Before Death by Lightning dropped on Netflix’s 2025 schedule, I wrote about how excited I was to see one of history’s great “what ifs” play out in the miniseries. The assassination of President James A. Garfield (played by Michael Shannon in the show) just a few months into his first term in 1881 meant we’d never know what kind of president the man from Ohio would be, but it held a lot of promise. The show did not disappoint, and if you’ve not seen it yet, I highly recommend checking it out.
In the series, we are treated to a very brief moment that introduces Robert Todd Lincoln (Kyle Soller, of Andor fame), the son of President Abraham Lincoln. He’s not a pivotal figure in the show, but in real life, he was around for some of the most pivotal moments in United States history. Given the success of Death by Lightning, I propose that Netflix consider a follow-up about his incredible life.
