No. 95 : Death By Lightning (2025) 100/101
More up to date Shannon now, albeit one set in the past.
This is a 4 part mini series that you can find on Netflix and I would recommend
that you do.
Shannon plays James Garfield, a lesser-known American
president who was shot by an assassin three months into his presidency and who
died of complications from the wound a few months later.
His story is not well known, at least to myself, but it was
an engaging and entertaining historical drama which was sumptuously staged and well-acted,
by a stellar cast.
The first episode opens in a contemporary warehouse as an
old box splits open and out rolls a jar containing a human brain. This is
labelled ‘Charles Guiteau: Brain’ and the series then dissolves into the past
to see how we ended up at the brain storage facility.
We meet Shannon’s Garfield as a young senator working his
farm. He has the familiar trait of being a poor woodworker – we know his
talents lie elsewhere! He has a long-suffering wife and some kids, and he seems
content with his lot. An election is due however and Garfield is to give a
speech extolling the virtues of one of the candidates.
After some other lacklustre speeches Garfield takes the
stage and gives a barnstorming performance that does nothing to help his supposed
candidate but causes his own stock to rise. After many rounds of voting
Garfield’s hat is thrown into the ring, despite his objections, and he soon secures
the nomination and later the presidency.
Elsewhere Charle Guiteau, brain still in head, is making a nuisance
of himself around Washington. He’s recently left a sex cult and is now mooching
off his sister and brother-in-law. He has delusions of grandeur and hopes to be
offered a government post in Europe for his supposed help in securing Garfield
the top job. He gets short shrift form most who see through his lies and forgery
but unfortunately Garfield has an open-door policy for his constituents.
Garfield's aide warns him against a possible assassination attempt,
but the president declares that "Death by assassination is like death by lightning (That’s
the name of the show!) – you can’t live by trying to avoid it."
The four episodes bounce along as Garfield tries to clean up
the government, mostly by taking on Shea Whigham's tax inspector, and dealing
with is own vice president Ron Swanson. As the two leads charge towards their inevitable
final meeting, we have to hope that things will turn out differently from what
they most certainly will.
I enjoyed this show, especially the performances from
Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen as Guiteau who was a standout. I really enjoyed
his intensity and mania, his unwavering belief that he was destined for
greatness whilst clearly being a nut. Shannon’s Garfield was somewhat understated,
and he came across as a good man, albeit one with ambition. His demise was sad
as it was avoidable on many fronts - especially when the quack doctor set about
him with his grubby instruments.
The series appears to be historically accurate and cards at
the end let you know how things turned out for the main players. I felt
educated and entertained by the end of this short run and that is a rare
combination with TV drama these days. It’s one that’s definitely worth the
three hours of your time that it demands.
When is Shannon On? - 0.04.37 (Episode 1)
Outcome : Dead due to sepsis following the shooting.
Shannon Rating 4/5
Series Rating 4/5
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