Matthew Macfadyen’s Succession And Death By Lightning Characters Are Both ‘Weaselly’ But He Says There’s One Huge Noticeable Difference

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HBO’s Succession was a hugely popular and award-winning show. Now that it’s finished, star Matthew Macfadyen is back on television in Netflix’s Death By Lightning. He recently told TopMob that while both shows feature him playing somewhat untrustworthy characters, they are quite different from each other.

Let me tell you, the acting in Succession was phenomenal across the board, but Tom Wambsgans quickly became my absolute favorite. I was thrilled to see him land on top in the series finale, and it definitely came up when I recently spoke with Matthew Macfadyen about his new show (available with a Netflix subscription). He drew a fascinating parallel, comparing Tom to Charles J. Guiteau from Death By Lightning, and explained that…

I’d say they both came across as driven, but also a little untrustworthy and somewhat evasive. However, I didn’t really connect with either of them, mostly because we seemed very different. There was a big contrast between us, and I felt quite distinct – we both had large beards, actually. There was a lot of facial hair on the show in general.

Several important distinctions were highlighted. Although the characters share some common traits, the two shows differ greatly in their overall feel and the worlds they create. Death By Lightning is set in the 1880s, while Succession offers a contemporary, satirical look at the lives of the extremely wealthy. These differences are immediately apparent in the shows’ visual elements – from the set design to the costumes and even the styling of Tom Wambsgans (played by Macfadyen).

Hugh Jackman is sporting a full beard and often looks quite dirty in his new film, Death By Lightning. This is a noticeable contrast to his typically polished and well-groomed appearance as Tom. Interestingly, this difference in appearance helped him embody his character, Guiteau, without needing to consciously differentiate between the two roles.

You can watch the complete series of Succession on HBO Max. Subscriptions start at $10.99 per month (with ads) and give you access to a huge library of movies, shows, documentaries, and more. See the deal here.

I wonder if viewers who watched both Succession and Death by Lightning noticed how similar Matthew Macfadyen’s characters are. Both men attempt to use their charm to climb the ladder and gain power, even though they don’t have much real influence. The main difference is that Tom Wambsgans is a businessman, while Charles J. Guiteau is infamous for assassinating President James Garfield.

I wasn’t familiar with the story of Guiteau and President Garfield before watching the series Death by Lightning. That’s actually why Michael Shannon decided to return to television – to portray Garfield. The four-part show is packed with unexpected turns, and it’s incredible that it’s all based on actual events.

You can now watch the complete series of Death By Lightning on Netflix as part of their 2025 lineup. If you enjoy Matthew Macfadyen’s work, you can also find him in Succession and the classic Pride and Prejudice on HBO Max.

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2025-11-11 00:40