Fans hail Netflix period drama 'one of the best TV shows ever'
Netflix's The Queen's Gambit was released in 2020 and quickly became one of the streaming giants' most-watched series of all time - and it's not hard to see why
"Arguably, the best show ever made" reads one review of The Queen's Gambit, a sentiment that appears to be universally shared.
Netflix's 2020 coming-of-age period drama set during the Cold War captivated audiences when it was released at the height of the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Boasting an impressive 96 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the series' grip on viewers, regardless of their interest in chess, could almost serve as a case study.
Debuting on the streaming platform on October 23, 2020, The Queen's Gambit quickly became Netflix's most-watched scripted miniseries within just four weeks of its release. It went on to top the charts in 63 countries, prompting Netflix to release a statement: "The Queen's Gambit now stands as our biggest scripted limited series ever. The series has captivated 62 million households in its first 28 days."
Based on Walter Tevis's 1983 novel of the same name, The Queen's Gambit was written and directed by Scott Frank, who co-created it with Allan Scott, the rights holder of the book. The title, Queen's Gambit, refers to a well-known chess opening, reports Surrey Live.
Set in the mid-1950s to 1960s, this fictional miniseries follows the life of orphan Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy), a rising chess prodigy competing against the sport's elites, while simultaneously grappling with her alcohol and drug addictions and emotional struggles.
The series garnered critical acclaim, securing 11 Primetime Emmy Awards – including the prestigious accolade for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series – this marked the first occasion a show on a streaming platform clinched the title.
Fans also agreed, with one saying: "The Queen's Gambit is one of my favorite miniseries of all time and one of Netflix's best productions. The scoring behind the cinematography is perhaps one of its greatest strengths, creating an air of intrigue throughout."
The show also claimed two Golden Globe Awards, one for Best Limited Series or Television Film and another for Best Actress – Limited Series or Television Film, which Anya Taylor-Joy earned. She further won the SAG Award for her remarkable performance as a female actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series.
Critics heaped praises on Taylor-Joy, with one commentator writing: "It's so natural it's easy to overlook, but growing up onscreen is hard, precise work, and this young talent makes it look easy."
Another review highlighted Taylor-Joy's standout performance: "What makes The Queen's Gambit so satisfying comes in large measure from the character Taylor-Joy brings to screen: a charming, elegant weirdo who delivers her lines with a cool, wintergreen snap, and never really reacts the way one might expect."
A different critic focused on her presence: "The budding star at the center of Scott Frank's new Netflix series has a rare magnetism, the kind that can sell even the most esoteric of subjects."
The miniseries also left reviewers captivated, with comments like "with excellent pacing and a sure sense of itself out of the gate, The Queen's Gambit is a work of art-riveting, radiant, and simply spellbinding. Like Beth, it triumphs through its devotion to a love of the game."
One critic said: "Just as you feel a familiar dynamic forming, in which a talented woman ends up intimidating her suitors, The Queen's Gambit swerves; it's probably no coincidence that a story about chess thrives on confounding audience expectations."
Another lavished the show with praise, saying: "This is the sort of delicate prestige television that Netflix should be producing more often. It's smart and gentle and tastefully assured in the worthiness of its subject."
Audience feedback echoed these sentiments, with one viewer adding: "The Queen's Gambit is one of my favourite miniseries of all time and one of Netflix's best productions. The scoring behind the cinematography is perhaps one of its greatest strengths, creating an air of intrigue throughout.
"Perhaps what I find most enjoyable about the series is watching Anya Taylor Joy's character build her life through fascinating trials and tribulations. She's a fighter and a winner and shows what it takes to get to that next level that few will ever ascertain."
Another viewer review said: "I mean WOW! ! Brilliant, captivating, and nerve-wracking in the best way! I've literally watched it 4 times in the past 3 years (and I don't rewatch things), and I'm STILL not sick of it! ! ! It's literally my favourite limited series on Netflix! ! I never thought I'd find a show about Chess so interesting...but here we are! I love shows that invoke emotion, and this one will give you ALL of them!".
A viewer disclosed a profound emotional attachment to the series, posting: "I connected with The Queen's Gambit in an emotional and intellectual way that will last my lifetime. It's a rich and complex story with every character and plot point perfectly crafted, every location exquisitely designed and lensed, and all performances - especially Anya Taylor-Joy in the lead - among the best I've ever seen."
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