Well this was a special one. I can’t believe it’s coming on 2 years since it first arrived on Netflix. October 2020, when lockdown was a pattern and a routine of already checking the streaming service daily for anything new worth watching to alleviate the tedium of always being indoors. Its timing was as immaculate as the mini-series itself, and I watched it as a back to back binge on the 2nd day of release: all 6 hours and 35 minutes of it, from 10pm until around 6am the next morning (including breaks).
One episode in and it had cast a spell on me that I did not expect from a show about chess. Initially, I only went in at all because of the great poster design and for the beauty of Anya Taylor-Joy, who I already had an eye on from The VVitch and Split – two average films her performances helped elevate. I had a feeling she was A list potential and, judging on her job in this divinely cultured show, I was not wrong.
Rarely does a mini-series grab me so much that I literally cannot stop watching. My conclusion at the end, and a thought confirmed by a few things since, is that the limited series format is perfect for maximising my watching zeal – six to ten hours of storytelling with episode cliff-hangers, but a certain ending in sight that is not as ambiguous and unfocused as an open ended show. What more could I want? Not much! I went around telling everyone I cared about to watch this, and almost unanimously they came back with how much they loved it, thanking me for the firm recommendation.
It is just so well put together. From a story by Walter Tevis, who I know best from The Man Who Fell to Earth, the basic narrative journey was always going to be rewarding. But the production design, costume, sets, props, cars, locations, every visual detail was sumptuous eye candy. I couldn’t get enough of the retro vibe. And Taylor-Joy in some of those outfits simply shone and rocked it! Good job too her acting wasn’t half bad either. I was totally with her character every move she made; every silent decision I could feel her thought process and emotions – a trait I love in actors: when they can do so much by doing so little. Let’s face it, she has the eyes for it! If you can’t be expressive with that face then what can you do?
What was always impressive was how much it made you care about something (chess) you probably didn’t care or know that much about before hand. Treating every game, every move like a sports movie, of which the secret has always been to focus on the journey of the players rather than getting bogged down in explaining the rules. You can watch a good baseball or ice hockey movie without knowing a thing about the game – its about the journey, the sacrifice, the losing only to learn how to win big the next time. And The Queen’s Gambit does all of that with aplomb. By the end you maybe know 3 things about chess you didn’t before, but it matters little.
There was also some great support acting and some riverting characters here. Most notable for me, Thomas Brodie-Sangster as the weirdly sleazy, yet compelling Benny Watts. I always found him annoying as a child actor. I mean I can’t stand to watch Love Actually (boke), and his bit in Game of Thrones had me screaming at the TV… but here he finally matures. I loved what he did with it and concluded he may turn into a fine adult actor after all. Also, Marielle Heller as the fated Alma, who gave the story a lot of backbone and meaning. This lady is on my radar a lot lately, both as a performer and a director – serious talent!
It wasn’t long before I watched it again all the way through with my daughter, which is always the acid test of something being good. If I can show it to her and watch it all again with equal enjoyment fairly quickly after first watch, then it must be a classic.
Very highly rated in my mind still. I think it will last the test of time, as 11 Emmy wins and 2 Golden Globes might testify. A final shout out to Scott Frank, who directed all 7 episodes. I look forward to his next mii-series, Monsieur Spade, starring Clive Owen as retired detective Sam Spade now living in France… And just to say, if you didn’t watch Gambit at the time or get round to it yet, then DO. I leave you with one more image…
Rating: 9/10
The Wasteland 