Death By Lightning (2025) Netflix

[odanny]

This is a 4 part series on the life and events that lead up to the unlikely Presidency of James Garffield, and it alternates between his life and that of his assassin.

It has great writing and acting, the script if also very good, and it is a high quality production from Netflix. If you have an interest in American politics, or history, you will like this. There series also explores the dynamics of the time, how NYC politics and politicians were in charge of things after the Civil War, and it also examines his adversary and political rival, Roscoe Conkling who controlled the racket and corruption behind the scenes. History never got to see the promise of James Garfield, a decorated Civil War veteran known for his bravery and calm, collected demeanor.

If I had one complaint, it is that I found the assassin role to be too well played, the actor to be too well spoken, I don't think Garfield's killer likely sounded like this, I would have found the series slightly better if he had of portrayed someone more mentally unbalanced, as he clearly was. The series made me investigate this little known period of political history in greater depth, it's worth learning about Garfield, Chester Arthur, and the first Democract elected after the Civil War, Grover Cleveland.

 

[1srelluc]

I'm half way through it, I'll finish it tonight.

Very well done though I find the crazy guy a bit over the top.

 

[odanny]

 

[DGS49]

Unfortunately, you have to know a little bit about the history of the time to make sense of it. I was not able to understand it while doing crossword puzzles, which is how I normally watch Netflix. I will try again this evening, paying attention.

 

[1srelluc]

Unfortunately, you have to know a little bit about the history of the time to make sense of it. I was not able to understand it while doing crossword puzzles, which is how I normally watch Netflix. I will try again this evening, paying attention.

Speaking of puzzles....It always puzzled me why a person would even bother to sit down to watch something and not pay attention to what they are watching.

I can understand using something like a sportsball game as background while doing something else but not a movie or series that you had never seen before.

 

[1srelluc]

They picked the right guy to play Chester A. Arthur.

 

[1srelluc]

Finished it this evening. Quality show.

LOL....I was never so glad to have seen someone hang, just to not hear him anymore.

Boy, they have come a long way as far as making quality fake beards. They were very well done.

 

[g5000]

This may be apocryphal, but I once heard a story that there was a new device being demonstrated at the fair which would have saved Garfield's life had the staff known about it.

An X-ray machine.

I am looking forward to watching this docudrama.

.

 

[Quasar44]

Finished it this evening. Quality show.

LOL....I was never so glad to have seen someone hang, just to not hear him anymore.

Boy, they have come a long way as far as making quality fake beards. They were very well done.

Omg , the black doctor would have saved his life

Did not know

 

[g5000]

This may be apocryphal, but I once heard a story that there was a new device being demonstrated at the fair which would have saved Garfield's life had the staff known about it.

An X-ray machine.

I am looking forward to watching this docudrama.

.

I just realized I was thinking of William McKinley's assassination. It was he whose life would have been saved by an x-ray.

An x-ray machine was summoned but not used.

Visible Proofs: Forensic Views of the Body: Galleries: Cases: Could X-rays Have Saved President William McKinley?

www.nlm.nih.gov

 

[g5000]

They picked the right guy to play Chester A. Arthur.

.
Nick Offerman was a far funnier character in Death By Lightining than he ever was in his legendary role in Parks and Rec.

Even when he was weeping at Garfield's bedside.

.

 

[g5000]

If I had one complaint, it is that I found the assassin role to be too well played, the actor to be too well spoken

People were far better spoken back then. I love reading literature from that period.

If you have read Guiteau's letters, as I have, you would find him quite articulate. In fact, the letters he writes in this show are his actual written words, and the song Guiteau sings on the gallows at the end is the real Guiteau's composition.

Matthew Macfadyen is a fantastic, versatile actor. I first saw him in the TV Series MI-5 (known as Spooks in the UK).

MI-5 is a great show. I highly recommend it if you have not seen it.

Macfadyen also stood out in the Ripper Street series which is a period drama also set in the 19th century in Whitechapel after Jack the Ripper's time.

He was also a central character in the recent Sucession series. There he plays a character as despicable and annoying as his Guiteau character.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

Got fooled into watching more woke bullshit.
The first 3 episodes were quite good. Captivating story.
There was nothing I disliked at all.

Until the last episode, and her we go with political and social messaging.
1) A black doctor would have saved Garfield if not for racism. Did not happen. He was the primary doctor that worked on Garfield. As days past, Dr. Bliss was brought in as Garfield's health was failing. It is indeed believed that his daily probing the wound with unsterilized equipment is what led to his death.
2) Chester Arthur wanted to resign, but thank God for Garfield's wife who ordered him to stay as President. And inspired him to change his ways (WTF??)
3) It was the wives of Senators that kept Conklin from pushing Garfield out and saving Garfield's presidency. Never happened. The entire premise of that version is made up.
4) Garfields wife visited Guiteau in prison and devoted time warning publishers to not print his book. Never happened. There is no record of her ever mentioning him.

There was no record of any role of any women taking part in anything to do with the entire story of his Presidency, his assassination, and battles he fought to reform the party.