Poster by : Haley Turnbull
Hello there! In case we havenโt met, Iโm Wu, a devoted chess fan and enthusiast of chess, as the title suggests in this post, Iโm gonna be discussing a particular Netflix miniseries named โQueenโs Gambit,โ which heavily revived the global popularity of chess! Anyways, letโs get right into itโฆ. Chess has been around for thousands of years now, mainly acting as a strategy for military forces back then, but now it has evolved to a sport where it requires skill, strategic thinking, mental sharpness and an endurance to focus for the game being played. With that being said, chess was on a blink of its death, well not really; but as much so, it wasnโt as mainstream unlike now, where it has reached itโs highest peak in popularity over the years.
Three years ago, Netflix produced a miniseries named โQueenโs Gambitโ which skyrocket the popularity of chess, the show was a massive hit, and people were suddenly into chess! It was crazy! Even I started playing chess because of the show. That goes to show how much of an impact the show had. ( totally not biased ). The show earned a critical acclaim and becoming Netflixโs most-watched scripted show at the time, winning a total of 11 Emmy Awards, including the top prize for limited series.
Anya Taylor Joy ( Beth Harmon )
Anya Taylor Joy ( one of the main cast ) realized how successful the series when she learned about that, โFrom people in their eighties saying that it was the first show that they'd ever binge-watched to teenagers saying that they were gonna play the hot guy at their school at chess, that was pretty spectacular.โ The show was #1 in over 12 countries and has captured the audiences worldwide. It has introduced and re-ignited viewers interest in the game.
Based on the novel written by Walter Tevis, the Netflix limited series drama The Queen's Gambit is a coming-of-age story that explores the actual cost of genius. Abandoned and entrusted to a Kentucky orphanage, Beth (played by Isla Johnston in her early years but mostly byย Anya Taylor-Joy) discovers an astonishing talent for chess while developing an addiction to tranquilizers provided by the state as a sedative for the children.
Haunted by her personal demons and fueled by a cocktail of narcotics and obsession, she transforms into an impressively skilled and glamorous outcast while determined to conquer the traditional boundaries established in the male-dominated world of competitive chess.
The series is written and directed by Academy Award nominee Scott Frank (Minority Report, Logan, Godless) and executive produced by Frank, William Horberg (The Talented Mr Ripley), and Allan Scott (Donโt Look Now, The Preacherโs Wife), who also co-created the series.
Allan Scott initially set it to be as a film after acquiring the rights to Walter Tevis's novel around 30 years ago. However; the director Heath Ledger unfortunately died in the middle of preparing the movie. Scott Frank got the idea to turn it into a miniseries and proposed to idea to Netflix. "Netflix fell in love with the idea and said yes to it," said Frank.
After the show finished airing, the most-asked question has been whether there will be a second season or any other kind of follow-up. Award-winning director Scott Frank: "I'm so sorry. I hate disappointing anyone, but no. I feel like we told the story that we wanted to tell and I'm terrified that if we'd try to tell more, we would ruin what we've already told."ย
In my humble opinion, this is a great decision made by the director, portraying chess into a story is not an easy tasks and certainly is hard. And the show had a good ending! Doesnโt that just make it fantastic!?
Thanks for readingโฆ.
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