Most reviewers can explain what makes a movie or TV series work. With The Queen's Gambit, it was tough for me to really see why, but it kept me glued to the set for all seven episodes.
I've never been a fan of so-called period pieces and even though watching chess on a TV series, sounds about as exciting as watching a bridge match, when the series ended on the final show, it caught me off guard, I wanted more.
The series does follow a standard formula, a rags to riches rise of a girl (Beth Harmon) who is put in an orphanage with little hope or identity, and who climbs her way out of poverty by learning chess from the building janitor. She is not close to being a perfect person, through little fault of her own. She is given tranquillizers every morning until her state outlaws the practice.
A well written series, Beth Harmon becomes the Rocky of this era. The Queen's Gambit is available on Netflix.
1 comment:
Hood story on NPR 12/28 with the director. Talked about locations, how and why he created the series.
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