Death by Lightning - (Netflix) 

By: Rachel Brodeur

The presidency of James Garfield lasted 200 days. As our nation’s 20th president, he took office in 1881, and did not survive through the year. Netflix captures his legacy with excitement, grit and intensity making its four episode limited series Death by Lightning an absolute must watch for any fan of historical dramatizations. 

The series follows the events of James Garfield’s presidency and the man who abruptly ends it by shooting him. Even without the promised excitement of a presidential assassination, the cast alone is reason enough to check out this series. Co-lead Matthew Macfadyen acclaimed actor from hit HBO series Succession plays charlatan turned assassin Charles Guiteau. He brings charm to a disgraceful character and delivers a performance that allows audiences to see the descent of Guiteau from a hopeful man with potential,  to one whose unchecked ambition reaches a point of desperation. 

Capturing this downward spiral in just four episodes speaks to another strength of the series, its pacing. 

Episodes of Death by Lightning are edited to where the story feels lively and fiercely human. The series follows the pacing of the 2011 novel Destiny of the Republic, by Candice Millard. Historical figures feel real and dynamic and moments capture the emotional power of the country finding its voice after the Civil War. The Republican Party, then the party of Lincoln, was redefining its purpose amid Reconstruction, torn between ideals of equality and the growing influence of industrial power. The nation wrestled with corruption, economic change, and the question of whether moral leadership could survive in politics. I was moved by the rhetoric of the time. Actor Michael Shannon (The Shape of Water, Take Shelter), as James Garfield delivers powerful orations that remind people, both the characters on the screen and the audiences at home, of what government could and should be. Garfield’s words speak with a resonance that swells the patriotism in the room; they carry the power of wisdom and authenticity in moments that are both modest or monumental.  

Rachel’s Rating: 10/10 - Netflix’s limited series Death by Lightning captures the turmoil, the optimism, and the drama of early American politics. A strong cast and an attention to historical detail create a richness of storytelling that will make anyone a fan of this period piece.