The Queen's Gambit
The Queen's Gambit

The Queen's Gambit

2020TV ShowEndedEnglish

In a 1950s orphanage, a young girl reveals an astonishing talent for chess and begins an unlikely journey to stardom while grappling with addiction.

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Insights

IMDb8.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes97%
Metacritic86/100
Google Users94%
Director: Scott FrankGenres: Drama, Coming-of-age, Period drama

Plot Summary

Set during the Cold War, this coming-of-age drama follows Beth Harmon, an orphaned chess prodigy with an astonishing talent for the game. As she climbs the ranks of the competitive chess world, Beth battles her own addiction and personal demons, all while striving to become the greatest chess player in the world. The series explores themes of genius, addiction, loss, and the pursuit of excellence.

Critical Reception

The Queen's Gambit was met with widespread critical acclaim, particularly for Anya Taylor-Joy's performance, the show's visual style, and its compelling narrative. It resonated with both critics and audiences, becoming a cultural phenomenon and a major success for Netflix.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its mesmerizing lead performance by Anya Taylor-Joy.
  • Commended for its stylish direction and authentic period detail.
  • Lauded for its captivating storytelling and exploration of complex themes.

Google audience: Viewers overwhelmingly praised the show's engaging plot, Anya Taylor-Joy's exceptional acting, and its beautiful cinematography and production design. Many found the chess sequences thrilling and the character development deeply satisfying.

Awards & Accolades

Won 11 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited Series, and 2 Golden Globe Awards, including Best Miniseries or Television Film.

Fun Fact

The show's creators consulted with grandmaster Garry Kasparov and chess coach Bruce Pandolfini to ensure the accuracy of the chess matches depicted.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
MongoLloyd

MongoLloyd

I was loving this (pretty much) right up until the last episode when a woke deus ex machina suddenly appears in a Corvair to save the day. The cinematography is nice and the story of triumph rolls right along sans all the normal impediments...
Austin

Austin

After zipping through this gripping miniseries, I think I have a new favorite Netflix original. Its star, Anya Taylor-Joy, is quickly becoming a favorite as well, delivering a great performance as Beth Harmon, a genius young chess player...