A Funny and Dark Look at a Crazy Time in U. S. History

Netflix has a new miniseries that's not your typical history show. It's called "Death By Lightning, " and it's about James Garfield, the 20th president of the United States, and the guy who killed him, Charles Guiteau. This show is not boring. It's funny and a bit wild, showing what politics was like in the 1880s. The show starts with two people finding Guiteau's brain in a jar. They ask, "Who the f is Charles Guiteau? " This sets the tone right away. It's not a serious history lesson. It's more like a funny and adult look at the past. The miniseries has four episodes. It's based on a book called "Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President. " The cast is amazing. Michael Shannon plays Garfield, and Matthew Macfadyen plays Guiteau. Other actors like Betty Gilpin, Bradley Whitford, Nick Offerman, and Shea Whigham are also in it. They all do a great job showing what really happened during this crazy time in history. Charles Guiteau was a strange guy. He was a failed lawyer who tried to fit in everywhere but never really did. He joined a religious group called the Oneida Community but wasn't liked there either. He moved around a lot, trying to make a name for himself. When Garfield became president, Guiteau thought it was because of him. He thought Garfield owed him a job. When that didn't happen, Guiteau started following Garfield and decided to kill him. He did it, but if modern medicine existed back then, Garfield might have survived. "Death By Lightning" is a darkly funny look at a weird and sad part of U. S. history. It shows how one person with a grudge can change things. All four episodes are now on Netflix. It's a must-watch for anyone who likes history but wants something more exciting than a textbook.