User Reviews

President James Garfield (Michael Shannon) is depicted as a model of fairness, honesty and decency in the vein of his predecessor, Abraham Lincoln. The parallels between the two are striking. Garfield, like Lincoln, is faced with uniting warring factions in his party and dealing with corruption. It’s a David versus Goliath fight and the odds do not favor Garfield. Add another dramatic layer driven by the obsessive character of Charles Gideau (Matthew Macfayden in a career performance) and Death By Lightning stands out as a not-be-missed biopic and procedural.

This series had it all -- I learned about Garfield, Conkling, and Arthur; the series was exciting; I teared up at the end, despite knowing the outcome. It made me realize that I have been a Garfield Republican all of my life.

What could have been? I was simply amazed when I watched this show I happened to look up best shows 2025 and I took a chance on this show..I binged the whole thing...Michael Shannon was an amazing choice to play the long lost president

Fantastic, inspiring. I learned so much! These four episodes were just the right length for this moving piece of history. Don't miss it!

A reconstrução de época convence, bem como a composição dos personagens e as atuações (salvo um típico maniqueísmo aqui e ali por parte dos vilões, típico de uma construção pra deixar mastigado ao público). O problema reside na falta de aprofundamento no que importa, que é a questão histórica, política, com poucos elementos interessantes. Se fosse para ser algo superficial, um filme bastaria. Além disso, empobrece a verborragia por fazer do retratado um santo, tudo explicado pedagogicamente, mas com pouca materialidade.

The only thing most people know about our 20th President James Garfield is that he was assassinated in office. This series establishes his political significance, while offering insight into the man who killed him (Matthew Macfadyen). Michael Shannon effectively plays Garfield as the modest, but principled man who stood up against corruption in the government. Meanwhile, Macfadyen gives his character a shameless devotion that bordered on stalker. Nick Offerman adds a unique perspective as the man who became Vice President. Creator Mike Makowsky has created a world with interesting period insights and enjoyable performances. Perhaps his greatest gift is brevity: Instead of the usual bloated 10-episode series, this one has a brisk pace and limited 4 episodes. In some ways, it echoes the modern obsession with true crime dramas, but also offers a fascinating history lesson. (4 one-hour eps)

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

"Death by Lightning" is one of the best historical dramas released in recent memory that arranges its vivid political portraits into a rip-roaring yarn that’s scalding and endearing, riotous and mournful, a plea for America’s better angels to surface and a eulogy for a country that never lived up to its ideals.