Finished the 4-episode limited series Death By Lightning on Netflix last night. It enjoyed it. It's about President James Garfield and his assassin, Charles Guiteau, and stars Michael Shannon, Ron Swanson*, Betty Gilpin, Matthew Macfadyen, and Bradley Whitford.
I admit to knowing next to nothing about Garfield, and now I kinda see why. I didn't realize he was only president for such a short time. Frankly, I'm not even sure I knew he was killed, though that does seem to ring a vague bell. He's not one I ever remember the history classes spending much time on and I've never independently read about him.
I'm sure the events were fictionalized and dramatized, but as per usual my wife was compelled to look up the known medical details surrounding his death, and it seems really unfortunate that the bullet missed all his major organs, but he died from sepsis due to what today would be wild medical malpractice. I asked if he would likely have survived the gunshot wound today, and she remarked almost certainly.
Shannon's portrayal of Garfield is very sympathetic--and that's the tone of the show in general towards him--so it interests me to read a little bit about him to find out if the real Garfield was in any way similar to the character portrayed here.
I'd recommend it. Very well done overall.
*ok, it's Nick Offerman, but all I can ever see when he's on screen is Ron Swanson