A coming-of-age period drama that feels like a tense, elegant chess match, painting a portrait of obsession and genius against a stylish, melancholic backdrop.
The Queen's Gambit
Cast:
Anya Taylor-Joy, Chloe Pirrie, Marcin Dorociński, Matthew Dennis Lewis, Russell Dennis Lewis
Drama
The Queen's Gambit - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details
Easter Eggs
In the final episode, a news report mentions that a women's world champion, Nona Gaprindashvili, has "never faced men." This line led to a real-life lawsuit.
The real Nona Gaprindashvili, a chess icon from Georgia, had in fact faced dozens of male competitors by 1968, the year the episode is set. She filed a defamation lawsuit against Netflix for the inaccurate and sexist portrayal. The case was later settled out of court.
The character of Benny Watts is visually and stylistically based on a real-life chess grandmaster.
Benny's swagger, cowboy hat, and knife are inspired by the real American Grandmaster Bobby Fischer, who was known for his eccentric personality and dominance in the chess world. The series creators, however, based Beth Harmon's journey more on Fischer's competitive path rather than his personality.