The ‘Death by Lightning’ Dudes, Ranked from ‘That Guy’ to ‘My Man!’
Rank: Fuck You, Dude (aka The Bad Doctor)
Signature Attributes:
- Completely unearned confidence
- Casually racist
- Lack of facial hair
First Impression: “This man is going to kill the president.”
Lasting Impressions: This man killed the president.
Dr. Purvis is a disaster who sticks around long enough not only to dig his own grave but to climb into it as well. From the moment he pushes aside the competent Dr. Charles Purvis (more on him later), it’s clear this guy is trouble. He is arrogant, bossy, self-important, and surprisingly bad at his job. The real giveaway is his facial hair—or the notable lack of it. The cast of “Death by Lightning” showcases a wide variety of facial hair styles, so when this outdated dimwit appears with just a few sparse whiskers under his chin, it signals that he’s hardly the one to revive the fallen leader.
“Death by Lightning” has a greater diversity of hair growth than a Chia Pet shop, so when this antiquated dumb-dumb walks in with a few dead whiskers under his chin, that’s the signal he’s not the man to breathe life back into our fallen leader.
That said, credit is due to Željko Ivanek—an Emmy winner for “Damages” and a seasoned actor with over 100 credits—who skillfully balances the Bad Doctor’s commanding presence with his many blunders, making me almost want to rank him higher.
Author’s summary: The Bad Doctor’s overconfidence and poor performance make him a disastrous character, yet Željko Ivanek’s nuanced portrayal adds unexpected depth to the role.