Death By Lightning has dropped on Netflix and the four-part limited series focussing on the end of US President James Garfield’s life.
Hayley Anderson TV Reporter
10:15, 06 Nov 2025
WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Death By Lightning.
Netflix drama Death By Lightning, delves into the true story behind the demise of US President James Garfield.
The four-part limited series intertwines two narratives: James Garfield’s (portrayed by Michael Shannon) presidential tenure and Charles Guiteau’s (Matthew Macfadyen) fateful decision to shoot the president.
Garfield’s wife, Crete Garfield (Betty Gilpin), had been suffering from malaria and had taken a respite in Monmouth, New Jersey, away from the White House.
After attending to some presidential duties, Garfield journeyed to Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington DC, in July 1881, with the intention of visiting her.
Regrettably, Guiteau trailed him there and fired two shots at the president, one grazing his arm and another piercing his back.
Death By Lightning stars actors Matthew Macfadyen and Michael Shannon.(Image: NETFLIX)
How did James Garfield die?
Death By Lightning centres on Garfield’s assassination, leading to the 20th President’s death as a consequence of the incident on September 19, 1881.
However, the Netflix drama reveals that it wasn’t the gunshot wound itself that caused Garfield’s death, who passed away two months post-shooting.
In the series, a post-mortem examination is performed where a mortician extracts a bullet, explaining: “Note that the shot migrated left, tucked neatly behind the pancreas.
“It would seem the shot interrupted not one of the president’s organs, that the wound healed on its own.”
A staff member inquires about the cause of Garfield’s death, to which the response is: “Septic poisoning. Evidenced by the abscesses throughout the body. Infection.”
This leads the staff member to ask: “Do you mean he would have recovered naturally if the bullet had been left alone?”.
The mortician doesn’t verbalise a response but nods in agreement as Garfield’s physician Dr Willard Bliss mutters it was a “mistake”.
Death By Lightning’s Charles Guiteau is portrayed by actor Michael Macfadyen. (Image: NETFLIX)
In previous scenes, Dr Bliss is depicted inserting a long metal instrument into the president’s wound as blood gushes out.
Another doctor present questions the appropriateness of this action, citing recent European research advocating for the use of sterilised equipment.
However, Dr Bliss dismisses this as not being “science” and repeatedly uses unsterilised medical tools.
He is also shown inserting his unwashed hands into the president’s wound in an attempt to extract the bullet, causing Garfield immense pain.
Therefore, despite Guiteau being the one who pulled the trigger, Dr Bliss played a significant role in President James Garfield’s demise.
Bliss’ professional reputation never recovered from this incident and he suffered a stroke and died several years later in 1889.
Death By Lightning is available to watch on Netflix.
