Das Damengambit

You'll end up like me, binge watching it until 5 AM (and I don't even know anything about chess). Very well written, directed and acted.

I was absolutely blown away by how good The Queen's Gambit was! The only reason I actually started watching it was because of all the great ratings/reviews and I'm glad I did because it was such an entertaining series. It's set during the Cold War era and follows orphaned chess prodigy Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) as she struggles with addiction in her quest to become the greatest chess player in the entire world. Taylor-Joy has been a rising star for the last few years but she breaks out here as she was just absolutely terrific as the lead. She's now one of the hottest young actresses in Hollywood. This ended up winning an Emmy for most Outstanding Limited Series.

I actually didn't really have any plans on actually watching The Queen's Gambit when I first saw the trailer. Then I couldn't stop hearing about how good this show was by just about everyone and saw all the award nominations it's gotten so I figured I'd give it a chance. I'm so glad I did. I never thought a series based around chess would be so entertaining. I couldn't stop watching and ending binging all 7 episodes over one weekend. Anya Taylor Joy deserves every bit of love she's received for her job in this. She's become a really good actress. This show will hook and will have you thinking about chess non stop but you don't need to know anything about chess to enjoy this. It's so much more than a series about chess.

It's not only a good series, it's not only the wonderful story, acting, cinematography, music. You watch it and it feels like the movie itself is a chessgame. With a rather weak opening indeed, a fabulous middlegame and a perfect ending. It's the kind of movies/series that stucks you in your armchair, on your couch or even in your bed anyway, forgetting about eating, sleeping, living. After the end, the return to reality has not yet occurred. You are still tormented in dimly lit orphanages, you travel all over the world, you are welcomed in super-bright chess tournaments a little more arrogant and well-dressed and you analyze variants. Do not miss it!

Yes, yes, Anya Taylor-Joy and those eyes. Superb, praise from the rooftops.

But let's also acknowledge that the astonishing Isla Johnston carries the first few episodes with an equally compelling performance, far beyond her years.

The handover from Isla to Anya is almost seamless, which is quite remarkable when we consider the intensity of the character. That an actor of Johston's age could have pulled that off is extraordinary.