Discover Death by Lightning, the gripping new period drama starring Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen. The series revives the tragic yet inspiring story of U.S. President James Garfield, exploring power, politics, and the dangers of obsession in a divided America.
Death by Lightning: A Gripping Reflection on Forgotten Ideals and Modern Politics
In a television landscape saturated with crime thrillers and dystopian sagas, Death by Lightning stands apart as a deeply human, historically grounded drama that resurrects a long-forgotten chapter of American history — the brief but fascinating presidency of James A. Garfield. Created by Mike Makowsky, the four-episode series offers more than a retelling of an assassination; it’s a meditation on integrity, leadership, and the moral decay that often seeps into power.
The Story of a Forgotten President
James Garfield, the 20th president of the United States, is not a figure often celebrated in classrooms or political discussions. His presidency lasted barely six months before he was assassinated in 1881 by Charles Guiteau, a deranged supporter who believed he was owed political reward. Yet, Garfield’s rise from humble beginnings — as a farmer, scholar, soldier, and congressman from Ohio — embodies the ideal of the self-made American.
Death by Lightning portrays Garfield, played with stoic grace by Michael Shannon, as a reluctant politician propelled into power by circumstance rather than ambition. His moral compass and quiet conviction make him a man out of step with his times — and perhaps with ours. Shannon’s portrayal emphasizes the tension between Garfield’s integrity and the ruthless political machinery surrounding him, a contrast that still feels painfully relevant.
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The Killer with a Cause — or a Delusion
Opposite Shannon is Matthew Macfadyen, whose electrifying performance as Charles Guiteau captures the volatile energy of a man teetering between desperation and madness. Known for his roles in Succession and Pride & Prejudice, Macfadyen brings an unsettling charisma to Guiteau — a failed lawyer, preacher, and writer whose life unravels into obsession.
Guiteau’s character is both pathetic and terrifying: a mirror reflecting the fragile line between devotion and delusion. In a time when social and political radicalization seems ever more common, his descent feels disturbingly familiar. One moment, he is a sycophantic admirer; the next, a violent extremist convinced he acts on divine command. The show uses this transformation to comment on the dangers of misplaced faith in politics and the fragility of democracy itself.
Politics, Power, and the Post-Civil War Swamp
Set just two decades after the American Civil War, the series immerses viewers in a Washington still scarred by division and corruption. Senators swagger through smoky rooms, trading favors and power as if the republic were a private club. The “Washington swamp” was not coined in modern times — it was born here, in the age of mutton chops and backroom deals.
Garfield’s presidency unfolds against this turbulent backdrop. Despite his honesty and heroism as a Union general, he finds himself surrounded by manipulators who see government as a ladder for personal gain. Makowsky uses these dynamics to explore how virtue can be both a strength and a liability in politics. The message resonates today: the more honorable a leader, the more dangerous the game becomes.
A Study in Contrast — and a Warning
While Garfield represents humility, duty, and faith in democracy, Guiteau embodies chaos, ego, and entitlement. Their paths intersect in a tragic dance that feels both inevitable and symbolic. The title Death by Lightning comes from Garfield’s own words, dismissing the threat of assassination as a lightning strike — rare, unpredictable, and beyond control. Yet that fatal underestimation underscores the series’ theme: idealism without caution can be deadly.
Makowsky’s writing refuses to turn Garfield into a saint or Guiteau into a cartoon villain. Instead, he paints them as products of their time — and, by extension, ours. In an age when disinformation and fanaticism can spread faster than reason, the show’s moral is hauntingly clear: democracy is fragile, and its defenders often pay the highest price.
Performances and Production
Director Mike Makowsky crafts the series with the care of a historian and the urgency of a storyteller. The production design, steeped in late-19th-century detail, evokes both the grandeur and decay of the era. The muted tones, candlelit halls, and period costumes pull viewers into a world that feels authentic yet eerily modern.
Shannon and Macfadyen deliver two of their finest performances to date. Shannon’s quiet strength and moral resolve balance perfectly against Macfadyen’s manic energy and dark humor. Paula Malcomson, as Guiteau’s weary sister Franny, provides a heartbreaking counterpoint — a reminder of the collateral damage caused by one man’s delusion.
Modern Parallels and Timeless Lessons
Though set in the 1880s, Death by Lightning resonates powerfully in today’s political climate. The series explores disillusionment, partisanship, and the hunger for authenticity in leadership — issues that remain at the heart of American politics. Garfield’s assassination by an unhinged supporter feels like a chilling precursor to modern political violence, reminding viewers how quickly rhetoric can ignite tragedy.
At its core, the show asks whether decency and conviction still have a place in power. Can a leader stay true to moral ideals without being consumed by the system they serve? It’s a question that echoes from Garfield’s time to our own.
A Compact, Powerful Drama
At just four episodes, Death by Lightning doesn’t overstay its welcome. Instead, it delivers a concentrated, emotionally resonant story that honors its subject while holding a mirror to the present. Its compactness is its strength — an elegant narrative that rewards reflection.
In the end, the series is not merely a biography of James Garfield but a eulogy for the values he embodied: humility, honesty, and a belief that government should serve people, not power. In an era of cynicism and spectacle, Death by Lightning reminds us what true leadership once looked like — and what it might look like again.
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