The ‘Death by Lightning’ Dudes, Ranked from ‘That Guy’ to ‘My Man!’

A scientific breakdown of what the "Death by Lightning" cast brings to James Garfield's unconventional picnic table, ranked from worst to best.

Rank: Fuck You, Dude (aka The Bad Doctor)

Signature Attributes:

Completely unearned confidence
Casually racist
Notable lack of facial hair

First Impression:

“This man is going to kill the president.”

Lasting Impression:

This man killed the president.

There is more to say about Dr. Purvis, a disaster and a "my guy" who sticks around long enough to dig his own grave—and climb inside it. From the moment he pushes aside the capable Dr. Charles Purvis, it’s clear he’s bad news. He is arrogant, bossy, and full of himself, yet terrible at his job. The real giveaway is his facial hair, or the lack thereof. "Death by Lightning" displays a wide variety of hair growth styles, but this outdated figure appears with a sparse patch of whiskers under his chin, signaling he isn't the man to revive the fallen leader.

Credit goes to Željko Ivanek—an Emmy winner for "Damages" and a veteran actor with over 100 credits—for balancing the Bad Doctor’s commanding presence with his many blunders so well that he almost deserved a higher ranking.

Author's summary: This ranking highlights the disastrous Dr. Purvis, whose arrogance and failures, marked by his unkempt appearance, make him the standout “bad doctor” in the story.

IndieWire — 2025-11-09