What happens when the creators of Game of Thrones drop a brand-new series on Netflix? It blows up overnight. Their latest show Death by Lightning is already storming the charts — bigger, bolder, and packed with the kind of world-building fans have been begging for since Westeros faded from our screens. If you’ve been waiting for something epic to binge… this is the one. The corridors of American power have rarely felt this dangerous. Netflix’s Death by Lightning resurrects one of the most haunting stories in U.S. history — the assassination of President James A. Garfield — and turns it into a richly atmospheric political thriller. Backed by executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss — the creators of Game of Thrones — the series channels the same blend of tension, political intrigue, and human ambition, making it a must-watch for fans of The Crown, House of Cards, and top-tier prestige drama..
With Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen delivering two of the year’s most compelling performances, the limited series blends political intrigue, psychological descent, and real historical stakes. It’s a story where reform meets corruption, idealism collides with obsession — and power becomes a lethal battlefield.
What is Death by Lightning about?
Set in the early 1880s, the series follows President James A. Garfield, a reluctant leader determined to dismantle Washington’s entrenched patronage system through civil-service reform. His rise threatens the old guard’s network of favors and back-room deals — making him a threat to the very system that elevated him.
Across town stands Charles Guiteau, a drifter, evangelist, and political fantasist whose grandiose delusions escalate into obsession. Convinced that he is destined for greatness — and that Garfield stands in the way — Guiteau spirals toward a decision that will shake the nation. Their collision at a Washington railway station becomes one of the most shocking and consequential moments in American political history, laying bare just how fragile democracy can be when ego and extremism collide.
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Stellar cast and production quality
Michael Shannon embodies Garfield as a principled reformer trying to steer the nation toward honesty and competence in the face of overwhelming resistance. Matthew Macfadyen gives Guiteau a chilling blend of charm, instability, and delusion — a performance critics already call one of his most unsettling roles.
Betty Gilpin brings emotional intelligence and grounded strength to Lucretia “Crete” Garfield, while Nick Offerman’s portrayal of Vice President Chester A. Arthur captures a man torn between political loyalty and personal conscience. The series meticulously recreates 19th-century Washington, D.C. — smoke-hazed political halls, bustling railway stations, ornate interiors, and the quiet tension of a nation on the edge of transformation.
Critical acclaim — a powerful 90% Rotten Tomatoes score
Death by Lightning is earning widespread praise for its cinematic quality, gripping performances, tight storytelling, and timely themes.
On Rotten Tomatoes, it currently holds: 90% Tomatometer (Critics) and 90% Audience Score. Reviewers highlight: commanding performances from Shannon and Macfadyen; immaculate period detail; a sharp, haunting script and its ability to make 140-year-old history feel unsettlingly modern.
Why it resonates now
Although rooted in the 1880s, the series feels urgently relevant. The themes it explores — political patronage, corruption, idealism, extremism, and the way fragile systems can be manipulated — echo anxieties still shaping American discourse today. It’s history, but it’s also a mirror.
When and where to watch
Death by Lightning
✔ Now streaming on Netflix: Watch on Netflix.
✔ Full limited series released on November 6, 2025
✔ 4 episodes (approximately 47–66 minutes each)
It’s designed for a one-night binge — the kind of limited series that pulls you in and doesn’t let go.
- Title: Death by Lightning
- Format: Limited Series
- Episodes: 4 episodes
- Genre: Historical Drama, Political Thriller
- Country of production: United States
- Original language: English
- Year of release: 2025
- Director / Creator: Matt Ross / Mike Makowsky
- Main cast: Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Betty Gilpin, Nick Offerman
- Available on: Netflix (USA release date: November 6, 2025)
Final takeaway
With its razor-sharp writing, powerhouse performances, lavish production, and 90% Rotten Tomatoes score, Death by Lightning stands as one of Netflix USA’s most compelling historical dramas of the year — a prestige limited series that feels both cinematic and disturbingly relevant.
Watch the trailer
In the meantime, here’s the trailer.
