“It’s an entire world of just sixty-four squares. I feel safe in it. I can control it. I can dominate it. And it’s predictable. So, if I get hurt, I only have myself to blame.” The Good Doctor, Prison Break and Suits are a few examples of television (TV) series that depict the life of a genius character. This is a reoccurring theme that is somewhat of a cliché in media. The 2020 Netflix miniseries, The Queen’s Gambit, follows a similar pattern; however, the character development is unique and far from predictable. Written and directed by Scott Frank, this American bildungsroman drama portrays the life of an orphan chess prodigy, Beth Harmon, who strives to overcome her inner struggles on her path to the top of the chess world.

Based on Walter Tevis’s novel, The Queen’s Gambit depicts the psychological and environmental struggles that imprison Harmon’s genius mind, and ultimately obstruct her daily life. For instance, her addiction to drugs and alcohol causes her relationships and herself to fall apart. Although this is a recurrent theme, the director and designers provide a spark of originality, making it an iconic show. Moreover, the series was acclaimed not only by cinematographic critics but also the chess community due to its accuracy.

Genius Versus Insanity

Character development is key in this series as it is the driving force that allows the narration to progress. In a behind-the-scenes video, the director and Anya Taylor-Joy, who portrayed Beth Harmon, stated that the series revolves around the main character’s mentality. It is her psychological state that is molded through environmental factors that decide whether Beth will cross the threshold from genius to insanity. For Beth, her mind is either what aids her at chess or drives her to insanity. Her dependency on tranquilizers and alcohol demonstrates her weak mentality concerning changes in the environment.

One of the personality traits that the character possesses is her obsessive nature. Beth tends to be easily addicted, which allows her to be focused on chess, but also subjects her to constant issues with drugs and alcohol. Her dependency is so strong that she is unable to refrain from consuming them even though it affects her chess life. Since tranquilizers and alcohol tend to slow down and blur people’s mind, Harmon utilizes them to numb her from reality. Failure to achieve her objectives causes her control over her mind to disintegrate.

Despite her weak mentality, Beth strives in the world of chess, thanks to the few relationships that she forms during her journey. Her friends are key to her mental stability since they serve as the pacifier of her raging sentiments, appeasing her when she deviates from her goal. Without them, the character of Beth would have no choice but to have her genius mind consumed by insanity. This is relevant because the narration is fully based on Beth’s perspective; therefore, all occurrences derive from how she intakes or perceives her surroundings.

Accuracy at Its Finest

The show’s plot is further complemented by the accurate portrayal of both: its setting and chess play. Due to its high historical accuracy, The Queen’s Gambit has been praised by critics. The director and the designers reveal that they tried their utmost to immerse viewers into the show’s 1960s background. The clothes and the set reflect the period while considering the context of the scene and the stage of character development

Not only was the setting perfect, but the series was also applauded for its highly accurate on-screen chess play. The director revealed that he put effort into portraying an accurate game, casting experienced players such as Garry Kasparov and Bruce Pandolfini as chess advisors. In an interview with Chess Life, Pandolfini mentioned that although the actors had difficulties at positioning the piece on the correct squares, they were coached on how to pick the pieces with familiarity, giving them a natural look. One criticism, however, was that some on-screen plays would not have been a good play in a real chess tournament.

Cinematography Unlike Any Other

The cinematography is notable as well. There are a few distinctive factors that cause The Queen’s Gambit to stand out among others. For this project, the director contacted cinematographer Steven Meizler. According to Vulture, Meizler put effort into emulating an elegant cinematic theme throughout the series. In order to accomplish this, he emphasizes the lighting and color coding, further giving the scenes a vintage look. Among these, the lighting received much attention as it was slightly darker than cinematography used in similar situations. This distinctive feature was one of the keys to the praises received.

The second cinematographic achievement worth mentioning is the zestful chess game. The director and cinematographer mentioned that the most difficult part of making the series was making chess seem entertaining to all viewers. To display this, they focused on the characters’ expressions to emphasize determination and create tension. The eye-catching lighting, exquisite camera angles, and the editing allow the audience to experience a dynamic chess game.

The Queen’s Gambit displays the journey of Beth Harmon as she dives into the world of chess as a prodigy. The plot adds to its accuracy and cinematographic decisions make this miniseries compelling, providing the audience with aesthetic pleasure. The Queen’s Gambit is not only an entertaining series that depicts the sensitive threshold of the mind, but it is art that puts the sport of chess in a new light.

Television Series Information

Genre: Period Drama

Creator: Scott Frank

Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Harry Melling, Bill Camp, Rebecca Root

Running Time: 46-67 minutes

Streaming Platform: Netflix