‘Death by Lightning’ brings President Garfield’s rise—and assassination by Charles Guiteau—to vivid life

The new limited series Death by Lightning has ignited fresh interest in James Garfield, the 20th U.S. president, tracing his swift ascent, reform agenda, and the tragic chain of events that followed his shooting by Charles Guiteau in 1881. Premiering November 6, 2025 on a major streaming platform, the four-part drama blends political intrigue with a forensic look at medicine and power in the Gilded Age.

‘Death by Lightning’ cast: who plays whom

The cast of Death by Lightning pairs heavyweight leads with a deep bench of character actors, mapping cleanly onto the period’s key figures.

• Michael Shannon — President James A. Garfield (often searched as “Garfield president”)

• Matthew Macfadyen — Charles J. Guiteau, the assassin at the center of the story

• Betty Gilpin — Lucretia “Crete” Garfield, first lady and political partner

• Nick Offerman — Chester A. Arthur, vice president thrust into succession debates

• Bradley Whitford — James G. Blaine, secretary of state and Garfield ally

• Shea Whigham — Roscoe Conkling, power broker and patronage kingpin

Across the season, Death by Lightning (Netflix)-style production values—restrained but immersive—keep the focus on performances: Shannon’s grounded James Garfield, Macfadyen’s mercurial Charles Guiteau, and Gilpin’s flinty, clear-eyed Lucretia.

James Garfield beyond the headline

For many viewers, President Garfield is a trivia question—elected in 1880, mortally wounded the following summer, gone by September 1881. The series reframes him as a consequential reformer: a self-made scholar-soldier who challenged the spoils system, pressed civil rights, and tried to modernize government hiring. In this telling, his shortened presidency becomes a lost opportunity—a bridge between Reconstruction’s promises and Progressive Era fixes that arrived too late.

Was it really “death by lightning”?

The title nods to a period phrase that captured the shock of a president struck down in peacetime. Historically, Guiteau’s bullet did not kill Garfield immediately; inadequate, unsterile medical intervention and infection compounded the wound over months. The show leans into this dual causality—one man’s act, and a medical system not yet aligned with germ theory—without losing sight of Guiteau’s culpability or Garfield’s resilience.

‘Death by Lightning’ on streaming: format, tone, and what stands out

• Format: Four episodes, each ~50–65 minutes, moving from nomination politics to the White House and the long vigil after the shooting.

• Tone: Darkly comic at the margins (especially in Guiteau’s performative delusions), but fundamentally a political and medical tragedy.

• Craft: Period detail, courtroom and Cabinet-room staging, and a score that stays out of the way of the acting.

• Perspective: While Death by Lightning James Garfield is the marquee hook, the drama often pivots to Guiteau, exploring ambition curdled into obsession—without excusing it.

Why the story lands now

• Patronage vs. merit: Garfield’s push for civil service reform mirrors modern fights over professional governance versus political spoils.

• Media and myth: The series dissects how public performance—stump speeches, newspaper theater, courthouse spectacle—can distort reality, a theme that resonates in the algorithmic age.

• Unsung partners: Lucretia Garfield emerges as strategist, archivist, and guardian of legacy, echoing current reassessments of first ladies’ political work.

Quick guide: names and searches you might be using

• “death by lightning cast” / “cast of death by lightning” → Shannon (Garfield), Macfadyen (Guiteau), Gilpin (Lucretia), Offerman (Arthur), Whitford (Blaine), Whigham (Conkling).

• “death by lightning netflix” → The series streams exclusively on a major platform; release Nov. 6, 2025.

• “death by lightning james garfield” / “garfield president” → Focus on Garfield’s reforms, the assassination, and its aftermath.

• “charles guiteau” → The assassin, portrayed as delusional and self-promoting, whose act and trial captivated the era.

• “michael shannon” → Leads as President Garfield, emphasizing intellect, principle, and quiet toughness.

Should you watch?

If political history, character-driven performances, and true-crime-adjacent storytelling appeal to you, Death by Lightning earns its four-episode sprint. It’s compact enough for a weekend, substantive enough to spark a rabbit hole on James Garfield and Charles Guiteau, and anchored by a Michael Shannon turn that lingers after the credits.