Television Queens Gambit -- Netflix

Corey

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Enjoyed it!

Am I the only one who watched the whole series assuming it was based on a true story, only to find out afterwards that it wasn't :lol:
 

VeevaVee

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Enjoyed it!

Am I the only one who watched the whole series assuming it was based on a true story, only to find out afterwards that it wasn't :lol:
I wondered if it was semi-based on a true story, then massively romanticised. I never look a series up that I'm in to now, after being burned doing that a couple of times, so wondered it til the end where I then forgot to look it up, so now I know.
 

harms

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The show was great until the ending bits. Way too sparky and Hollywood-ish, you don't expect such a cliched ending from a modern show. The actress has done a marvelous job though.
 

VeevaVee

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The show was great until the ending bits. Way too sparky and Hollywood-ish, you don't expect such a cliched ending from a modern show. The actress has done a marvelous job though.
I kind of agree, looking back, but at the time I already knew it was over and she was gonna win, so it was barely even part of it for me. I don't know how else they could have ended it other than either just winning on her own which is a bit boring and anti-climactic, or going really dark and seeing her alcoholism spiral in to suicide or something.
 

harms

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I kind of agree, looking back, but at the time I already knew it was over and she was gonna win, so it was barely even part of it for me. I don't know how else they could have ended it other than either just winning on her own which is a bit boring and anti-climactic, or going really dark and seeing her alcoholism spiral in to suicide or something.
winning isn't even the problem, it's the whole way they've set that up. Smiley old dude in the end, her telling the CIA guy off, "the gang" is back together, cheering and touching opponents, her sister is suddenly back in her life, gay deus ex machina etc. You can get away with some of those, but not all of them in the space of 15-20 minutes.
 

VeevaVee

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winning isn't even the problem, it's the whole way they've set that up. Smiley old dude in the end, her telling the CIA guy off, "the gang" is back together, cheering and touching opponents, her sister is suddenly back in her life, gay deus ex machina etc. You can get away with some of those, but not all of them in the space of 15-20 minutes.
I know, that's what I mean. It was pretty cheesy really but had to be either a bit boring or dark otherwise. I think a happy ending where it all came together was needed.. How else do you reckon they could've done it?
 

harms

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I know, that's what I mean. It was pretty cheesy really but had to be either a bit boring or dark otherwise. I think a happy ending where it all came together was needed.. How else do you reckon they could've done it?
As I've said, even excluding some of those cliches would've made it somewhat better. I'm not a screenwriter, but even an ending, say, with a shot on her eyes in the end of her game against Borgov (when she sees that the game is done) would've been much better.
 

utdalltheway

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Just finished it yesterday. Really enjoyed it. That lady that played Beth was very good!

As was actor that played the Benny Watts character. Wife reminded me he was the kid in Love Actually.
 

Andersons Dietician

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I really enjoyed this. So much so I might give it another watch. Makes me want to look out the chess set again.
 

Simbo

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Very, very good, unexpectedly so. Been a long while since Netflix has forced me into a binge like that.

Think y'all are worrying about the ending too much. Its a good story of someone overcoming addiction and reaping the rewards. Probably better that it is a work of fiction.

I now have a sudden urge to spend all day learning to play Chess, bad idea?
 

Solius

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We're on episode 5 I think. It's fantastic so far.

So well acted and beautifully shot.
 

Massive Spanner

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We’re three episodes in. The most amazing thing about it is the way you can get totally gripped in a game of chess where you can’t see the pieces and wouldn’t understand the dynamics of the game even if you could.
Yeah I agree. It does an amazing job of keeping me glued to the screen for a game I know little to nothing about. There were even a few moments when in my head I was like "oh yeah that's a great move" despite not having a clue.

I think it's largely down to Anya Taylor-Joy. She does such a great job with facial expressions to convey to you how the match is going at the time.
 

The Firestarter

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It does a great job to peek how a chess player "sees" the world IMO. Even as a casual player I could relate a lot.
 

Simbo

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We’re three episodes in. The most amazing thing about it is the way you can get totally gripped in a game of chess where you can’t see the pieces and wouldn’t understand the dynamics of the game even if you could.
Yeh I'd assumed that was so it didn't annoy Chess fanatics too much for being unrealistic but apparently all the games are based on famous chess matches and they just moaning that the boards weren't shown enough. It was overseen by Kasparov amoung others.

Makes it better for the wider audience I guess by not going into too much detail, however the detail is there if you go looking.
 

dumbo

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Brilliant opening, then it becomes Rocky IV halfway through. Still fun with good characters but the whole drug dependency angle is fudged and everything else is quite superficial (mothers' psychology, Russia, the racial divide, obsession, chess as psychological torture). Liked it, would recommend but could have been more. Maybe the book is more expansive?
 

