Netflix’s Assassination Drama “Death by Lightning” is a Sobering Historical Account
Netflix’s latest limited series is a political thriller centered on the life and assassination of James Garfield, the 20th President of the United States. Adapted from Candice Millard’s 2011 book Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President, the four-part series explores both Garfield’s presidency and his assassin, Charles Guiteau.
Created by Mike Makowsky, known for Bad Education, and executive produced by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss of Game of Thrones fame, the show serves as both a historical reflection and a forewarning.
Opening Scene and Story Setup
The series begins in 1969 inside the Army Medical Museum. Workers are surprised when a jar falls from a dusty box, revealing the brain of Charles J. Guiteau, preserved on a shelf for nearly a century.
Back to 1880
The narrative then shifts to 1880, where viewers meet Charles Guiteau, completing a jail term for fraud and evading arrest. Meanwhile, in Ohio, Civil War veteran and Congressman James Garfield is called from his family farm to attend the Republican National Convention in Chicago.
“Death by Lightning” follows President James Garfield, the oft-forgotten 20th president of the United States, and the man who assassinated him, Charles Guiteau.
Created by Mike Makowsky (“Bad Education”) and executive produced by the “Game of Thrones” duo David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the four-part series serves as a historical remembrance and an ominous omen.
Michael Shannon stars as Garfield, while Matthew Macfadyen portrays Guiteau, bringing this pivotal chapter of American history to life with depth and gravitas.
Author’s summary: This gripping series vividly portrays the complex lives of James Garfield and Charles Guiteau, blending historical detail with dramatic storytelling to illuminate a lesser-known presidential tragedy.