'Death by Lightning' Review: A Forgotten President, a Deranged Assassin, and the Politics of Power (Netflix)

Death by Lightning Review: A Forgotten President, a Deranged Assassin, and the Politics of Power

This miniseries revisits the 1881 assassination of President James A. Garfield, exploring the intertwined lives of the idealistic leader and his unstable assassin.

Historical Context

Throughout nearly 250 years of American history, four presidents have been assassinated:

Abraham Lincoln (1865), whose death remains extensively discussed and memorialized
John F. Kennedy, also widely remembered and portrayed in media
William McKinley (1901), killed in his second term, an event with significant political consequences
James A. Garfield, often regarded as a forgotten footnote in history

Miniseries Overview

Death by Lightning digs into this overlooked episode with four energetic, gripping episodes that could almost form a single feature film with some edits. Created by Mike Makowsky (Bad Education) and fully directed by Matt Ross (known for Captain Fantastic), the show follows two parallel stories that eventually merge:

The political ascent of President James A. Garfield, portrayed by Michael Shannon
The disturbed and desperate path of his eventual assassin, Charles Guiteau, played by Matthew Macfadyen

"There’s a fourth, which, as one character in this story puts it, ended up as a mere footnote in history."

Creative Team

Directed entirely by Matt Ross, the miniseries balances historical drama and psychological insight to shed light on a neglected chapter of American history.

Author’s summary:
This miniseries illuminates the forgotten story of President Garfield’s assassination through compelling performances and a nuanced portrayal of power and madness in 1880s America.

Micropsia — 2025-11-06