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Drama•Crime

The Best Episodes of Death by Lightning

Every episode of Death by Lightning ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Death by Lightning!

Binge this in 3h 36m•Peaking at 7.9/10

The story of James Garfield, who rose from obscurity to become America's 20th President — and Charles Guiteau, the man who assassinated him.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Death by Lightning Season 1 Episode 4 - Destiny of the Republic
    7.9/10(812 votes)

    #1 - Destiny of the Republic

    S1:E4

    Conkling goes on the offensive as Garfield challenges the New York political machine. Isolated and desperate, Guiteau weighs a history-making decision.

    Director:Matt Ross
    Writer:Mike Makowsky

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  2. Death by Lightning Season 1 Episode 3 - Casus Belli
    7.8/10(804 votes)

    #2 - Casus Belli

    S1:E3

    Treachery from within the White House complicates Garfield's attempts to appoint a Cabinet. Guiteau tries everything to secure a Presidential audience.

    Director:Matt Ross
    Writer:Mike Makowsky

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  3. Death by Lightning Season 1 Episode 2 - Party Faithful
    7.7/10(872 votes)

    #3 - Party Faithful

    S1:E2

    In the runup to Election Day, Garfield welcomes the nation to his front porch, while Guiteau struggles to ingratiate himself with Party leadership.

    Director:Matt Ross
    Writer:Mike Makowsky

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  4. Death by Lightning Season 1 Episode 1 - The Man from Ohio
    7.3/10(1037 votes)

    #4 - The Man from Ohio

    S1:E1

    At the 1880 Republican National Convention, the lives of Ohio Congressman James Garfield and newly released convict Charles Guiteau are forever altered.

    Director:Matt Ross
    Writer:Mike Makowsky

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Best Episodes Summary

"Destiny of the Republic" is the best rated episode of "Death by Lightning". It scored 7.9/10 based on 812 votes. Directed by Matt Ross and written by Mike Makowsky, it aired on 11/6/2025. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Casus Belli".