Is Death by Lightning based on a true story?

Yes, it dramatizes actual historical events — the presidency of James Garfield and his assassination by Charles Guiteau in 1881. The series takes a dramatized approach but stays grounded in real documented history.

Koja bebinam Death by Lightning ba zir-nevis farsi?

You can watch it on K-Time with Persian subtitles and Persian dubbing both available. No VPN or geo-blocking issues — it streams directly in your browser or on your TV.

Death by Lightning chand ghesmat dare?

Each episode runs approximately 50 minutes. The series covers the full arc from Garfield's rise through the aftermath of the assassination, structured as a limited biographical drama.

Is this series suitable for viewers who don't know American history?

Absolutely. The storytelling is self-contained and fully contextualized — no prior knowledge of 19th-century American politics is required to follow or appreciate the drama and its characters.

Death by Lightning

Name: Death by Lightning
Genre: Biography, Drama, Historical
Released: 2025
Cast: Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Nick Offerman, Shea Whigham, Bradley Whitford

Director: Matt Ross

Cast: Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Nick Offerman, Shea Whigham, Bradley Whitford

Death by Lightning is a 2025 American biographical drama series directed by Matt Ross, depicting the true and deeply unsettling story of James Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, and the obsessive drifter Charles Guiteau, whose act of violence cut short one of the era's most promising administrations.

What is Death by Lightning about?

The series unfolds across the parallel lives of two men whose collision would reshape American history. On one side stands James Garfield — a self-made man risen from poverty, a Civil War general turned statesman, carrying with him genuine ideals about reform and unity during a fractured Gilded Age. On the other stands Charles Guiteau, a delusional office-seeker whose grandiose sense of entitlement curdles into obsession after he believes himself responsible for Garfield's election victory. As Garfield navigates the brutal machinery of 19th-century political patronage and factionalism, Guiteau's grip on reality loosens. The series builds its tension not through mystery — history has already written the ending — but through the slow, tragic inevitability of two trajectories converging.

Cast & crew

Michael Shannon plays Charles Guiteau with characteristic intensity, making the character's delusion feel uncomfortably plausible. Matthew Macfadyen brings quiet gravitas to Garfield, conveying both the president's idealism and his vulnerability. The supporting cast includes Nick Offerman, Shea Whigham, Bradley Whitford, and Betty Gilpin, each grounding the political world of Gilded Age Washington with distinct, fully realized performances.

Context & significance

For Persian-speaking viewers and the Iranian diaspora, Death by Lightning offers more than a history lesson — it resonates as a study in political ambition, systemic corruption, and the collision between idealism and power. These themes carry universal weight for communities that have lived through their own turbulent histories with governance and statecraft. The series is available on K-Time with Persian dubbing and Persian subtitles, making the dense period dialogue fully accessible to Farsi-first audiences. Produced in the tradition of prestige American historical drama, it fits alongside acclaimed political biopics in its craft and seriousness of purpose.

Where & how to watch

Death by Lightning is available now on K-Time with both Persian dubbing and Persian subtitles. Watch on your browser, TV, or phone — no VPN needed, no geo-blocking, no extra download required. Start a subscription and cancel anytime.