The Queen’s Gambit

Queen’s Gambit THE

SHOW CHECKMATES TRADITIONAL TELEVISION

GREEN TRANQUILIZER strategy game, pills tumble out of a ceram- this show proves ic toothbrush holder into the otherwise. Armed palm of a 9-year-old girl with with fast-paced screen roughly cut bangs. She swallows them dry, cuts and heart-thrumming and the dark shadows on the ceiling begin music, even a silent game of to morph into the pattern of a chessboard. chess is sure to get the audiA looming stone pillar — the queen — ma- ence’s adrenaline pumping. The terializes, hanging upside down from the camera is focused on the players and ceiling, quickly followed by the remaining the players’ faces for most of the time 31 chess pieces. Flashing in and out of exis- rather than the board, an artful camtence, the pieces dance across the board as era decision that adds life to the intense the girl plays out the Scholar’s Mate, also games. known as the 4-move checkmate. The ma- What makes the show truly stand out neuver repeats, faster and faster, as the girl is its refreshing take on female autonomy. gazes at the ceiling, captivated. Beth’s character is written the way male

This is a scene from “The Queen’s characters are traditionally constructed by Gambit,” a Netflix Original miniseries re- male creators; she is ambitious and sucleased on Oct. 23. Created by Scott Frank cess-driven, surrounded by men whose and Allan Scott and based on a Walter Te- primary purposes are to further her story, vis novel of the same name, “The Queen’s and is often likened to a Van Gogh-Esque Gambit” follows protagonist Elizabeth “tortured genius,” a role almost solely oc“Beth” Harmon’s (Anya Taylor-Joy) jour- cupied by male characters in television. ney from an orphanage to competing in Furthermore, Beth isn’t coninternational chess fined to tournaments. the nerdy

Set in the Unit- “The Queen’s Gambit” is chess player ed States during the Cold War era, Beth an extraordinary story stereotype. She is unspends her younger of struggle, independence afraid to years in an orphanage, discovering and redemption. express her sexual chess in the musty desires basement with custodian Mr. Shaibel (Bill and unashamedly pursues relaCamp). However, Beth quickly outgrows tionships, all without taking her eyes off the Mr. Shaibel’s skill, and after she is adopt- chessboard. In television, women are often ed, she begins playing in state, national characterized by their sexual lives in a way and international chess tournaments. As that dominates any other trait they might she learns new openings and attacks on the have. Beth’s character defies this norm; her board with sharp intuition and instinct, romantic pursuits and ambition in chess are she spends her nights perfecting her skills distinct, defining her as a strong character by projecting her imagination onto the of her own right without the need for men ceiling. Yet as the young prodigy graces the to support her. covers of chess magazines and travels to Visually, the costume and set designers glamorous cities for tournaments, her sinis- of “The Queen’s Gambit” capture a stunter battle with substance abuse lurks below ning portrayal of the 1960s. With Beth’s the surface. house decked out in brightly patterned

“The Queen’s Gambit” has exploded wallpaper and floral bed sheets, viewers are in popularity around the world with chess transported back to the age of flamboyant grandmasters and unfamiliar newbies alike. grandmillennial-style decor. With consultants like Russian grandmaster A more subtle yet impactful design and world champion Garry Kasparov, the choice is Beth’s wardrobe; from check7-episode series maintains a realistic por- er-print pieces that resemble a chesstrayal of the chess world with games adapt- board, to expensive dresses straight from a ed from real-life matches. high-fashion magazine catalog, Beth’s fash-

While mainstream media has long ion choices solidify her position as a confideemed chess to be a slow and passive dent woman who is unafraid to express her femininity in a male-dominated field. “The Queen’s Gambit” is an extraordinary story of struggle, independence and redemption. A young orphaned girl, against all odds, harnesses her intelligence to rise to the top of the highly competitive world of chess. Even after she blunders, turning to excessive amounts of alcohol and drugs to cope with loss, she finds her way back to her chess pieces for the endgame.

To anyone looking to explore the world of chess through a cultured and intricately detailed show, or simply those searching for a satisfying story with complex characters, “The Queen’s Gambit” is for you. And once you finish, you’ll be feeling the urge to take to the chessboard and pick up a pawn yourself. v

“The Queen’s Gambit” is available as a limited series, and can be viewed on Netflix.