Death by Lightning has been quietly earning a loyal audience, and right now it is all available in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Netflix. Michael Shannon leads a cast that brings something genuine to every episode. What sets Death by Lightning apart from the dozens of similar shows is hard to pin down in a single sentence — it is partly the writing, partly the performances, partly the way it commits to its premise without flinching. The kind of crime drama that keeps you guessing: that is the shorthand, but it undersells how well Death by Lightning executes on it. An audience of 84 has voted with their time — and their score reflects a run without many weak episodes. The streaming access means you can form your own opinion tonight, without any barrier to entry.

The story of James Garfield, who rose from obscurity to become America's 20th President — and Charles Guiteau, the man who assassinated him. Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It aired in 2025. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry episodes where the mystery takes a breath — Death by Lightning passes that test consistently. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after here — if Manhunt is in your watch history, Death by Lightning belongs there too. It works equally well as a long binge or episode-by-episode over a few weeks. The format gives you enough momentum to keep going without demanding that you sacrifice sleep on a Tuesday. The contained run means every episode has work to do, and the writers know it. Michael Shannon's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years after the fact. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished series, this is a reliable answer.