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Published Feb 2, 2026, 12:30 PM EST
Ben is a Senior Writer on the New TV team at Screen Rant. He graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class B.A. Degree in English Literature and History.
Born and raised in Ireland, Ben has always had a love for storytelling in all forms of media and operates multiple projects under the name Benjamin Blogs. Ben is a comic book writer and podcast host, in addition to his work as an entertainment journalist. He has worked as both a writer and editor for Screen Rant, Collider, and other media outlets across various departments, including features, news, reviews, and interviews.
Anya Taylor-Joy is an extraordinary talent, and one of her best projects remains a Netflix series that can be comfortably consumed in under seven hours. Taylor-Joy began appearing on big and small screens from 2014, and within a remarkably short time, she began to get recognition for her stunning performances, as was the case with her Saturn Award nomination for her role in The Witch.
However, while this allowed Anya Taylor-Joy to pick up larger roles and step more into the spotlight, it wasn't until her role in The Queen's Gambit that she became a household name, which is extraordinary, considering the show is about the humble game of chess.
The Queen's Gambit Hooks You From Start To Finish
While The Queen's Gambit is a challenging show to convince someone to give a chance if they have no interest in Taylor-Joy or the game of chess itself, it is a stunning work of art that transforms the subject and delivers one of the most thrilling and tense dramas on TV.
This miniseries plays out across seven episodes, with most coming in about an hour long, and a few as short as three-quarters of an hour. However, in that time, the character of Beth Harmon (Taylor-Joy) and her uphill battle to become one of the most celebrated chess players in the world is captured with vibrant energy and intensity.
How The Queen's Gambit Makes Chess Compelling For Everyone
Chess is one of the most widely recognized and beloved board games of all time, but in an age of computers and RPGs, it faces stiff competition. But the beauty of chess comes from the contrasting simplicity of a board with 64 squares, but hundreds of billions of ways to open a game across the first four moves.
Beyond unveiling that stunning reality to the public, The Queen's Gambit manages to convey the emotions of one promising young woman whose obsession with the game reveals a complex and often dark world to her as she crosses hurdles to just become accepted. It's emotional, it's intense, and it explores the full range of human emotions that elevate this from just another board game to a competitive sport.
The Queen's Gambit Is One Of The Easiest Binges On Netflix
Not only does it contain all of that extraordinary and delicious narrative to dive into, but it can easily be consumed in its entirety in one day. As highlighted above, the entire show can be watched in under seven hours, and unlike a great many shows with five or more seasons, it is a complete story.
The Queen's Gambit is exceptional. Beth Harmon is one of the most captivating and endearing protagonists on Netflix, and the story elevates a beautiful game into something profoundly human, with all the depth and darkness that encapsulates the human condition. It's stunning, and well worth a watch if you've got a couple of hours free.
Release Date 2020 - 2020-00-00
Showrunner Scott Frank
Directors Scott Frank
Writers Scott Frank
English (US) ·