning compellingly uncovers the forgotten assassination of James A. Garfield, blending historical depth with vivid character studies to illuminate a neglected moment in U.S. history.