Review: ‘The Queen’s Gambit’
The topic of chess isn’t exactly what I’d consider thrilling. Usually. Let alone, I would never have dreamt that I’d be the slightest bit interested in a show focused on the subject. But after a very strong urge from a friend to watch The Queen’s Gambit, I didn’t have much of a choice but to turn it on. And I’m here to tell you that you better believe the hype. With a whopping 100% on the Tomatometer, an IMDb user rating of 8.8, and a spot in Netflix’s Top 10 in over 90 countries — there’s a reason this show is the streaming service’s most-watched scripted limited series to date.
The Queen’s Gambit is a seven-episode series about the introverted Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) who discovers and masters the intricate game of chess at age nine while living in an orphanage in 1950s Kentucky. As Beth grows up and chases after her dream of being the best player in the world, she battles the game’s most lethal players while struggling with addiction, loneliness, and the notion that chess is a man’s game and she couldn’t possibly belong in this realm.
Let’s start at the beginning. When Beth first comes across the orphanage’s janitor Mr. Scheibel (Bill Camp) playing chess in the basement, she is instantly intrigued. Mr. Scheibel doesn’t allow her to play at first, stating that “Girls don’t play chess.” This is the first instance of sexism she faces and it foreshadows what’s to come in her career. But after a few dedicated trips back to the basement, he eventually lets her play and comes to the shocking realization that young Beth is a chess prodigy. She practices playing in her head and studies the books Mr. Scheibel gives her, all the while enjoying tranquilizer pills the orphanage gives its kids a little too much if you catch my drift. Unfortunately, this isn’t exactly a habit that’s easy for her to kick as she transitions into her teens and early 20s.
Beth wants to be the best in the world and she’ll do whatever it takes to be that. A lot of the time though, she’s her own worst enemy. Although she’s very good at proving her worth as a woman in a male-dominated game, she struggles with abandonment issues from parental figures always leaving her. She seeks comfort from alcohol, pills, and companionship which usually, never ends well for her. As a viewer, you’re brought into this complex world of chess that quite frankly, I hadn’t the faintest idea existed. Just the game alone and all its intricacies are fascinating to watch throughout the episodes. But too, you have to applaud Taylor-Joy’s portrayal of Beth because she is killer in this role.
You’re introduced to a lot of familiar faces as the show progresses. Harry Melling (a.k.a Dudley from Harry Potter) plays Harry Beltik, one of the best chess players in Kentucky who Beth faces in her first official tournament. Funny to see Dudley Dursley playing chess isn’t it? Thomas Brodie-Sangster (The Maze Runner, Game of Thrones) portrays the arrogant Benny Watts, a fellow chess prodigy and U.S. champion. Both actors play their parts extraordinarily well, and their personal character development is just as interesting to watch as is their individual relationships with Beth. As they each become closer to Beth, they more so want to fix what they see wrong with her rather than try to understand where her issues stem from. Sure, she’s this hot chick destroying men at chess that’s sure to gain some male (and female) attention but no one really cares to see beyond that. She’s a pill-popping, lonesome alcoholic that these guys can’t help but be attracted to but also want to make better.
I absolutely cannot write a whole post about The Queen’s Gambit without mentioning how STUNNING the set dressing, costume design, and cinematography is. Collectively, these elements blend together beautifully. There’s this one scene in particular where Beth is having a faceoff with her adoptive father Mr. Wheatley (Patrick Kennedy) over who gets to keep the house Beth is living in. If you notice, the camera gradually moves into a position showing Beth looking down upon Mr. Wheatley to symbolize her gain of confidence and power over the situation. It’s a beautiful shot. But quite honestly, there are a lot of beautiful shots in this show. Without giving too much away, pay close attention to what Beth is wearing in the final scene of the show and tell me what she looks like to you.
The Queen’s Gambit is based on the 1983 novel by Walter Tevis but unfortunately, Beth Harmon wasn’t a real person. Although, real-life chess player Dylan Loeb McClain says she has many striking similarities to the well-known chess prodigy, Bobby Fischer. Interesting. Who knew chess was so complex by the way? Do chess players actually play against each other in their heads? Let me know. Personally, this show is a solid 10/10 for me. As a woman who loves to be competitive and grew up wanting to play what the boys were playing, I can’t tell you enough how much I was rooting for Beth to succeed despite her intense struggles. You can feel her annoyance when reporters focus on the fact that she’s a girl playing chess instead of giving a damn about her gameplay or backstory. It’s a thrilling story with a lot of layers but one more prominent is its illustration of women empowerment.
You can watch The Queen’s Gambit now on Netflix.
