Review: "Death by Lightning" – A Surprising Tale of a President Cut Short
Netflix's four-part miniseries, adapted from Candice Millard's nonfiction book, explores the lesser-known story of President James A. Garfield.
“Death By Lightning,” premiering Thursday on Netflix, introduces itself as “a story about two men the world forgot.”
While the name Charles Guiteau may be unfamiliar to most in 2025, James A. Garfield is known as one of only four American presidents assassinated. Although some presidents, like John Tyler, are less remembered, and some assassins better known, the choice to focus on this story brings a built-in drama and a murder mystery that captivates viewers.
The miniseries also resonates with contemporary themes such as civil rights, income inequality, cronyism, and corruption, which appear deliberately emphasized to reflect today’s societal issues.
“Death by Lightning” presents Garfield’s story as a national tragedy, emphasizing not only the personal loss for his family but also the potential impact on the country. The series and the historical record suggest that Garfield, assassinated after merely 200 days in office, could have been a very capable president.
“The sense one gets from ‘Death by Lightning’ and from the historical record it fairly represents, is that Garfield... might have made a very good chief executive.”
Author’s Summary
This miniseries sheds light on President Garfield’s brief tenure and tragic assassination, connecting past events with ongoing social issues and lost potential in leadership.