Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
1880s assassination drama is approachable; some violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Death by Lightning
What's the Story?
DEATH BY LIGHTNING tells the parallel stories of President James Garfield (Michael Shannon) and his assassin, Charles Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen). The series shows Garfield's unexpected ascent from congressman to president. At the same time, it follows Guiteau, freshly released from prison and attempting to get into politics, until he and Garfield's paths cross violently.
Is It Any Good?
Historical drama has a well-earned reputation for stuffiness, and while this isn't the first series to make a century-plus-old event feel contemporary, it's one of the more successful. Featuring a deep cast of beloved character actors (including Nick Offerman, Betty Gilpin, Bradley Whitford, and Shea Whigham, for starters), Death by Lightning takes a subject with a difficult barrier to entry and makes it not only relatable, but genuinely exciting.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about U.S. history. What do you know about the period between the Civil War and the 1900s? How does Death by Lightning fit into U.S. history?
Why do you think this story is being told now? How is it relevant to American life in the 2020s? What parallels can you draw between the 1880s and today?
How does Death by Lightning depict Charles Guiteau? How do you feel about him? How do the choices he makes lead him to becoming a killer?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 6, 2025
- Cast : Michael Shannon , Matthew Macfadyen , Betty Gilpin
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : History
- TV rating :
- Last updated : November 18, 2025
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