Netflix’s Death by Lightning isn’t your usual political drama — it’s a haunting dive into power, ego, and tragedy. The limited series, starring Michael Shannon as President James Garfield and Matthew Macfadyen as his assassin Charles Guiteau, explores how the assassination of one of America’s least-remembered presidents became a devastating reflection of ambition and flawed medicine. But the true horror? Garfield didn’t die from the bullet — he was killed by the times he lived in. Let’s break down Death by Lightning’s ending and uncover what this chilling Netflix release is really saying about leadership, legacy, and loss.
The True Story Behind Netflix Death by Lightning
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Set in the aftermath of the Civil War, Death by Lightning revisits the tragic story of President James Garfield, whose life and death marked a turning point in American political history. Netflix’s series begins with a symbolic image — a preserved human brain — before flashing back to Garfield’s humble beginnings as a teacher and his rise to the White House.
Garfield wasn’t a typical president. A reformer and idealist, he wanted to clean up Washington’s corruption-riddled system. But his attempt to dismantle old patronage networks angered powerful figures — and caught the attention of one unstable man: Charles Guiteau.
Guiteau, portrayed chillingly by Matthew Macfadyen, was a failed preacher and delusional writer who believed God himself had chosen him to help Garfield. When the President ignored him, Guiteau’s obsession turned deadly — setting the stage for one of the most shocking assassinations in U.S. history.
A Deep Dive into Obsession, Power, and Madness
What makes Death by Lightning so powerful isn’t just its period-perfect setting it’s the eerie psychological unraveling at its core.
Michael Shannon delivers a quiet yet magnetic performance as Garfield, showing the burden of power and the loneliness of leadership. On the other hand, Macfadyen brings disturbing humanity to Guiteau a man torn between divine purpose and insanity.
The series balances these perspectives beautifully, showing how one man’s ambition collided with another’s delusion, creating a historical catastrophe. Director David Mackenzie ensures every frame feels tense, tragic, and uncomfortably real.
The Death by Lightning Ending Explained
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By the final episode, the story turns from politics to pure tragedy. Garfield is shot but he doesn’t die instantly. Instead, the real horror begins in the hospital room.
The show reveals that primitive 19th-century medical practices, not the bullet, sealed Garfield’s fate. Doctors repeatedly probed his wound with unsterilized instruments, causing deadly infections. Their arrogance, combined with the lack of antiseptic understanding, slowly tortured the President for weeks.
Netflix’s Death by Lightning exposes how science, ego, and ignorance worked together to destroy a man who might have transformed America. His final moments — as his wife Lucretia Garfield (played by Betty Gilpin) holds his hand are haunting, emotional, and painfully human.
The Message Behind Netflix Death by Lightning
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More than a historical retelling, Death by Lightning is a mirror held up to power. It reminds viewers that corruption and incompetence can kill dreams and people.
Through Lucretia Garfield, the series also shines light on the silent strength of women erased from history. Betty Gilpin delivers one of her most moving performances, portraying a woman who watches her husband die not from a gunshot, but from a system that refused to change.
The show’s title itself, Death by Lightning, is metaphorical suggesting how sudden, random, and brutal the downfall of power can be. Netflix uses stunning cinematography and meticulous storytelling to ensure that every scene leaves an emotional scar.
Why Death by Lightning Is a Must Watch on Netflix
With only four tightly packed episodes, this Netflix limited series manages to blend political intrigue, medical horror, and human emotion. Its pacing keeps viewers hooked, and the visual tone gives it a cinematic feel rarely seen in historical dramas.
It’s not just a story of assassination it’s a reflection on how power corrupts, how ambition blinds, and how ignorance kills. For fans of serious dramas like The Crown or Chernobyl, Death by Lightning is an unmissable addition to Netflix’s OTT lineup.
And for history buffs, it’s a reminder that even forgotten presidents can have unforgettable stories.
Death by Lightning doesn’t end with Garfield’s death it ends with a warning. A warning about arrogance, blind faith, and the slow death of truth in politics.
Netflix has turned an obscure historical event into a gripping human story one that feels eerily relevant in 2025.
