The corridors of power have never looked this dangerous. Netflix’s new limited series Death by Lightning takes one of America’s strangest, most tragic presidential stories – that of James A. Garfield and his assassin Charles Guiteau, and transforms it into a gripping psychological and political drama.
Led by Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen, the show delves into the fevered mix of ambition, delusion, and reform that defined an era when Washington D.C. was a breeding ground for both idealists and opportunists. Beneath the period costumes and candlelit parlors beats a story about how madness and power often dine at the same table – and how reform can become a death sentence.
A production backed by high-caliber creatives, Death by Lightning has already topped Netflix’s charts, becoming the most-watched show in U.S. Here is everything you need to know about Death by Lightning – from the plot and cast to reviews and release date. The trailer is at the bottom of the article.
All the key details about Death by Lightning
- Title: Death by Lightning
- Format: Limited Series
- Runtime: 4 episodes
- Genre: Historical Drama, Political Thriller
- Country of production: United States
- Original language: English
- Year of release: 2025
- Director / Creator: Director Matt Ross; Creator/Writer Mike Makowsky
- Main cast: Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Betty Gilpin, Nick Offerman
- Produced by: Bighead Littlehead / Netflix
What happens in Death by Lightning?
Set in the early 1880s, the series opens on President James A. Garfield – an honest, reluctant leader who suddenly finds himself at the helm of a divided nation. His vision for civil service reform threatens the entrenched political order built on patronage, corruption, and backroom deals, turning everyday governance into a knife fight over the soul of the republic.
Enter Charles Guiteau, a drifter with grandiose ambitions who convinces himself he is destined to “save” America. What begins as political fervor curdles into obsession. Their fateful collision at a Washington railway station ignites one of the strangest and most haunting chapters in American political history. The show moves between the White House and the streets of the capital, where ego, faith, and fanaticism intertwine – not just chronicling an assassination, but dissecting the machinery of power itself.
While the setting of the series might be nearly 150 years in the past, Death by Lightning feels incredibly relevant, says creator Mike Makowsky. “The theme of corruption in politics and our bureaucracy feels particularly evergreen these days,” he tells Tudum. “The idea of civil service reform and waging a battle to clean up the grift in our government — this is something that Garfield very much stood on the front lines of in his time. In 1881, it feels like America is sort of standing at a crossroads between the past and what the future of this country is going to look like, and it’s up to [people like Garfield] to really define how America, 100 years after its inception, is going to look and what kind of society they’re going to be.”
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Who’s in the cast of Death by Lightning?
Michael Shannon embodies Garfield as a principled reformer navigating a ruthless system, while Matthew Macfadyen (fresh from his acclaimed turn in Succession) inhabits Guiteau’s grandiosity and unraveling psyche. Betty Gilpin portrays First Lady Lucretia “Crete” Garfield, anchoring the story with quiet resilience as private grief collides with public duty. Nick Offerman appears as Vice President Chester A. Arthur, a figure caught between political loyalty and personal conscience. A strong supporting ensemble rounds out the period world with crackling authenticity.
Is Death by Lightning based on a true story?
Yes. The series adapts Candice Millard’s acclaimed nonfiction book Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President. It draws from the real events surrounding Garfield’s 1881 assassination and the political context of the era – particularly the battle to end the corrupt “spoils system” and replace it with merit-based public service.
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What are the reviews on Death by Lightning?
The creative pedigree and cast point to a prestige historical drama with psychological bite. Expect a measured tone, meticulous period design, and an emphasis on how institutional rot and personal delusion can intersect – themes that resonate well beyond the 19th century.
Where was Death by Lightning filmed?
Production recreated 19th-century Washington, D.C., with detailed sets and locations that evoke the political and social textures of the time. Period interiors, government offices, and bustling streets are staged with an eye for documentary-level realism.
What’s Death by Lightning like?
If you enjoyed The Crown or the moral complexity of political dramas like Lincoln and House of Cards, this limited series is in your lane – blending prestige period storytelling with a forensic look at ego, obsession, and the high cost of reform.
When is Death by Lightning coming out on streaming?
Available soon. Death by Lightning premieres exclusively on Netflix. Release date: November 6, 2025. Watch on Netflix.
Watch the trailer
In the meantime, here’s the trailer.
