The Queen’s Gambit took Netflix by storm when it premiered on October 23rd of this year. Directed by Scott Frank and based on the novel of the same name by Walter Tevis, the seven-episode miniseries is enough to shatter anyone’s productive Sunday afternoon plans. Many viewers reported binging the entire thing all in one sitting, and I wouldn’t blame them. 

The series begins with Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) running late to a chess game in Paris, 1967. Right from the get-go, the viewer is left with several questions: Why is she in Paris? Did women really play chess in the ’60s? What’s with popping pills and drinking liquor so early in the morning? The scene ends with her sitting in front of a chessboard, eyes set on her rival, Vasily Borgov (Marcin Dorocinski). As if the director is saying “it all started when…”, the setting suddenly changes, and we begin to learn of Beth’s childhood at Methuen Orphanage, Kentucky, USA. It is here where she first learns how to play chess with the janitor, Mr. Shaibel (Bill Camp), and here where she meets one of her most challenging opponents: the green pill.

Throughout the series, we see Beth as she grows to become a world-renowned chess player. However, her road is not yellow-brick, but paved with bouts of alcoholism and drug addiction. Moreover, although she consistently proves to be a stronger chess player than many—if not most—of her male counterparts, she is rarely compared as their equal. Instead, she is labeled as a ‘surprise to womankind,’ as if being a woman is what makes her tactical flair most impressive, not her skill. Her frustration grows with the more publicity that she gets, but this does not stop her from reaching her goals; quite the contrary—it motivates her further.

Addiction is a recurring theme in the series, and Beth’s nature to isolate herself from others only drives her into a deeper hole of helplessness. People around her are drawn to her talent, but Beth finds it difficult to allow anyone to influence her. Having been alone for most of her life, she finds comfort in only the chessboard. However, as she gets older and realizes that she has no one in her life to turn to, the chessboard stops being sufficient. To entertain her days, she drinks incredible amounts of alcohol and takes tranquilizers that she claims help her visualize the chess pieces.

Three weeks after the premiere of the show, The Queen’s Gambit still holds the position of number one in Netflix’s Top 10 TV Shows. Furthermore, it is rated 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.8 on IMDb. There must be a reason. Who watches, and rewatches, a show about chess? Is everyone who watches it a chess nerd? Certainly not. The impeccable performance by Anya Taylor-Joy, combined with wonderful music written by Carlos Rafael Rivera, aesthetic costume and set designs, and artistic directing, draws in even those who are clueless about the rules of chess. What is brilliant about The Queen’s Gambit is that it gets you engaged in Beth’s story, and has you rooting for her every step of the way. The truth is that it’s not really about chess. More precisely, it’s about Beth’s journey to finding pure love for the game without the cloud of drugs and alcohol.

The Queen’s Gambit is undeniably one of the best series of 2020 and may be one of Netflix’s most outstanding original shows. With just the right length and a satisfyingly conclusive ending, it is unlikely that we will see a second season in the future. Beth Harmon’s story ends here, but this does not have to be a bad thing. This opens up doors for director Scott Frank and actress Anya Taylor-Joy to work on new and potentially more exciting projects. We eagerly await what they have to offer, and meanwhile, I suppose I’ll hit play just one more time…