Death by Lightning

Death By Lightning is one of the more surprising shows I've seen on an ex president in my life. I was so caught up in it that I couldn't stop watching. The writing and performances were fantastic. Everyone knows what great actors Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen are and both are at the top of their game here. I wouldn't be surprised to see both nominated for Emmy's. The supporting cast led by Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, Bradley Whitford and Nick Offerman are all terrific here and could lead to some more award nominations. All you have to do is read the reviews by both critics and the audience to see how much people liked this limited series. It currently has a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.

As I'm watching this limited series, I am amazed at how Hollywood can find extraordinary stories and find the best actors to pull it off. If Mathew Macfayden does not receive some sort of award or at least a nomination for his acting, then awards mean nothing. This is a great watch--highly recommend it.

If you like American history, or want to know more about it, this one is for you. The corruption of Chester Arthur, the Collector of Customs for the Port of New York, and the virtue of James Garfield, a man who never wanted the presidency, make for great stories.

Counterbalancing the history lesson is the story of the assassin, Charles Guiteau. An amiable ne'er-do-well with delusions of grandeur, in today's world he'd be deemed insane.

What can be done with computer graphics will also amaze you. The City of Chicago, the convention center, the street scenes-I'd love to see a documentary about how they did it.

Wonderful series by Netflix.

I really enjoyed the show. It was filled with a great cast. Kudos to the acting prowess of Michael Shannon, Bradley Whitford, Matthew Macfadyen, and Betty Gilpin. I was truly moved by the story and humility of James A. Garfield, and the madness of his assassin Charles J. Guiteau. The supporting character portrayed by Bradley Whitford as James Blaine lit up the screen with drama and humor as only he can do it. Betty Gilpin was wonderful, as well. Give this a watch! You won't be disappointed!

I have to admit going into Death by Lightning I knew very little about James Garfield and his assassination other than the basics. I just binged through all four episodes in one sitting and was blown away by how captivating it was. It's about how President James Garfield (Michael Shannon) rose from obscurity to become America's 20th President and then man who killed him, Charles Guiteau (Matthew Macfayden). If you're a fan of historical or political dramas then give this a try but make sure you give yourself enough time because once you start it you wont want to stop.