5 Reasons We Love Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit
The Queen’s Gambit, a recent addition to Netflix’s growing list of original productions, is a miniseries set against the backdrop of the 1950’s. Based on Walter Tevis’s 1983 novel by the same name, Tevis tells a story of a bright young girl, Beth, who finds herself orphaned and in a home for young women. Whilst trying to come to terms with her new reality, she discovers the game of Chess and quickly masters it.
The miniseries follows Beth’s meteoric rise through the ranks of the male-dominated world of competitive chess. The story, compelling on it’s own, comes to life under the directorship of Scott Frank, who sets the entire story to an ominous tone, keeping you on the tips of your toes throughout the series. And yet Beth’s journey unravels in a familiar and natural way, letting the natural highs and lows of her life buoy you through.
So, what did we love about this show?
1) Loved by all-
The show was beloved by all who watched it within our team, even those tasked with watching it and had little interest. Not to mention it was the most-watched show on Netflix throughout November and December and held a 100% rating on the rarely satisfied Rotten Tomatoes site.
2) The fashion-
Set against the 1950s, '60s and '70s, Beth's fashion choice relate directly to her coming of age. The older she gets, the more mature her style becomes- especially when she starts winning games that pay and can start to afford the clothes and the lifestyle that she has always admired. The clothes- feminine, chic and stylish, help her solidify her alien appeal against all the boys, brown and tweed.
3) The Characters-
Why is a game based purely on mental prowess lacking gender diversity? As a woman, Beth's ambition mere presence in the competitive world of chess is as unlikely as it is compelling. The Queen's gambit casts a light on the strangeness of 'sport' like chess, and the vast gender gap within the field. As much as we can thank Tevis and Frank for creating and moulding a dynamic female protagonist, it is the actress Anya Taylor- Joy who we can thank for Beth's portrayal- who is as strong as she is flawed.
4) The relationships-
In the Queen's Gambit, most of the characters and their relationships are substantial. Nothing is obvious or tied up with a bow- leaving you thinking about the characters. Specifically, it was the female relationships throughout the series that we loved. They are so much healthier than the typecast fluff you typically see written. The relationship between Beth and her adopted mother, Mrs Wheatley, remains strange and interesting despite the way they grow together into their unusual pairing. But the most robust relationship for me is Beth and Jolene's, her orphan sister. It is a true example of what real childhood cum adult relationships are- a double helix of lifelong entanglements.
5) What gaze?
And finally, it would be remiss of me to revisit the fact that Tevis and Frank, two men created this multi-dimensional and authentic female-driven narrative. These men successfully managed to tell a story about a woman's struggle through a lens that didn't feel male, at times, it felt entirely female. In stark opposition to Beth's level-headedness, they managed to show men as both egotistical and vulnerable. And as we watch Beth's journey to becoming a Grand Master, a feat unimaginable in a world dominated by men, the director and cast manage to show what singular drive and sportsmanship looks like regardless of sex or gender.
The Queens Gambit is an original miniseries for Netflix which premiered on October 23, 2020, will likely remain available on Netflix. We highly recommend it!
AND, if you got deep into it like we did, this month Netflix also released a behind the scenes documentary- Creating The Queens Gambit.