Netflix debuts Garfield assassination series today

Netflix ↘ 2.86% launched its highly anticipated four-part historical limited series "Death by Lightning" today, chronicling the brief presidency and tragic assassination of America's 20th president, James A. Garfield. The series arrives amid renewed interest in presidential history and political violence, offering a sobering examination of a largely forgotten chapter in American politics.hollywoodreporter+1

Star-Studded Cast Brings Forgotten History to Life

Michael Shannon stars as President Garfield alongside Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Guiteau, the delusional assassin who shot Garfield just months into his presidency in 1881. The series features an ensemble cast including Nick Offerman as Vice President Chester A. Arthur, Betty Gilpin as First Lady Lucretia Garfield, Bradley Whitford as Senator James Blaine, and Shea Whigham as corrupt power broker Roscoe Conkling.hollywoodreporter+3

Created by Mike Makowsky and adapted from Candice Millard's acclaimed 2011 book "Destiny of the Republic," the series is executive produced by "Game of Thrones" creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. The production was filmed in Hungary with a reported budget that allowed for detailed recreations of 1880s Chicago and Washington D.C..red94+2

Medical Malpractice Takes Center Stage

A central theme of "Death by Lightning" is the medical incompetence that likely killed Garfield rather than Guiteau's bullet. According to The New York Times, the series depicts how Dr. Willard Bliss and other physicians repeatedly probed Garfield's wound with unsanitized instruments, ignoring the antiseptic techniques pioneered by Joseph Lister 16 years earlier. Historical accounts suggest Garfield lost nearly 100 pounds during his 80-day ordeal before dying of sepsis in September 1881.nytimes+3

"Because after the autopsy results were released, Americans understood right away that their president didn't have to die, and they understood why he did," Millard explained in previous interviews about the case. The series portrays how even Alexander Graham Bell's newly invented metal detector might have saved Garfield if doctors had properly used it.biography+1

Critics Praise Performances Despite Rushed Pacing

Early reviews have been largely positive, with critics particularly praising Shannon's dignified portrayal of Garfield and Macfadyen's unsettling performance as Guiteau. The Hollywood Reporter noted that "Shannon elevates the material, his Garfield all furrowed brow, principles and nobility," while calling Macfadyen "riveting" as the unhinged assassin.hollywoodreporter+1

However, some critics found the series' four-episode format limiting. The Hollywood Reporter's review described the series as "mostly gripping" but "slightly rushed," suggesting that Garfield's prolonged death receives insufficient attention despite being "arguably the most peculiar part of the narrative".hollywoodreporter

TV Guide gave the series an 8.7/10 rating, praising how "Shannon and Macfadyen anchor a cast filled with memorable performances" and noting the show's ability to depict "blackmail, back-room dealmaking, and even threats of physical harm as elements built into the American political system".tvguide

The series debuts at a particularly relevant moment, as both lead actors acknowledged the recent assassination attempt on then-candidate Donald Trump during filming. "It made us realize we were on the right path with this project," Shannon told The New York Times, adding that "The United States requires therapy, perhaps even some medication".nytimes

All four episodes of "Death by Lightning" are now streaming exclusively on Netflix.wikipedia+1