Another Netflix series is topping up the charts since its release. If you haven’t heard about it, it’s the Queen’s Gambit. This is another series which was adapted from a famous novel by Walter Tevis under the same title which was published on 1983. Now, this is not your ordinary TV Series review; I have so much to say about this series and I’m so excited to share it to all of my readers. The series is very close to my heart because I, myself, was feeling that the main character and I shared a lot in common. By ‘common‘ I mean is the love for the game CHESS.

So the 7-episode-long miniseries, is about an orphan who became a prodigy at the early age of eight in the world of chess which was in her time was a game dominated by men. The genius girl, Elizabeth Harmon, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, who is also known for her role in the movie The Witch. Beth, was brought to the orphanage after her mother dies in a car accident. During her stay in the orphanage, she became friends with a foul-mouthed, Jolene, who is played by Moses Ingram. She also met Mr. Shaibel, played by Bill Camp, a janitor who plays chess alone in the basement of the orphanage. He is the one who taught Elizabeth how to play the game and also was the one who discovered that Beth might be a genius when it comes to chess.

Beth is a silent, poker-faced little who only wants to be alone. With the help of sedatives, she was able to play the game in her head before she sleeps at night. With the help of Mr. Shaibel, she got more eager to learn which she figured out at the shortest time possible. in the later years, she was adopted by a childless couple, Alma and Allston Wheatley. With the guidance of Mrs. Wheatley, she was able to attend tournaments

and which later on, became their routine. Elizabeth has had the rage of winning and the hunger for it got more in tense while she’s growing up. She have met chess masters in other state and was able to defeat them all until she went in Moscow to compete for the World Championship with her most-looked-forward opponent, Borkov.

The TV Series was no distance to the novel because I believe, they managed to give justice of the story however there are some points that I was wishing that they emphasized more in the series. One of those is Beth is as vulnerable as any normal person. In the miniseries, they made her the coldest person you’ll ever known. Second one is the relationship of Beth and Benny Watts. I’m sure I am not the only one who would’ve liked the series to have focused on their love story too. Well, in the novel, it was written that Beth and Benny’s relationship is on and off and Benny was the only one Beth has ever loved despite of dating other guys. Plus I love the chemistry. Although it was funny that Thomas Brodie-Sangster, playing Benny, looks so young or it’s just me because I have seen his very young looking face in The Maze Runner and The Game of Thrones? Well, the moustache gave the character a build up, oh kudos to that!

But wait, Aren’t we gonna talk about D.L. Townes played by Jacob Fortune-Lloyd. He was Beth’s first crush and first love. I love how he was able to cheer Beth during her match in Moscow. After all, Townes is the first person who made Beth curious about boys not to mention, the mentoring and motivation Townes given to Beth all the through out her life. I guess we all have that one person who gives us inspirations despite the situation. yah, cheesy!

See, the ending of the Queen’s Gambit is so inspirational. I loved how all the guys whom Beth has defeated for years ended up helping her during her match with Borkov. It was like, all the great minds trying to motivate Beth to push through the finish line.

Beth never had the game easy. Borkov seemed to be her greatest defeat of all time but I would like to conclude that somehow, Beth was defeated by Borkov during their first match because other addiction and alcoholic state. Clearly, her anxiety and drunken stupor has something to do with her losing those games and when Benny was able to make her stay sober, she was able to realize her shortcomings. With her clear mind and a motivation given by Jolene who happened to show up just when Beth needed someone, it was evidently creative how those characters have build up one another to make it to top. Beth thought Jolene didn’t care about her anymore but she was surprised when it’s not only Mr. Shaibel who cares about her that much but also her orphanage-mate, Jolene.

In the novel, they were able to show that Beth has her weak spots however in the miniseries, they were only able to show one and that was Mr. Shaibel’s death. She finally broke down and just let it all out, thinking she wasn’t able to meet the guy who taught her the game even before he died. It was the best moment in the miniseries, I’d say because Beth was able to come back to that little girl who started learning chess out of curiosity.

Many people didn’t know but in the novel, Beth also was able to confess her real feelings to Benny and it was during her game in Russia. And of course that was the turning of tables.

The miniseries brought some nostalgic of me as a kid. I have loved playing chess since I was eight years old. My dad taught me how to play and from that day, I started playing it and trying to compete in school events. Although I’m not as gifted as Beth because I have also lost a game. But what makes it nostalgic is that I have this one player who happens to be from a family of chess players and whenever I get to have a match with her, I always lose. I can consider her the Borkov of my life. After losing too many matches with her, and from that moment, every school events, I try to practice to be able to defeat her. I failed many times but there was one time that I was able to win against her and that moment was the most unforgettable match that I had. I was still having other matches but I never cared more than I do with her. The feeling of being always the bronze/silver in every game, I know I haven’t put down the champ but with just one game, all those anxiety I felt whenever I seat on the chess table with her was erased. I didn’t care if even I defeated her I won’t still get the gold medal, I was okay. Having a Borkov in life is like teaching us that through hardships, we will win even for once, just don’t lose hope. You will get something you wanted even how hard it can be, as long as you put your mind into it.

Well, after that game, I realized that chess might not be my forte, just like how Harry Beltik realized by the time he manage to fix his life out of the chess world. I never held a piece ever since but I still know how to play, I just wanted to keep the memories as sweet as I remembered them.

For your information: Queen’s Gambit is a popular chess move which is a three-move game-opener that leads the white player sacrifice the Queen’s pawn or when the pawn that stays directly in front of the Queen to control the center of the chess board. The move can have different variations advantage for the white player who likes to keep tension on black and maintain a huge advantage.

The title of the novel/miniseries is not just a title just because it’s about a chess prodigy but it is a metaphor used to describe the life and hardships of Beth Harmon.

For those who haven’t watched the whole series, please do! chess player or not, you’ll relate to this miniseries.

I will give this a 90% wonderroanne rating.