The Queen’s Gambit TV Show Review: 10/10 I’m Obsessed
I feel like it’s truly been a long time since I’ve watched something that has held my attention from beginning to end and checks all of the boxes for me. The Queen’s Gambit tells the story of Beth Harmon (played by Anya Taylor-Joy), an orphan with tragic past who discovers a talent for chess at a young age. She climbs her way up in the world of competitive chess through sheer brainpower (and some substance abuse), while making friends along the way. Honestly, this might be my favorite drama of the year and DEFINITELY my favorite Netflix show up to this point. It truly has it all - the drama, the acting, the visuals, the competition, the tears, and the pure thrill of just enjoying a show and not wanting it to end.
The Queen’s Gambit is so good because it expertly mixes good storytelling with the joy of watching a character excel at her craft. Humans are simple creatures…we love success stories and the competitiveness of sports, and The Queen’s Gambit throws us an easy bone to chew. I think that this show does something that Japanese anime has been excelling at for years: Present the audience with a talented main character who has had to overcome a lot of obstacles in early life, let us watch said main character beat the hell out of people (physically OR mentally) who have doubted them, and then throw some additional challenges in just as the character is about to reach the pinnacle of his/her success. Other than having a winning plot-line and material to work with, The Queen’s Gambit is a gorgeous show to watch. Anya Taylor-Joy as the lead is absolutely riveting, and you can’t take your eyes off her for a multitude of reasons! Her eyes suck you in and every movement says so much - even the nimbleness of her fingers as they move across the chess board have meaning and emotion behind them. Even though I knew very little about this actress before, I’m such an ardent fan of her now!
The Queen’s Gambit is about chess, and it’s just fun to explore the world of competitive chess, learn a little more about the game, and watch a female become absolutely dominant in a male-dominated world. My only complaint is that the show does not spend much time educating the audience about chess and the strategy behind the game. It touches on a few topics, but I think the show-runners must have come to the conclusion that explaining the game would have been boring and taken time away from the thrill of understanding the characters. If this show were longer and not just a mini series with 7 episodes, I’m sure there could have been more time to explore the game.
In conclusion…
I’m obsessed with this show and I hope that everyone watches it and can share their thoughts with me! I thought the ending was absolutely perfect as well, and I felt tears streaming down my eyes. WATCH IT NOW!! I cannot recommend it enough!