The Queen's Gambit: Season 1

2020
Trailer
Poster for The Queen's Gambit: Season 1

Winner of Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series at the 2021 Emmys, Anya Taylor-Joy (nominated for an Emmy for her performance) leads... More

Where to watch The Queen's Gambit: Season 1

The Queen's Gambit: Season 1 is available to stream in... More the United Kingdom now on Netflix.

The Queen's Gambit: Season 1 episodes

Episode 1.1

Openings

Sent to an orphanage at age 9, Beth develops an... More uncanny knack for chess — and a growing dependence on the green tranquilizers given to the children.

Episode 1.2

Exchanges

Suddenly plunged into a confusing new life in suburbia, teenage... More Beth studies her high school classmates and hatches a plan to enter a chess tournament.

Episode 1.3

Doubled Pawns

The trip to Cincinnati launches Beth and her mother into... More a whirlwind of travel and press coverage. Beth sets her sights on the U.S. Open in Las Vegas.

Episode 1.4

Middle Game

Russian class opens the door to a new social scene.... More In Mexico City, Beth meets the intimidating Borgov, while her mother cozies up to a pen pal.

EPISODE 1.5

Fork

Back home in Kentucky, a shaken Beth reconnects with a... More former opponent who offers to help sharpen her game ahead of the U.S. Championship.

EPISODE 1.6

Adjournment

After training with Benny in New York, Beth heads to... More Paris for her rematch with Borgov. But a wild night sends her into a self-destructive spiral.

EPISODE 1.7

End Game

A visit from an old friend forces Beth to reckon... More with her past and rethink her priorities — just in time for the biggest match of her life.

The Queen's Gambit: Season 1 | Ratings & Reviews

"Great entertainment and absolutely flies by."

Radio New ZealandRadio New Zealand

"As with Godless, a lot of this story’s flaws and superficiality only become obvious because of how long it lingers, while the parts that are excellent (Taylor-Joy’s performance, the technical mastery) wouldn’t be diminished in a more abridged version of the tale."

Rolling StoneRolling Stone

"“Gambit” never quite gets back to the charm of its Dickensian opening chapter, though, and it gets thinner as it goes along. Frank pulls off his combination of themes with a lot of old-Hollywood-style skill, but in the mix, neither the sports nor the personal-demons story line hits the levels of visceral excitement or emotional payoff that you might want. In the end, it was an admirable package that I wanted to love more than I did."

The New York TimesThe New York Times

"It's a stylish period piece with the rambling-years momentum of a John Irving novel. Luscious production design and a darkly fascinating lead performance duel against mawkish sentiment and a messy final act. It's always fun to watch, even when it's playing emotional checkers."

Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly

"“The Queen’s Gambit” becomes very shrewd about its choices and keeps the narrative going at an impressively fast clip — making it a sharp, welcome contrast to the all too many lethargic streaming dramas out there."

VarietyVariety

"Taylor-Joy's tour de force performance — one that deserves awards recognition over the months to come — is integral to the success of The Queen's Gambit, but it's far from the seven-episode saga's only asset."

Hollywood ReporterHollywood Reporter

"It absorbs the viewer into the rarefied realm of world-class competition and acquaints the nonplayer with enough of the mechanics to make the outcomes accessible and meaningful. ... If there are awards to be had, Ms. Heller and Ms. Taylor-Joy should get them. ... Ms. Taylor-Joy is really the beginning and endgame of “The Queen’s Gambit,” and gives a performance that is as precisely physical as it is emotional."

Wall Street JournalWall Street Journal

"At this point, any hour-long drama that forsakes intellectual property, narrative histrionics and expensive special effects in favor of psychological realism represents a welcome change of pace. And one as excellent as The Queen’s Gambit feels very rare indeed. ... A transcendent performance by Anya Taylor-Joy. ... One of the year’s most fascinating TV characters."

Time MagazineTime Magazine

The Queen's Gambit: Season 1 | Details

Award winner
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Directing, Cinematography, Production Design, Picture Editing, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Music Composition, Makeup (Non-Prosthetic), Costumes & Casting; Best Limited Series & Best Actress - Limited Series (Taylor-Joy), Golden Globes 2021
Genre
Drama, Sport
Country of origin
USA

The Queen's Gambit: Season 1 | Trailers