Massive Spanner

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Brilliant opening, then it becomes Rocky IV halfway through. Still fun with good characters but the whole drug dependency angle is fudged and everything else is quite superficial (mothers' psychology, Russia, the racial divide, obsession, chess as psychological torture). Liked it, would recommend but could have been more. Maybe the book is more expansive?
Don't think so, from what I've read the ending is more "hollywoodised" but it's pretty much like for like apart from that.
 

Vitro

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They didn’t deal with the drug dependency well, was a little ham fisted. Apart from that, I loved it.
 

Bilbo

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I'm going to watch this, but would like to watch it with my teenage daughters. Is it suitable? Bad language is fine, but sex and drugs scenes a no-no
 

Simbo

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I'm going to watch this, but would like to watch it with my teenage daughters. Is it suitable? Bad language is fine, but sex and drugs scenes a no-no
The main topic alongside Chess is her battle with substance abuse and addiction with sex being a bit of a coping mechanism at times! Although nothing is shown, no nudity at all.
 

Pogue Mahone

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I'm going to watch this, but would like to watch it with my teenage daughters. Is it suitable? Bad language is fine, but sex and drugs scenes a no-no
Well you should probably be aware that there’s a scene where she smokes a massive joint, lights a candle shaped like an erect cock and balls and then gets boned by a hippy.
 

peridigm

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I'm going to watch this, but would like to watch it with my teenage daughters. Is it suitable? Bad language is fine, but sex and drugs scenes a no-no
Let them watch it without you.
 

Bilbo

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The main topic alongside Chess is her battle with substance abuse and addiction with sex being a bit of a coping mechanism at times! Although nothing is shown, no nudity at all.
Well you should probably be aware that there’s a scene where she smokes a massive joint, lights a candle shaped like an erect cock and balls and then gets boned by a hippy.
Let them watch it without you.
Haha. So glad I asked first
 

DatIrishFella

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Why was the dialouge between 13 year old her and that Poe Dameron lookalike so sexual? They're trying to push a potential love interest onto a then 13 year old girl and expect us to root for him?

It was weird.
 

Inigo Montoya

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I'm going to watch this, but would like to watch it with my teenage daughters. Is it suitable? Bad language is fine, but sex and drugs scenes a no-no
There's also a scene where she has a period and has blood running down her leg
 

Pogue Mahone

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Eh I think it's more the "watching with their dad" part, no? He said they can watch it without him.
If you’re a dad of teenage girls you shouldn’t be getting weirded out by watching a tv show with them that has a scene which features menstruation.

I’m sure @Bilbo would have no problem with that particular scene. The cock and balls candle might be problematic though.
 

Massive Spanner

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If you’re a dad of teenage girls you shouldn’t be getting weirded out by watching a tv show that depicts menstruation with them. I’m sure @Bilbo would have no problem with that particular scene.
Surely it's them who'd feel awkward, no?

Anyway I'd like to think i'm an expert on the matter as I've no children.
 

Pogue Mahone

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Surely it's them who'd feel awkward, no?

Anyway I'd like to think i'm an expert on the matter as I've no children.
I’ve a daughter but she’s only 10. I’d like to think she won’t find stuff about periods embarrassing at all.

Ideally, you wouldn’t want any awkwardness around the topic of sex and drugs either but can see why that could be a lot trickier.
 

Bilbo

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I’ve a daughter but she’s only 10. I’d like to think she won’t find stuff about periods embarrassing at all.

Ideally, you wouldn’t want any awkwardness around the topic of sex and drugs either but can see why that could be a lot trickier.
Its not an awkwardness thing for me. I've no doubt that my girls are exposed to a lot of talk about sex and drugs at school and with their friends, but I don't know how much they know. I stopped being concerned about bad language in stuff we watch a while back, but the rest of it I'm not quite there yet. I'll watch this show myself first and then decide.
 

Havak

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Finished it on Monday, one of the better series I have ever seen. Would suggest it to people who have little to no interest in Chess - I think it would still be an enjoyable watch.

New Chess set for Christmas now. I expect to be the next Magnus Carlsen in January.
 

Pogue Mahone

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Its not an awkwardness thing for me. I've no doubt that my girls are exposed to a lot of talk about sex and drugs at school and with their friends, but I don't know how much they know. I stopped being concerned about bad language in stuff we watch a while back, but the rest of it I'm not quite there yet. I'll watch this show myself first and then decide.
It’s all ahead of me now, so much easier for me to shout from the sidelines than deal with the actual reality. I had “the talk” with my son recently and despite being a) also male and b) a doctor, I still found it excruciating.
 

Solius

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It’s all ahead of me now, so much easier for me to shout from the sidelines than deal with the actual reality. I had “the talk” with my son recently and despite being a) also male and b) a doctor, I still found it excruciating.
When my Dad tried to do this with me I hid my face under a pillow and told him I had zero questions. Just wanted it to stop asap :lol: