You know, I don't know if this is a more recent development, but it seems like there are a lot more female protagonists on shows these days, specifically non-sitcoms. House of the Dragon, Arcane, Ahsoka, countless others. I guess maybe it's just a matter of how many non-sitcoms I watch, which was admittedly precious few when I was in middle school or high school, but still, this does seem like a golden age of women when it comes to entertainment content.
Anyways, Queen's Gambit is another female-led show, starring Anya Taylor-Joy. Her character Beth is orphaned at a young age and finds herself in an orphanage, where she meets a janitor who (reluctantly) teaches her to play chess. The show then follows her as she grows up, endures hardships, and becomes a prolific chess player.
None of this probably sounds particularly interesting, but the story and the characters make it a very enjoyable watch. The child version of Beth is the right balance of damaged and sharp, and I'm a sucker for any sort of wayward souls' home dynamic, a la Girl, Interrupted.
Taylor-Joy's Beth meanwhile is supremely watchable. She's funny, scathing, and complicated, and the way she interacts in a male-dominant world is incredibly compelling. The soundtrack kicks ass, the supporting characters are great, and the pacing in particular is fantastic. I never felt like I was lingering in any one spot for too long; even in the pauses during chess matches, the tension and the little details of the moment keep you in rapt attention.
It's a sports story in every sense, with the troubled origin story, unexpected mentor, nemeses turned allies, and naturally, a final clash against the Soviets. It's a great story from front to back, and I strongly recommend The Queen's Gambit, to any of the eleven people who still haven't seen it.
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