Matthew Macfadyen Gives An Incredible Performance As James Garfield’s Assassin in ‘Death By Lightning’
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The four-part limited series somehow manages to make a dark moment in history educational, engrossing and, at times, extremely funny.
“Death By Lightning” has hovered over the No. 1 spot on Netflix’s list of top shows — and for good reason. The four-part historical drama is an intriguing look at the assassination of James Garfield (Michael Shannon) after his fast rise to the presidency and its even faster end.
Matthew Macfadyen is incredible in his role as Charles Guiteau, a delusional Garfield fan who seeks a role in the administration. And when he doesn’t get it, he seeks revenge. Garfield, who was elected as the Republican candidate at the 1880 Republican National Convention, was shot by Guiteau several months into his presidency on July 2, 1881. He died that September.
“Death By Lightning” somehow manages to make a dark moment in history educational, engrossing and, at times, extremely funny. Macfadyen channels some of that erratic Tom Wambsgans energy that “Succession” fans know and love in portraying the failed lawyer-turned-assassin Guiteau. Nick Offerman is also perfectly cast as Vice President Chester Arthur, who reluctantly takes on the presidency after Garfield’s death. Shannon is strong as he portrays a politician who unexpectedly becomes president.
Shea Whigham plays the powerful New York figure Roscoe Conkling, and Bradley Whitford is Secretary of State James G. Blaine. Vondie Curtis-Hall has a recurring role as abolitionist and author Frederick Douglass; Shaun Parkes is Dr. Charles Purvis, the Black doctor who attended to Garfield immediately after he was shot.
The series explores how Garfield actually died due to infection, since his doctor, Willard Bliss, refused to adhere to new research about the effectiveness of antiseptics. (I promise those scenes with Dr. Bliss will infuriate you.)
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