The Stranger-Than-Fiction True Story Behind Netflix’s New Star-Studded Historical Miniseries
Netflix's Death by Lightning chronicles the shocking assassination of U.S. President James Garfield, inspired by true events.
Charles Guiteau: The Man Behind the Assassination
Long before the concept of a “parasocial relationship” became common, Charles Guiteau was a failed lawyer, aspiring preacher, and self-proclaimed political influencer. He believed he was the key figure responsible for James Garfield's presidency.
When the White House ignored his numerous handwritten letters demanding the ambassadorship to Paris, Guiteau’s obsession spiraled into a tragic act. In the summer of 1881, at a Washington, D.C. train station, he shot Garfield in the back, sure he had secured the future of the Republican Party and perhaps the nation itself.
A Modern Take on a Historical Tragedy
Death by Lightning presents this bizarre episode as a darkly humorous character study about obsession, ego, and the consequences of delusion.
“Netflix’s Death by Lightning resurrects this real-life fever dream of delusion and democracy gone off the rails, turning the country’s strangest presidential assassination into a bizarre, darkly funny character study.”
Executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, known for Game of Thrones, joined forces with Mike Makowsky (Bad Education) to examine how Guiteau's craving for recognition and a comfortable government position met a political system already decaying from within.
Key Themes Explored
- The dangers of unchecked obsession and ego
- The intersection of personal validation and political ambition
- A political system vulnerable to manipulation and decay
This miniseries turns a disturbing moment in American history into an engaging exploration of character and power.
Author's summary: The series vividly portrays how Charles Guiteau's desperate quest for recognition culminated in one of the nation's most bizarre presidential assassinations, highlighting the fragile nature of political ambition.