Two months ago I was pretty convinced that the fourth season of "The Crown" will be the biggest attraction on Netflix this fall.
However, my opinion changed when Netflix released "The Queen's Gambit", a new mini-series based on a novel written by Walter Tevis.
We live in a world where it's just impossible to watch every TV series. We can choose from so many options! Of course, this situation has its pros and cons. But one thing is certain - it's more and more difficult to attract viewers. TV series are trying so hard to stand out. The story must be complicated, the action must be very fast, plot twists are indispensable...
"The Queen's Gambit" doesn't share these characteristics. And even so, it's one of the biggest hits of Netflix this fall!
The series tells us the story of Beth Harmon - an outstanding chess player. The story begins in the mid-1950s when Beth is eight and sent to an orphanage. Her mom, who was mentally disturbed, committed suicide. Beth tries to get used to life in the orphanage where the children are "medicated" with psychotropics. I must admit that the methods of education used in the children's homes only a few decades ago are more than shocking...
Anyway, the orphanage is a place where Beth's life changes forever. That's where she discovers chess. Thanks to an old janitor and his faith in Beth's outstanding skills, the girl takes her first steps in the chess world. Soon this game will become her biggest love, her biggest obsession, and - finally - a way of life.
"The Queen's Gambit" follows Beth's life until she's twenty-two. We watch her grow up, we become witnesses of her success. But we also observe her when she struggles with her addictions and loneliness. We admire her when she becomes a really important figure in the chess world - a world dominated by men.
Source: chess.com |
When I read what I have just written, I have the impression that "The Queen's Gambit" seems to be another depressing, psychological TV series. But it's really more than that! The creators of the show made sure to faithfully reproduce the reality of the USA in the 1950s and 1960s. They managed to take us to the American suburbs, they let us feel their atmosphere. "The Queen's Gambit" acquaints us with the fashion, the music of the 1950s and 1960s. This show allows us to travel in time and space.
Source: hitc.com |
The actors and actresses playing the main characters of the show are brilliant. Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth is just incredible. Harry Melling (best known for playing Dudley Dursley in Harry Potter) and Thomas Brodie Sangster playing supporting roles are also fantastic. And we can't forget about Marcin Dorociński, an amazing Polish actor, who plays the role of Vasily Borgov - Beth's greatest rival. Dorociński's performance in "The Queen's Gambit" has gained international recognition.
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