Dramatic, thrilling, exciting. These adjectives would usually describe high-paced movies with an intense plot, but these are adjectives I now associate with a show about chess. Luckily, the show lived up to these descriptions. Not only is The Queen’s Gambit gripping, but it is also chilling, and the show immediately hooked me. We’ve seen many screen adaptations for books that are quite well known; however, the most exciting one I’ve seen to date is The Queen’s Gambit, a television series based on Walter Tevil’s 1983 novel of the same title. The unique show takes place in the 50s and 60s and tells the story of a young chess prodigy, Elizabeth Harmon. She shocks the world with her ability to beat anyone who comes her way, and while it is not a true story, it’s an inspiring one. 

Elizabeth Harmon (Isla Johnston) is eight years old when we are first introduced to her. She is the only surviving and unharmed passenger in a devastating car crash, her mother being dead on impact. Since she has no father or relatives connected with her, she is dropped off at a Christian school and orphanage almost immediately. She meets Jolene (Moses Ingram) there. Elizabeth forms a connection with her, becoming entranced with her zeal for chess and unfortunate addiction to green tranquilizer pills, provided by the school to make students compliant. Her interest peaks when the school janitor, Mr. Shaibel (played by legend Bill Camp), teaches her the game on a rusty table. Beth (now played by Anna Taylor-Joy) is now a 15-year-old, and a couple decides to adopt her. Beth leaves with her chessboard, confidence, and years of emotional trauma. She continues to be an ambitious soul with a passion only for the game, and the stress drives her further into her addiction to pills and alcohol. The audience can see her journey to becoming a name in the chess world. We have the pleasure of seeing Beth’s new mother, Alma– played by the incredibly talented writer Marielle Heller, — bring Beth some company and support while it’s just the two of them.

While at first, I was irritated that each episode was almost one-hour-long, sometimes more, I then was annoyed that there were only seven episodes. But the further I got, the more evident it became that less was more in this case. Another thrilling yet elegant aspect of The Queen’s Gambit is the track played during the most significant moments, as well as the theme. Each scene that carried weight in its silence was soon accompanied by the real reason for our adrenaline rush during big chess games–the musical score. The orchestra of strings was mastered by EMMY Award-winning composer Carlos Rafael Rivera who was also behind the track for Godless, another Scott Frank T.V. series.

 The script and plot for this story of chess and struggle did not disappoint. From the lonely moments to the gravity of being alone in a filled room, the script and production played out beautifully to the extent that you got lost in the show. The furniture, the phones, the vintage look made the story come alive. We’ve seen many failed attempts with shows trying too hard to get us to notice the period, but in The Queen’s Gambit, it was easy to fall into it. The small glimpses of Beth going to the store and looking at the headlines on magazines showed us how time changed, and there was a tint of yellow in the filter that made the show look sophisticated and 60s-like. I appreciated the costume designer, Gabriele Binder, trying so effortlessly to give us hints about the period without drawing our attention away from the story. However, I must say, I wouldn’t mind wearing one or two pieces (or every single piece) from Beth’s closet. She does have style, and she is the perfect example of her quote, “Chess can also be beautiful.” Not only does she embrace her femininity in a world of men, but she succeeds while doing so. As for the game, it has a refined sense of beauty. Her style almost mimicked the profile of a White Queen piece (especially the last episode). The show was also successful in creating believable characters, and I believe this is because no name was perfect. Each character had their visible flaws but managed to carry on in life, just like we all do. There is depth in analyzing these characters to chess pieces as well, each one has its limitations, and they’re all playing for the same prize with only 50 moves to get there. The story developed well through each character’s behavior. Elizabeth grows from her childhood memories, and we can see clear flashbacks (unlike some other shows). We see her problems evolve along with her success, and this applies to all characters. Alma loses her ‘tranquility,’ Benny his championship, and Harry his love for chess, and we can all relate to losing while gaining. They all seem to get out of it, or manage it, by sticking with each other, but as Jolene said, “I’m not your Guardian Angel. I’m not here to save you. Hell, I can barely save me.”

Anna Taylor-Joy did not cease to amaze me with her acting. Around episode 5, I realized that the girl who had been playing 15-year-old Beth was also playing adult Beth and was shocked. Her ability to embrace a 15-year-olds awkward posture and confusion while also embodying a confident and unsure adult is a talent unmatched by any actor her age. What I enjoyed most about her showcase of talent was her ability to play the game while not physically playing the game. Apart from the CGI of the symbolistic ceiling chessboard, Taylor-Joy’s incredible acting makes the chessboard come to life as she “moves” the pieces on the board with her hand and her confident eyes.  Taylor-Joy’s ability to capture the innocence in both a young and older Beth Harmon is intense and necessary. Marielle Heller, who plays the adoptive mother Alma to Beth Harmon, also did an excellent job. Much like her co-star, she was able to capture the sorrow Alma had in her eyes entirely and did a beautiful job displaying her pride for Beth while drowning herself in liquor. My favorite actor in the series had to be little Annabeth Kelly, the adorable little girl who played 5-year-old Beth. While viewers did not see her in many scenes, she stole the show with her relatively mature portrayal of emotions and–of course–her charming self. 30-year-old Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who played Benny Watts (Yes! 30!), also did an incredible job. The British actor had to mask his accent with something Southern, and it did not show. He was also a part of Scott Frank’s show Godless and has been in the Maze Runner. His confidence while playing the game made the competition very believable, and I ended up Googling who won his match against Beth because of the faith he was projecting through the screen. It’s without a doubt that all characters had a vital role in Beth’s character development. It’s rare to see every character have an impact on the show, and I was glad to see that The Queen’s Gambit was an exception. Each actor performed their role beautifully, but the real props went to the casting director to find them.

I rarely want second seasons for most shows that I like because I fear that the team will butcher the story. The execution of the first season of The Queen’s Gambit leads me to believe that if the show were to continue, I would not be disappointed, and neither would any other fans. In terms of the storyline, who knows where the show might go. Will it follow in the footsteps of the novel, or will it forge a new path? I, for one, am excited to see the team’s work for season 2 and am eagerly looking forward to following along with the story, as I’ve concluded that it is worth it.