Matthew Macfadyen’s “Gripping” New Netflix Epic With Michael Shannon Is Sending Viewers Into Meltdown — Critics Call It “Extraordinary,” “Heart-Stopping,” and His Most Powerful Performance Since Succession! A sweeping new Netflix miniseries starring Matthew Macfadyen and Michael Shannon is taking the internet by storm — and fans can’t stop talking about it. Described as “remarkably human,” “gripping,” and “utterly extraordinary,” the drama unfolds in a world of betrayal, ambition, and impossible choices. With stunning period detail and performances that leave you breathless, critics say this could be the defining historical drama of the decade — a masterclass in storytelling that lingers long after the credits roll.
A drama miniseries hailed “superb” and “gripping” starring Matthew Macfadyen and Michael Shannon is streaming now on Netflix. Death by Lightning dramatises the true story of the 20th US president, James Garfield (Shannon), and his assassin, Charles Guiteau (Macfadyen).
Told through dual narratives, it follows Garfield’s rise from obscurity to the presidency and Guiteau’s subsequent obsession and murderous path.
An official synopsis says the series “brings to life the epic and stranger-than-fiction true story of James Garfield, reluctant 20th president of the United States, and his greatest admirer Charles Guiteau — the man who would come to kill him”.
It has already received rave reviews from critics, being labelled “incredible” and an “extraordinary tale”.
In its review, Heaven of Horror said: “While Michael Shannon is always good, he is overshadowed in this Netflix series. Matthew Macfadyen steals the show in Death by Lightning as Charles Guiteau. A man who is tormented and clearly needed help, but insisted on ‘soldiering on’.”
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TV Guide added: “Death by Lightning uses the brief span in which [Garfield] emerged as an unlikely presidential candidate as a fascinating window into his era’s confusion, madness, and missed opportunities, sometimes finding relevant echoes of our own time within it.”
Collider branded it “gripping” and a “remarkably human miniseries anchored by an incredible ensemble cast”, adding: “While the attempts at humor and levity could have been toned down, they do help add a sense of normalcy to an otherwise extraordinary tale.”
The Telegraph said of the “superb” and “propulsive” drama: “You’ll come away with two things: greater knowledge of an obscure period in US political history, and a renewed appreciation for Macfadyen’s talents.”
The Guardian heaped praise on Macfadyen’s performance as Guiteau, writing: “He’s mostly comic but his one substantial meeting with Garfield, which he spends weeks angling for, is agonisingly tragic, as Guiteau opens up his soul to reveal nothing inside. Macfadyen is brilliant in every awful moment.”
Speaking to Screen Rant, Macfadyen explained how “surreal” making Death by Lightning felt following the attempted assassination of US president Donald Trump in 2024.
He said the attempted shooting came “bang in the middle of our shoot in the summer”, and that he found it “quite alarming” to be part of a show that is “so prescient and current”.
The actor added: “Feels incredibly modern, and sometimes I kind of feel anxious to, like Mike [Shannon] says, it’s not a dusty period piece. It feels really modern. It feels really… Human behavior doesn’t change, really.”
