Death by Lightning" was my most anticipated show coming to Netflix this week. " Before watching it, I'd have said that this historical drama miniseries was one of my most anticipated Netflix shows of the fall. Telling the tale of the rapid rise of James A. Garfield to the presidency of the U.S. and his sudden assassination, this show features an incredible cast and explores a largely forgotten part of American history. The recipe for success is there.
Seriously, when I say incredible cast, I mean it. Michael Shannon stars as President Garfield, and he's joined by "Succession" star Matthew Macfadyen as the unhinged assassin Charles J. Guiteau. The cast also includes some beloved actors and actresses beyond these two heavyweights. Nick Offerman stars as U.S. Vice President Chester A. Arthur, Betty Gilpin ("GLOW") plays Garfield's wife Lucretia, Bradley Whitford ("The West Wing") portrays former Senator James Blaine and Shea Whigham ("Boardwalk Empire") is the U.S. Senator from New York, Roscoe Conkling.
Unfortunately, having watched all four episodes now for myself, I have to say that it falls flat. That's not to say it's bad. At its worst, the show is still perfectly fine; at its best, it produces compelling moments and characters you invest in.
Plus, the cast does rise to the occasion as best it can, particularly Macfadyen as Guiteau and Whigham as Conkling. These two are both, at times, trying to get Garfield elected president, and yet by the end, they're inarguably the villains of the show. Portraying such complex individuals is where this show really shines.
The show's main flaw, though, is one that befalls many a historical drama. Simply put, it feels merely like a Wikipedia article brought to life, failing to go deeper and provide something truly engaging.
Historical dramas need to bring something new to the table, and 'Death by Lightning' doesn't
To be fair to "Death by Lightning," it's far from the first historical drama to fail to rise above being a rehashed encyclopedia entry. It's not even the worst offender in recent years; I'd gladly watch this on repeat than watch a minute of last year's Apple TV show "Manhunt" ever again.
The show quickly establishes itself as a two-hander, despite its larger cast. We have Garfield, inarguably the protagonist, taking it upon himself to bring reform to the Republican Party in the wake of decades of corruption. Then we have Guiteau, who is arguably introduced as a protagonist to start the show, though it's clear after even a scene with him that something isn't quite right.
In retrospect, it's Guiteau that's the far more compelling character in this drama. He brings a complexity of being both well-intentioned and yet clearly a grifter. His mental instability produces a man who both wants to be great and yet cannot get out of the way of his own delusions.
Garfield, by comparison, is boring. He's a good man, trying to do good, and like many good men trying to do good, he's cut down before he can get much good done. There are hints at his backstory that are intriguing, and a deeper miniseries exploring Garfield's entire life and how it shaped him into this unlikely reformer could be a compelling show. But that's not really what this show is, especially since it has to give equal billing to Guiteau's story.
Look, as I said, this isn't a bad show. It's got some enjoyable performances, especially from Whigham as Conkling, who experiences a particularly dramatic arc throughout the show's four episodes, and Whigham rises to the occasion. But it's utterly forgettable in the end, failing to lean into either of its dueling stories enough to make for compelling television.
Stream "Death by Lightning" on Netflix now
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