Gary Chan

This Netflix series is an absolute beauty. From the storyline, the pace, the characters, to the setting, the music, the visual, every part is as captivating as the next. The performances by all the actresses and actors were fantastic, capturing just enough of the characters' stories and struggles in the time allow for a mini-series. And of course, Anya Taylor-Joy was mesmerizing in her role as Beth Harmon. The ups and downs of Beth is certainly the main plot of the series. My favourite part, however, is the way her story unfolds, the overcoming of the world which was clearly "dominating" her from the get-go; making us, the viewers, rooting for her every step of the way regardless of the decisions she made. Rather it was with age, gender, or the general culture of the chess world, she endured and conquered the odds. Don't get me wrong, this does sound like an underdog story but it is far from it because Beth certainly dominates the world right back with her talents and wit. Her life is chess, and it reflected very well in the evolution of her playstyle. (I honestly didn't pick that up until the last episode, but it clearly wrapped a bow around the series. Subtle but powerful.) Side note: I promised myself to only watch one episode a day just so that I would savour it as much as I can. Otherwise, I will for sure found myself binge-watching The Queen's Gambit and couched the entire time. This one is worth treasuring for.