Inside Death by Lightning: Unpacking Netflix’s Historical Drama Series
If you have navigated past that hyper-charged, sensationalized social media marketing copy, you are looking at the biographical drama miniseries Death by Lightning. Created by Mike Makowsky and executive produced by David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and director Matt Ross, the series adapts Candice Millard’s bestselling 2011 book Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President.
The Rise, Fall, and Tragicomedy of President James A. Garfield
The series chronicles one of the most bizarre and tragic chapters in American political history—tracking the unlikely presidency of James A. Garfield and his obsessive, unstable assassin, Charles Guiteau:
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The Setup: In 1880, James A. Garfield (played by Michael Shannon) reluctantly steps into the presidential race as a dark horse candidate, ultimately securing the White House despite his initial reluctance to seek the highest office.
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The Deranged Obsession: Operating in the background is Charles Guiteau (played by Matthew Macfadyen), a completely unstable, self-deluded lawyer, writer, and preacher who becomes convinced that a minor speech he wrote single-handedly won Garfield the election. When his unhinged demands for a prestigious European ambassadorship are repeatedly ignored, Guiteau’s delusion hardens into a murderous fixation, believing God has commanded him to remove the president.
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The Fatal Medical Blunder: Beyond the political intrigue and dark comedy of Gilded Age patronage, the series dives heavily into the horrifying state of 19th-century medicine—highlighting how Garfield likely would have survived the initial shooting had it not been for arrogant doctors poking unwashed fingers and crude instruments into his wounds in search of the bullet (a tragedy famously exacerbated by Alexander Graham Bell’s metal detector).
A Powerhouse Lead Ensemble
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Michael Shannon anchors the series with a grounded, dignified performance as President Garfield, capturing both his intellect and his tragic vulnerability.
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Matthew Macfadyen leans into a tour-de-force performance of absolute unhinged mania as Charles Guiteau, balancing dark humor with genuine menace.
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Betty Gilpin stars as Lucretia “Crete” Garfield, bringing immense strength, intelligence, and emotional conviction to the First Lady as she navigates both political life and devastating medical trauma.
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The Supporting Lineup: Features stellar talent including Nick Offerman as Vice President Chester A. Arthur, Bradley Whitford as Secretary of State James G. Blaine, and Shea Whigham as Roscoe Conkling.
The Verdict
While internet marketing blurbs always dial up the hyperbole to frame historical projects as frantic, meme-ready thrillers, Death by Lightning delivers a genuinely fascinating, darkly funny, and deeply tragic look at American history. If you love meticulous period detail, heavyweight acting duels, and bizarre true stories, it is a phenomenal watch.
