Checkmate: The Queen’s Gambit

“The Queen’s Gambit” has been trending on Netflix ever since October 25, and still staying as one of the top ten most-streamed series on Netflix. This unique chess drama illustrates the rise of a chess prodigy and orphan Beth Harmon, played by actress Anya Taylor-Joy. This series is based on a fictional novel written by Walter Tevis and directed by Scott Frank and Allan Scott. The success of this series not only portrayed this likable character—Beth Harmon—but it also inspired more people to join the world of chess after watching the intense yet spectacular chess competitions.

Beth Harmon is an orphan who discovered her gifted talent in Chess. The entire series follows the coming of age of Harmon. The uniqueness of this series is the absence of a traditional antagonist. Throughout the series, every character plays an important role and attributes toward the establishment of the main character Beth. The only “antagonist” in this series is Beth herself, who becomes flawed in many ways. Her addictions to drugs and alcohol consume her and establish these significant self-conflicts throughout the series.

“Men are gonna come along and wanna teach you things,” says Alice Harmon, Beth’s mother. “You just let them blow-by, and you go on ahead and do just what the hell you feel like.” What makes this series amazing is also the fact that the protagonist is a female who competes with men in—what was traditionally believed—a gentlemen’s game. In a predominantly patriarchal society, where men dominate the social norms, Beth breaks into the game and shatters the stereotypical view of others. Her strong and determined personality shapes her as a fearless woman and dynamic character who was rarely seen in society at that time period.

This series is not only good simply because of its exciting chess competitions and dynamic characters. The costume design throughout the show is also meticulously crafted to fit the characters’ development and personalities while reflecting the social context of the story. All the costumes of Beth Harmon were masterminded by costume designer Gabriele Binder.

Chess provides Binder with most of her inspiration. She refers to other movies such as Never Look Away to gain a better understanding of the costume designs. She insists to “find out what is unique to chess players and what makes them interesting people” by looking back into the past and designing emphatic clothes that will signal a transition of the character while reflecting leading fashion designs from that time. Beth Harmon’s late 1950s and early 1960s looks are carefully selected with varying styles as she travels from Paris to New York. This shows her growing in age and maturity and reveals the character’s mental world as the choice of clothing changes from casual T-shirts to dressing like the white queen on the chessboard.

Beth Harmon’s flamboyant red hair attracts the audiences’ attention and the carefully modified chess games make “The Queen’s Gambit” a series that is worth watching. As you walk into the 1960s created by the scene directors, every line and every object will draw your attention and your interest to carry on watching this great series.