Amph The Queen's Gambit (miniseries)

I don't think we already have a thread for this.

I just finished watching it, and I've noticed that I'm not the only one here.

Overall, generally speaking, it seems to me that it was pretty decent.

What do you think ?

 

I think we all enjoyed it.

But did we enjoy it enough to justify a whole thread about it, 3sm1r you wild, crazy fool?

 

Read the book. It's astounding how rigidly faithful the adaptation is. I'm not sure I've seen a miniseries so tightly lined up with the book. They cut a few things out, but it seemed like it was just edited out after having been filmed. The one racquetball court scene implies a whole Rocky Balboa training segment that was probably wisely left out.

 

What's going on with all this weirdness around making threads?
If nobody cares about a subject it will simply get ignored, why are you making an issue out of it?

 

You asked a question, I answered it. Then I wondered where you were planning to take the thread. It was a good natured enquiry, if a little tongue in cheek. No need to get in my face about it.

 

the queen's gambit is the sound of silence of chess openings, what about the rossolimo or the london system for a little bit of eclectic flair huh?

 

Sorry my post came out more hostile than what I intended.
To answer your question, after I watch something I like to discuss about it, and I do think there is stuff to be discussed here.

@Rylo Ken
Does the book describe the actual chess games played?

My problem with most chess movies is that they often skip the games. In this case I'd say that the final tricky position was shown well enough*.

Chess is not an easy thing to make a drama about, because most people usually don't care about the actual game. It's also true though, that if the match is not shown at all the story might come out as a bit bland.

*Even though the dude keeping track on the board was a bit distracted and at a certain moment he inverts position of bishop and queen.


@epic I totally believe that they chose the queen's gambit for the simple fact that it contains the word queen and the protagonist is a woman.
But she does play the Rossolimo at some point, just for you.

 

No it doesn't, which was a disappointment. The miniseries apparently had a lot of solid chess consultation to make it authentic, so was much better in that regard.

 

Yes. The final combination was a cool chess puzzle, and the chess board was shown often enough to understand what was going on.

Spoiler

White to move

 

Obligatory post about how surreal it is for me to see this story in mainstream discussion. I first read The Queen’s Gambit in 2004, whereupon it became arguably my favorite book. To my knowledge, no one I met since then until recently had heard of it. I think I’ve mentioned it in a couple posts here over the years. To see it widely discussed feels almost bizarre.

It was meant to be Heath Ledger’s directorial debut, but he died before making it. Ellen Page was set to be Beth Harmon, and I think she was a great choice. She fit my perception of the character. Unfortunately, it never happened.

I may watch the series, but I’m not sure.

 

Is that because you feel Anya Taylor-Joy is not in line with your idea of the character, or are you simply unsure if you want to experience the story in another medium?

 

I believe that Anya Taylor-Joy is the best aspect of the show. I find her portrayal believable even in the scenes in which she is supposed to behave more unconventionally. Very good job.

 

(Averts eye’s) Will watch the final episode tonight

 

The story is about the classic orphan who's super talented but tormented by their past, which as a plot might sound very similar to like 90 % of the stories we happen to see, yet there is always something new to enjoy, as long as we face them with the proper mindset, more or less like in Groundhog day.

 

It's a story that asks the fundamental question whether the Russians are cooler than us because they take chess seriously. (Yes. Yes they are.)

 

I watched this last week with my father. We both really enjoyed it. Joy was terrific.

 

@Ramza

 

Well I already had some reservations and now I’m definitely not watching this.

 

Keep in mind, this teacher compliments the 8 year old chess prodigy by saying she is good at maths.

 

This is the other mistake.

In d3 there is the queen, not the bishop. In the game it becomes evident, but it's clear that if that was the position, Harmon's advantage would be obvious, since she could win the quality.

 

...

5x3 is about my limit.

 

the best aspect of the show for me was the production design and the attention to detail. i don't know why anyone would want to escape from anything these days, but if you'd like to be transported to a different time and place with cool hotel rooms this show will do the trick. the worst part was probably the smoking. if you've ever been a smoker this show will likely stir some old cravings.

 

The worst part for me is the whole story, which felt a bit like stuff we have already seen in many other movies/books.

The orphan.... the genius with drug addiction.... the old mentor.... beating Russians at their game.....

Also, the French woman was too stereotypical. It's really like the classical French woman in people's imagination and I found it annoying.