Netflix’s Assassination Drama "Death by Lightning" Offers a Haunting Historical Reflection
Netflix presents a gripping limited series that revisits the life and assassination of James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States. Adapted from Candice Millard’s 2011 book “Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President,” the production combines political intrigue with psychological depth.
Created by Mike Makowsky, known for “Bad Education,” and executive produced by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss of “Game of Thrones” fame, this four-part drama functions as both a historical exploration and a somber warning about power and delusion.
Opening Scene and Structure
The story begins in 1969 at the Army Medical Museum, where workers accidentally uncover a jar containing the long-preserved brain of Charles J. Guiteau, the man who killed Garfield. This eerie discovery sets the stage for a return to 1880, when Guiteau, portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen, is again leaving jail after serving time for fraud and eluding arrest.
Parallel Lives of Two Men
Meanwhile in Ohio, Civil War veteran and Congressman James Garfield, portrayed by Michael Shannon, is called from his family farm to attend the Republican National Convention in Chicago. The contrast between Garfield’s reluctant political rise and Guiteau’s growing instability drives the narrative forward.
“The series serves as a historical remembrance and an ominous omen.”
Creative and Historical Significance
- The series immerses viewers in the political and social tensions of post–Civil War America.
- It highlights themes of ambition, madness, and the fragile nature of leadership.
- The show's title, “Death by Lightning,” references the electrocution of Guiteau and the volatile spirit of the era.
Author’s Summary: A thoughtful dramatization of President Garfield’s assassination, blending historical authenticity with an unsettling meditation on power, fate, and mental instability.
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