Death by Lightning – Series Review | Netflix

DEATH BY LIGHTNING on Netflix is a new historical political thriller based on a true story. The limited series features a very strong cast and has just four strong episodes. Read our full Death by Lightning series review here!

DEATH BY LIGHTNING is a new Netflix limited series that I would expect to get many awards. Or, at the very least, quite a few nominations. It’s based on a true story of James Garfield and Charles Guiteau – and how both died.

In fact, their deaths are directly connected in the sense that neither would have died when they did if they had never met. This could be called a period drama, a historical epic, or a political thriller. In fact, it’s all three… and then some.

Continue reading our Death by Lightning series review below. Find it on Netflix from November 6, 2025.

The story of Garfield and Guiteau

Over just four episodes, Death by Lightning tells the epic story of James Garfield. It’s a stranger-than-fiction, but very true, story of how James Garfield became the 20th president of the United States. Without even going directly after it.

However, it’s also the story of Charles Guiteau. A man who would call himself the greatest admirer of Garfield – and even fought to have him elected president. Ultimately, his own pursuit of glory would lead Guiteau to shoot Garfield.

The title of this new Netflix series comes from James Garfield himself. Just two weeks after he became president of the United States of America, he wrote down: “Assassination can no more be guarded against than death by lightning.”

Strong words meant to inspire positivity and dispel fear, but which would ultimately come to define his untimely demise.

Matthew Macfadyen steals the show!

While Michael Shannon is always good, he is overshadowed in this Netflix series. Matthew Macfadyen steals the show in Death by Lightning as Charles Guiteau. A man who is tormented and clearly needed help, but insisted on “soldiering on”.

Obviously, Michael Shannon also delivers a strong, earnest, and stoic portrayal of James Garfield. I don’t know nearly enough about the man who would go on to become president for a far too short time.

However, based on Death by Lightning, he certainly set in motion some very positive changes. He’s exactly the kind of politician the world needs right now.

Matthew Macfadyen‘s portrayal of Charles Guiteau, on the other hand, highlights a lot of what is also (still!) wrong with the world today.

The desperate need to be seen

So many are obsessed with being not just the hero of their own story, but of everyone else’s story as well. When that doesn’t happen, this type of person is ready to go to extremes to achieve notoriety.

It’s the idea that being infamous is better than being anonymous.

That notion that a life only has value when you’re noticed by everyone. Even if you make a difference to no one. In other words, this didn’t come along with the rise of social media. It just made it even worse.

In other key roles, we see Nick Offerman as Vice President Chester Arthur, Bradley Whitford as Garfield’s champion, and Shea Whigham as the political strongman and bully, Roscoe Conkling.

Finally, I have to highlight Betty Gilpin‘s amazing portrayal of Garfield’s beloved and absolutely wife, Crete. She has the most powerful scene when she faces off with Guiteau towards the end of Death by Lightning. Breathtaking!

Watch the Death by Lightning series on Netflix

Creator of Death by Lightning is Mike Makowsky (Bad Education, Beef). It’s based on Candice Millard’s acclaimed book “Destiny of the Republic,” and I just may have to read that as well.

Producers on this Netflix limited series include creator Mike Makowsky, David Benioff & D.B. Weiss (3 Body Problem, Game of Thrones), Bernie Caulfield, and director of the series, Matt Ross (Captain Fantastic, Gaslit).

If you are at all interested in history or political struggles, then Death by Lightning is well worth your time. I watched it all in one sitting and was completely enthralled by this world, which isn’t as foreign as you might think.

Death by Lightning premieres on Netflix on November 6, 2025.

Details

Creator: Mike Makowsky
Director: Matt Ross
Cast: Shea Whigham, Michael Shannon, Matthew MacFadyen, Nick Offerman, Bradley Whitford, Betty Gilpin, Alistair Petrie, Archie Fisher, Barry Shabaka Henley, Ben Miles, Kyle Soller, Laura Marcus, Paula Malcomson, Shaun Parkes, Tuppence Middleton, Vondie Curtis Hall, Željko Ivanek