Here is one I did not expect to be both gripping and oddly funny: a four-part political drama about James A. Garfield and the man who killed him. Netflix's 'Death by Lightning' leans into the parts of history most of us only skimmed in school and turns them into a tight, timely series about power, ego, and really bad medicine.
What this is
Created and written by Mike Makowsky (Bad Education, I Think We are Alone Now) and directed by Matt Ross (Captain Fantastic, Gaslit), 'Death by Lightning' is based on Candice Millard's non-fiction bestseller 'Destiny of the Republic'. It drops November 6 on Netflix and runs four episodes, which is absolutely the right length for this story.
The hook
The title comes from Garfield himself. He had a habit of meeting people without much protection, and he shrugged off the risk with this line:
'Assassination can no more be guarded against than death by lightning; it is best not to worry about either.'
The setup: Chicago, 1880
The series kicks off at the Republican National Convention in Chicago. James A. Garfield (Michael Shannon) only went to nominate his fellow Ohioan John Sherman (Alistair Petrie). Then he gave a speech so strong that the party decided to nominate him instead. With Secretary of State-in-waiting James Blaine (Bradley Whitford) in his corner, Garfield immediately collided with New York power broker Roscoe Conkling (Shea Whigham), a party boss who ran things with threats, favors, and the kind of deals people pretend do not exist. Conkling's ally and pal, Chester A. Arthur (Nick Offerman), was slotted in as Garfield's future vice president.
Garfield did not chase the job, and he did not do the usual train tour. He and his wife Lucretia (Betty Gilpin) campaigned from their farm in Ohio, letting voters come to them. That low-frills, everyman approach worked. He became the 20th president, and Shannon plays him as a thoughtful, restrained public servant who actually wants to represent people, not a machine. The show spends real time on Garfield's attempts to clean up patronage and redraw how politics are done, which puts him even further in Conkling's crosshairs.
Enter Charles Guiteau
On the other track, we meet Charles Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen), a drifter with big delusions and a rap sheet. After a quick handshake with Garfield outside the convention, Guiteau convinces himself he is part of the movement and starts stumping for the candidate. From there, things get messy: forged letters, slipping into the White House, and a steady slide into obsession. Macfadyen plays him as a man who believes greatness is owed to him despite having no credentials and looking like he slept in a courthouse stairwell.
Every time Guiteau crosses paths with Garfield or the cabinet, the dread is obvious. But the show is most shocking after the gunshots, when the story turns to what actually killed Garfield and how the country handled it. If you do not know the medical and political chaos that followed, prepare to be gobsmacked.
Why it works
Makowsky and Ross keep the history clear without sanding off the weirdness. The 1880s world-building has a whiff of Boardwalk Empire and Gangs of New York around the edges, but the focus stays on the political knife fight of Garfield's brief administration. The tone is looser than you might expect for period drama. There is violence, sex, and plenty of profanity, yet the series still respects the office and the people involved. Some lines sound modern, and that choice makes the politics feel very present-tense. It is not as stately as Spielberg's Lincoln, but it looks and moves like a feature film.
Who is doing the damage (in a good way)
- Michael Shannon as President James A. Garfield, playing him as grounded, principled, and refreshingly accessible.
- Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Guiteau, a delusional would-be statesman whose fantasy curdles into violence.
- Bradley Whitford as James Blaine, bringing a savvy insider vibe to a true believer in Garfield's reform push.
- Betty Gilpin as First Lady Lucretia Garfield, a smaller role that still lands as the conscience in the room.
- Shea Whigham as Roscoe Conkling, a masterclass in menacing machine politics.
- Nick Offerman as Chester A. Arthur, revealing layers to a future president many have written off as a footnote.
- Alistair Petrie as John Sherman, the original intended nominee before Garfield's speech rewrote the night.
- Laura Marcus as Mollie Garfield, the president's daughter, whose outspoken views feel just as current now as they did in 1881.
The take
'Death by Lightning' is sharp, fast, and yes, funny in places, without ever making light of what happened. It covers the 1880 campaign and the following year with clarity and momentum, and the four-episode run keeps it lean. Shannon and Macfadyen are excellent foils, and Gilpin, Whigham, and Offerman keep stealing scenes. Start to finish, it is a clear-eyed look at how much American politics has changed and how much, unfortunately, has not.
Premieres November 6 on Netflix. Set aside an evening; you will be through it quicker than you think.