'brilliant' cold war period drama 'literally best thing on netflix'

“Arguably, the best show ever made” reads one review of The Queen’s Gambit. Not surprisingly, this is the sentiment that seems to be echoed everywhere. Netflix’s 2020 coming-of-age period

drama set during the Cold War had everyone in its grip when it released during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic’s first wave. With a smashing 96 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes, the

show's chokehold on viewers, regardless of whether or not they were chess fans, could almost be a case study. Hitting the streaming giant on October 23, 2020 — The Queen’s Gambit became

Netflix’s most-watched scripted miniseries in just four weeks of its release. It went on to become Netflix’s top program in 63 countries and prompted Netflix to release a statement at the

time saying: “The Queen's Gambit now stands as our biggest scripted limited series ever. The series has captivated 62 million households in its first 28 days.” Based on the eponymous

1983 novel by Walter Tevis, The Queen’s Gambit has been written and directed by Scott Frank who co-created it with Allan Scott — the rights holder of the book. The title, Queen’s Gambit, is

a popular chess opening. The fictional miniseries, set in the mid-1950s to 1960s, follows the life of orphan Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy), an up-and-coming chess prodigy competing against

the sport’s elites, all while battling her alcohol and drug dependencies and emotional demons. The show was a critical success, having won 11 Primetime Emmy Awards — including the top honour

for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series — making it the first ever show on a streaming service to win the category. The Queen’s Gambit also took home two Golden Globe Awards, one for

Best Limited Series or Television Film and another for Best Actress – Limited Series or Television Film for Anya Taylor-Joy. She bagged the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female

Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series. Praise for Taylor-Joy ran abound, with one critic writing: “It's so natural it's easy to overlook, but growing up onscreen is hard,

precise work, and this young talent makes it look easy.” Another review said of Taylor-Joy’s performance: “What makes The Queen's Gambit so satisfying comes in large measure from the

character Taylor-Joy brings to screen: a charming, elegant weirdo who delivers her lines with a cool, wintergreen snap, and never really reacts the way one might expect.” While another said:

“The budding star at the center of Scott Frank's new Netflix series has a rare magnetism, the kind that can sell even the most esoteric of subjects.” Reviewers were left thoroughly

impressed with the miniseries, with one writing: “With excellent pacing and a sure sense of itself out of the gate, The Queen's Gambit is a work of art-riveting, radiant, and simply

spellbinding. Like Beth, it triumphs through its devotion to a love of the game.” Another critic said: “Just as you feel a familiar dynamic forming, in which a talented woman ends up

intimidating her suitors, The Queen's Gambit swerves; it's probably no coincidence that a story about chess thrives on confounding audience expectations.” And one showered high

praise on the show and said: “This is the sort of delicate prestige television that Netflix should be producing more often. It's smart and gentle and tastefully assured in the

worthiness of its subject.” Audience reviews continued in the same vein, with one viewer saying: “The Queen’s Gambit is one of my favorite miniseries of all time and one of Netflix’s best

productions. The scoring behind the cinematography is perhaps one of its greatest strengths, creating an air of intrigue throughout. "Perhaps what I find most enjoyable about the series

is watching Anya Taylor Joy’s character build her life through fascinating trials and tribulations. She’s a fighter and a winner and shows what it takes to get to that next level that few

will ever ascertain.” Another audience review added: “I mean WOW!! Brilliant, captivating, and nerve-wracking in the best way! I've literally watched it 4 times in the past 3 years (and

I don't rewatch things), and I'm STILL not sick of it!!! It's literally my favorite limited series on Netflix!! I never thought I'd find a show about Chess so

interesting...but here we are! I love shows that invoke emotion, and this one will give you ALL of them!” One viewer shared their deep emotional connect to the show and wrote: “I connected

with The Queen's Gambit in an emotional and intellectual way that will last my lifetime. It's a rich and complex story with every character and plot point perfectly crafted, every

location exquisitely designed and lensed, and all performances - especially Anya Taylor-Joy in the lead - among the best I've ever seen.” _THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT IS AVAILABLE TO STREAM ON

NETFLIX._