Pictured Above: Anya Taylor-Joy plays Elizabeth Harmon in The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix. The show premiered in 2020. A second season has not been confirmed yet.
Courtesy of Netflix
By Michael Alden
Professional chess requires a level of mental fortitude that can seem other-wordly to a casual observer. The game is a multilayered battle against another player with countless move possibilities and paths to win. It’s also an internal battle against one’s own will and tendencies—players can end up beating themselves without much help from their opponent.
Based on the fictional 1983 novel by Walter Trevis of the same name, Netflix’s new fictional period drama The Queen’s Gambit is at constant risk of beating itself, but it never succumbs to this thanks to a stellar female lead and a unique premise.
The show follows female chess prodigy Elizabeth Harmon, played by Anya Taylor-Joy (Split, The New Mutants) as she reckons with addiction and loneliness in her obsessive pursuit to become the world’s first female chess champion. Growing up in an orphanage, she latches onto chess as a way to escape from reality. We also see her abuse substances early on for the same reason. As the story unfolds and Beth grows up, these means of escape threaten her mental stability and the lives of those around her.
A bevy of side characters are introduced throughout the show’s run that weave in-and-out of the narrative, with mixed results. No one stays close to Beth for long—while this is a testament to her self-destructive persona, it doesn’t allow the audience room to connect with these characters. They’re often pawns in Beth’s eyes and therefore pawns in the narrative that don’t justify their own existence.
Marielle Heller’s (director of A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood) portrayal of Beth’s adoptive mother Alma is the easiest character to empathize with; she’s a calming force in Beth’s life, struggling with her own addictions and self-worth.
Beth’s primary love interest, D.L. Townes — played by Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker), is alluring as an aspiring journalist who clearly has chemistry with actress Taylor-Joy. Unfortunately, his character is underutilized and absent for much of the show’s run time.
Taylor-Joy dials in one of the best television performances of the year, striking a balance between madness and grace. Her character alone elevates the show above the standard Netflix drama series. Beth’s subtle intensity and methodic poise commands the attention of everyone in her orbit. While she can be relentless in her obsession with winning, she cares for others in her own way and is never selfish to the point of being loathsome. Taylor-Joy depicts Beth’s substance abuse with tenderness instead of exploitation.
The Queen’s Gambit never fully commits to one genre, toeing the line between an in-depth character study and an underdog story. The script is littered with cliches found in both genres: cheesy romantic lines and “woe is me” dialogue are often saved by the actors’ superior performances.
The show takes full advantage of its post-World War II American setting. From lavish department stores in Lexington, Kentucky to dingy basement-level apartments in New York City, this is an America with limitless opportunities enveloped in sexism and racism. Sadly, these topical issues aren’t broadly explored, aside from the occasional reminders that Beth is a woman vying for domination in a field saturated with men.
Verdict: The Queen’s Gambit stands out as one of the best Netflix original series to date.
A strong female lead anchors a show in peril of collapsing under its own weight. Anya Taylor-Joy’s fierce performance solidifies her position in the industry as one of the top actresses to watch out for in the coming years. While underdeveloped supporting characters and a wobbly narrative prevent the show from reaching true greatness, the high production value and an engaging premise make for a binge-worthy series with heart. The story of a female chess genius hasn’t been told before now: here’s to hoping it continues.
Overall Rating: 8/10
