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Good period dramas are getting harder and harder to come across, but a new release on Netflix has become the surprise hit of the winter. It only came out last month, yet viewers say it already stands out from everything else released this year. Some have even gone as far as calling it the best historical series of 2025.

The show has built up huge buzz online thanks to its writing, performances and incredible retelling of real events. It also has an impressive score on Rotten Tomatoes, where it holds a 91% critic rating and an 86% audience score. Those who have already seen it say it feels "fresh, gripping and unlike most period dramas that arrive on streaming platforms nowadays".

Reviews have been coming in steadily since its debut, and many are calling it a masterpiece.

Viewers say that while big-budget historical dramas can sometimes miss the mark, this new one manages to strike a balance between strong storytelling and impressive production design.

The series in question is Death by Lightning, a four-part historical drama that landed on Netflix on November 6.

It was created by Mike Makowsky and is based on the book Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard.

One reviewer said: "Death by Lightning is one of the more surprising shows I've seen. I was so caught up in it that I couldn't stop watching. The writing and performances were fantastic."

Another added: "This series is not to be missed! The writing, the acting, the set design and costumes are perfection. It's a masterpiece."

A third wrote: "This is a must-see. It was only released at the start of November, but is already the best historical series of 2025 for me.

"It hit all the right marks, from a great cast to an interesting story. All of the actors fit their characters well and had great chemistry."

Someone else said: "A period historical drama of this magnitude is a hard magic trick to pull off, but the production design on this show was next level. I literally watched this twice over two days.

"It's very different in terms of quality when you look at all the other shows being released nowadays."

The series stars Michael Shannon as US President James A. Garfield and Matthew Macfadyen as his assassin Charles J. Guiteau.

Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, Bradley Whitford and Nick Offerman also appear in major roles.

Many critics have praised how the series handles Garfield's presidency, his reform-focused agenda and the tragic events that led to his death.

The four episodes follow Garfield's rise to the presidency, his anti-corruption work, and the actions of Guiteau, a deluded admirer whose obsession ended in assassination and shocked the nation.

All episodes of Death By Lightning are available to stream on Netflix.