Spoilers

Death By Lightning

“Party Faithful”

After the second of four episodes, James Garfield has been elected President of the United States.

The series has been flying at a pace that has been both breakneck and thrilling. Today’s politics are in no way like this. It is a welcome pace.

The first part of the episode focuses on Chester A. Arthur being lined up as the vice-president candidate and we get a good look at the personality and troubles of the man. Great performance from Nick Offerman during this episode.

Will-be assassin Charles Guiteau continued to show his delusional state as he wormed his way into the graces of Chester Arthur. Arthur was able to rid Guiteau of the people chasing him because of his theft of money from his sister and it only elevated Guiteau’s delusions all the more.

Garfield is being shown as a true honest man and a man who believed in what was right. They showed him meeting with a contingent of black leaders, swearing that their rights was the most important policy facing the country. Garfield preferred to campaign from his front porch.

The show also showed us how news spread differently at this time when Garfield’s wife, Crete, only found out about the nomination when the reporters began showing up on her front lawn. News did not fly across the planet like it does today.

The second episode of Death By Lightning is another winner and I am excited to see where this historical drama goes next.