When it comes to Netflix and the conversation around its offerings lately, most of the dialogue has naturally been reserved for Stranger Things’ final season and Adolescence, which has been a force of nature at the awards shows (and rightly so, that show is also awesome and deserves its own article). But there’s another great show from Netflix that I feel has passed under the radar somewhat, but is totally worth your time, and that’s Death by Lightning.

Set in the late 19th century, Death by Lightning focuses on the election and brief presidency of James A. Garfield (Michael Shannon) and his subsequent assassination by Charles J. Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen). At four episodes long, it doesn’t demand a lot of your time, but it fills every minute with sharp writing, stellar acting and wonderful set and costume design. It’s got a pretty great set of supporting actors as well, from Nick Offerman as Chester A. Arthur, Shea Whigham as Roscoe Conkling, Betty Glipin as Lucretia Garfield, and Bradley Whitford as James Blaine.

With the Republican Party divided about its own future, Garfield inadvertently makes himself a frontrunner candidate after delivering an impassioned speech in favour of nominating Blaine. But his compassion and morality struck a chord with many members of the party, who saw the potential for change with someone like Garfield. At the same time, the show focuses heavily on the life of Charles Guiteau, who, for lack of a better term, is a straight-up Stan for Garfield, a deluded fan who cons his way into people’s lives while trying to make a name for himself. MacFayden is an absolute scene stealer as Guiteau, playing the man with equal amounts of ambition, desperation, corruption, and delusion. He’s like that wad of gum you can’t get out from under your shoe, no matter how hard you try.

Another scene stealer is Offerman as Vice-President Chester A. Arthur, a man not particularly loyal to Garfield due to his business dealings with Conkling, nor particularly fit for the role of his office, something he openly admits to frequently. A drunkard and a crook, Offerman dives into the role of someone with no ambition or interest, but will one day be faced with the burden of office.

The production design on this show is really top-notch; you are easily transported to the 1880s thanks to the costumes, sets, and even the CG backdrops. Quite often, it feels like one of those old photographs you’d see in a museum of a city street at rush hour, full of people and detail. The show is also surprisingly funny, considering the ultimate plot about assassination. That’s because the show is also a political satire, but it never makes things absurd. This isn’t a comedy, but it certainly has moments of clever wit. A big part of that comes from Macfadyen, who steals this show. He’s a bumbling fool, a con, and a Stan who thinks very highly of himself despite his parasitic behaviour. He’s never wrong, even though he’s always in the wrong.

I would say if you’re a fan of period pieces, clever wit, and historical dramas, this is an easy recommendation. It’s only four episodes long, and it makes its point without meandering or dragging, but I would’ve loved even more episodes.