Netflix users are being encouraged to indulge in the ‘most binge-worthy show’ that you can complete in a single day this weekend.
The COVID era was challenging, undeniably so, but one way many managed to cope during those difficult months was by diving into series marathons, whether with classic shows or newly-released content.
A notable series from that time follows the fictional story of an orphan-turned-chess prodigy, Beth Harmon (portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy), who ascends to chess stardom while confronting various personal struggles beyond the chessboard.
The Queen’s Gambit is adapted from Walter Tevis’s 1983 novel of the same name, with its screenplay crafted by Allan Scott and Scott Frank.
In fact, Scott reworked the narrative nine times over three decades before it was finally produced, as there was skepticism about the potential audience interest in a chess-centric storyline.
Even though it was released five years ago, the series has recently sparked discussions on the Netflix Reddit forum after a fan praised it.
“The most binge worthy Netflix show or movie you’ve ever watched,” one Reddit user asked. “You ever start a show or movie on Netflix thinking you’ll just watch one episode, then suddenly it’s 3am and you’ve watched the whole thing? Just curious what people’s recommendations are for ones that really had you hooked.”
The Queen’s Gambit was top of mind for many, with one viewer noting: “One of the best shows I’ve seen.”
Another viewer mentioned: “Watched in one night,” while someone else commented: “That show is so good.”
The Queen’s Gambit boasts an impressive 96 percent critics’ score on a review aggregation site, alongside a 94 percent audience score.
Critical acclaim was widespread, with The New Yorker’s Rachel Syme writing: “What makes The Queen’s Gambit so satisfying comes in large measure from the character Taylor-Joy brings to screen: a charming, elegant weirdo who delivers her lines with a cool, wintergreen snap, and never really reacts the way one might expect.”
Richard Roeper from the Chicago Sun-Times remarked: “Raise your hand if you anticipated a coming-of-age, period-piece drama about a female chess prodigy in the 1950s and 1960s becoming perhaps the most addictive and binge-worthy series of 2020.”
Nancy Durrant from the London Evening Standard added: “Even if you don’t know your knight from your bishop it’s thrilling, while the naturalistic script flows beautifully.
“Most satisfyingly, every time you think it’s going to fall back on some awful ‘woman in a man’s world’ trope, it just doesn’t.”