The Queen's Gambit (2020)

In a Kentucky orphanage in the 1950s, a young girl discovers an astonishing talent for chess while struggling with addiction.

Siskoid

Judging from its viewing numbers, The Queen's Gambit is really good at making high-level chess at least emotionally understandable, and even though I once played chess regularly (until a nasty incident where a sore loser pile-drived me into the floor - true story), the strategies went well over my head. But it's essentially a sports movie in 7 episodes, and I don't know anything about sports either. Point is, once Anya Taylor-Joy's character starts going to tournaments, it gets quite addictive, and I especially like the subtlety of the psych-outs - what you could call the metaphorical chess game between the players - and how they never hang a sign on them. Your suspicion is the character's. Less subtle is the whole back story and how it becomes part of her cycle of addiction, and cared very little for this melodramatic element. Just stuff I've seen a hundred times in rock star narratives. If you know how a sports movie works, you can basically predict which matches will be won or lost - at least, before the final one - but that doesn't take away from the enjoyment. It's really about passion, discipline and obsession, has a nice sense of place and time (including a strong women's lib vibe that suits the '60s), and is very well played and shot thanks. Almost makes me want to get the ol' board out.

3 years ago

TheStonyField

The strongest part is the beginning, but it stays entertaining throughout. Knowing virtually nothing about chess, I was disappointed to learn that Beth Harmon was not a real person, and that no woman has actually done this yet.

2 years ago

Earring72

Great looking, well acted drama series.

3 years ago

More info & statistics

10% of the viewers favorited this title, 0.2% disliked it

Currently in 1 official list

Activity

burneyfan checked this title

yesterday

poppins favorited this title

a week ago

poppins checked this title

a week ago

hidenori checked this title

a week ago

ahmedahalim checked this title

a week ago

Dirkiedirk checked this title

a week ago

Friends

Log in to see which of your friends have seen this tv-series