The seven-part miniseries The Queen’s Gambit is one of the best thrillers on Netflix, and it’s fascinating to examine its cultural significance. Adapted from the novel by Walter Tevis, which was published in 1983, the series features a popular performance by Anya Taylor-Joy and examines a particularly compelling subject. Taylor-Joy was amazing in horror movies like Last Night in Soho, Marrowbone, and The Witch, but she’s even better here. Once you get through these seven episodes, you won’t be able to imagine anyone else playing this role.
The streaming service had a lot of big releases in 2020, from Mike Flanagan’s eerie The Haunting of Bly Manor to the holiday romance Dash & Lily. Despite the many exciting shows that many enjoyed that year, The Queen’s Gambit still stands out, and there are a few reasons why it’s one of the most well-crafted miniseries on the platform.
‘The Queen’s Gambit’ Is an Incredible Netflix Miniseries About Chess, Loss, and Identity
The Queen’s Gambit began streaming on Netflix on Oct. 23, 2020, and it was beloved right away. In November 2020, Variety reported that, in 28 days since its release, 62 million accounts viewed it. At the time, it was the Netflix miniseries with the highest ratings. However, that changed when Adolescence was released in March 2025.
Still, The Queen’s Gambit‘s popularity and cultural impact can’t be ignored. Since it was released several months into the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone was at home making Zoom calls, baking, cooking, and watching TV. Getting lost in incredible storytelling was a good distraction and a way to deal with the frightening moments and real anxiety of this time period. And, so, an inspiring and uplifting series like this one was even more welcome.
The series follows Beth Harmon, who is a chess player who enters a big competition. In just seven episodes, we see her addiction, discover more about her family life, and reflect on what celebrity and fame mean. While fans liked binge-watching many of Netflix’s 2020 releases, like the guilty pleasure Emily in Paris and the shocking documentary series Tiger King, there was something much more special about The Queen’s Gambit. It’s a masterful show because, while it’s about chess, it’s more than just a story about winning, losing, and learning from your mistakes or relying too much on your ego. It’s an emotional story about a young woman’s dreams and goals, but it’s also about the loss she experienced and the sadness she can’t get over. While Netflix continues to release interesting thrillers, this one is so beautiful.
Most importantly, The Queen’s Gambit had a powerful impact on our culture, as it made a lot of people care about chess. (As in, a lot.) According to CNN, there was a 603% increase in books about chess being purchased and 87% increase in chess sets being purchased. Chess.com head of business development Nick Barton explained that 3.2 million people became members following The Queen’s Gambit‘s October 2020 release.
Sure, it was fun to tune into Emily in Paris and wish we were on a romantic vacation in the beloved city (especially enjoying some delicious pastries). However, since travel wasn’t possible in 2020, it makes sense that fans of The Queen’s Gambit became immersed in their love of chess. And the best news is that the show’s themes of discovering your identity and trying to be happy are still relevant now. While there are plenty of great HBO miniseries, The Queen’s Gambit is one of the most stylish, smart, and moving limited series on Netflix.
Sources: Variety.com, CNN.com
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