The Prestige TV Podcast 'Death by Lightning': Netflix's Hit Garfield Assassination Show, With Mike Makowsky | Prestige TV
Nov 18, 2025
Screenwriter and producer Mike Makowsky, known for his work on Netflix's limited series, dives into the riveting adaptation of Candace Millard's book about Garfield's assassination. He discusses the intriguing choice to keep the series at four episodes and how he modernized historical dialogue to engage contemporary audiences. The conversation touches on the actors' deep portrayals and the complexity of Garfield’s character, as well as the fascinating decision to feature Guiteau's brain in a jar as a thematic element. This blend of history and drama captivates throughout!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Drafts Included A Trial Episode
- Mike Makowsky originally wrote the project as a six-episode limited series before condensing it to four episodes to get it made.
- He also wrote a full trial episode for Guiteau that was cut because it unbalanced the story after Garfield's death.
Bookstore Impulse Sparked The Series
- Makowsky bought Candace Millard's Destiny of the Republic on a bookstore impulse and read it in one sitting.
- Reading it drove him to Wikipedia rabbit holes and inspired the series' development.
Convention As A Cinematic Engine
- The 1880 Republican convention is a cinematic set piece because of its absurdity and the dramatic way Garfield is nominated against his will.
- Makowsky uses that moment to show Garfield's complicated ambition and public ascent.
