Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen detail the frightening modern relevance of Netflix’s Death by Lightning, a timely story of political violence and delusion.
Netflix’s Death by Lightning brings to life the epic and true story of the assassination of President James A. Garfield. This fascinating four-episode drama dives into the unlikely connection between the reluctant 20th President and his greatest admirer – and eventual killer – Charles Guiteau. Starring Michael Shannon as President James Garfield and Matthew Macfadyen as Guiteau, the series is a nuanced, tragic, and surprisingly timely look at political violence, ambition, and the devastating consequences of delusion.
The stellar cast, which also includes Nick Offerman, Bradley Whitford, Shea Whigham, and Betty Gilpin, delivers unforgettable performances. While the names of Lincoln and Booth are etched into public memory, the story of Garfield and Guiteau is one that few know.
Mama’s Geeky attended a virtual press conference, featuring stars Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen, and moderated by Kristen Iversen. The actors discussed the extensive research required to portray these figures, the challenge of embodying complex historical characters, and the chilling relevance the 1881 tragedy holds for today. The conversation focused on the core motivations of their characters, the shocking lack of medical knowledge at the time, and the strange notion of dignity in public service.
Actor Insights on History & Humanity
Here are some of the standout, extended quotes from the press conference, offering a deeper understanding of the series and the stars’ connection to their roles.
The Chilling Resonance With Today’s Political Reality
When asked about how they believe the series resonates with today’s political reality, Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen agreed that the echoes between 1881 and the present day are unmistakable, particularly concerning political division and violence.
“Well, I think frankly, what the show is about and what it’s saying and its relevance to today’s events, is kinda hard to miss. I almost feel kind of silly spelling it out. I think if you watch the show, it will become abundantly obvious to you the reverberations between then and now. It’s almost frightening, really, how much overlap there is considering, you know, over a hundred years has gone by… I would, yeah, I guess if it’s not too obvious to say the sort of the tragedy of, and the futility of political violence.”
Garfield’s Legacy and the Humility of a True Public Servant
Shannon discussed the difficulty of portraying a figure whose greatness is largely forgotten, expressing how his research led him to genuinely admire the 20th President. He also reflected on how Garfield approached his mission to serve the American people with genuine humility, despite his high office.
“I think President Garfield is like one of my favorite people, really, based on all the research I did about him. The thing is, not many people know much about him. But if you want to know something about him, there are plenty of ways to learn. ‘Cause there’s amazing literature you can read… And considering how short his term was thanks to this guy, he has quite a legacy. Quite a moving legacy that you can still see to this day. … I think he was genuinely humble about what he was doing, and realized that it could fail terribly, and was probably quite nervous about it in the grand scheme of things.”
Empathizing with Guiteau’s Deep-Seated Human Need for Validation
Matthew Macfadyen’s portrayal of Charles Guiteau steers away from simply labeling him as a madman, instead focusing on the tragically misguided human impulses that drove him. Macfadyen found empathy in the assassin’s profound, unmet need to be a person of consequence.
“I think I empathized most with his need to be useful. You know? Or I guess to be loved, or to be valued. Or we’d say now, to be seen, I guess. You know. … There’s something very innocent and human about that, isn’t there? And he said, you know, he had a very strange upbringing. And he wasn’t well. … Don’t think he was a bad person. He certainly didn’t think he was doing bad things. He was really trying. You know, he’s blamed for being a pest, and a seeker and a, you know, bother. But he was like, why not? I want to help, I can be useful, you know.”
The Real Tragedy: Medical Ignorance and Mental Health
The actors were particularly shocked by the state of American medicine in 1881, which proved fatal for the President. This led Shannon to draw a direct line to contemporary issues, arguing that the true tragedy of Guiteau and Garfield speaks directly to the need for evolved mental health care.
“It was just appalling how primitive the medical system was here. … It’s not that long ago, and they literally didn’t believe in germs. They didn’t think germs were real. Like, that’s just weird. That was kind of shocking to learn about. … What I was saying earlier, I really do actually agree with the right on one aspect of this whole gun situation in our country, is when they keep saying it’s a mental health issue. And I’m like, yeah, it is a mental health issue, so, what are you gonna do about it? You know, I agree with Matthew 100 percent. I don’t think Charles Guiteau was an evil human being. He needed some help.”
The Quiet Power of Garfield’s Relationship with His Wife
Michael Shannon praised co-star Betty Gilpin for elevating the portrayal of Lucretia Garfield, revealing that the key to their on-screen relationship was found through historical letters that Gilpin had researched. The power of their private bond against the public chaos became a central emotional anchor for the show.
“I just can’t imagine a better person for that part, literally. … And, you know, it’s a really significant relationship in Garfield’s life. You know, and I didn’t actually fully understand that until Betty showed up, ‘cause Betty had been reading all of their letters and their correspondence. … Oh, yeah. Hundreds. Hundreds of letters. And yeah, it really could. I feel like there’s so many threads in this story that could have their own show. … But anyway, Betty, every scene, she just made it more than it was on the page… And she found a beautiful humor in it, which is, yeah, she’s just wicked smart, you know, Betty. She really is.”
Death by Lightning premieres on Netflix on November 6th.
NEXT: “Emotion is the New Punk”: Guillermo del Toro & Cast On A Profoundly Human Frankenstein
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.