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The Queen’s Gambit | Netflix

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135

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    #62
    Arghus
    Registered Users Posts: 14,377 ✭✭✭✭Arghus


    I took a chance on this. I know it's getting good reviews, but a lot of things get good reviews and can leave me cold. And sometimes I think there's a tendency on the part of critics to praise something for its elements - like on-screen representation of the previously little seen - or even a work's themes or political message and to kind of let it off the hook for other elements where it can be lacking. So when I saw a new show about a female chess prodigy, I was a bit skeptical about how good it really was.

    Well, so far - two episodes in - it is really good.

    Maybe it lays the emotive hand holding of the soundtrack on a little bit too strong at times and perhaps Elizabeth is just too impossibly brilliant to be true, but those are minor enough quibbles. It's gripping, emotionally nuanced, well acted, quite funny in places and it looks great. If it can keep up this standard to the end, this is a real winner.


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    #63
    Man with broke phone
    Registered Users Posts: 1,201 ✭✭✭Man with broke phone


    I watched it, dragged in parts but very good overall. Not what I expected.


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    #64
    pummice
    Registered Users Posts: 243 ✭✭pummice


    I play a bit of chess - so in future i'm going to stare at my opponent after every move, like in this series. I should be ok, right?


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    #65
    E mac
    Registered Users Posts: 403 ✭✭E mac


    pummice wrote: »
    I play a bit of chess - so in future i'm going to stare at my opponent after every move, like in this series. I should be ok, right?

    And don't forget to walk around the room between moves not paying attention to your competitor,it will freak them out and the game will be in the bag!


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    #66
    storker
    Registered Users Posts: 5,646 ✭✭✭storker


    E mac wrote: »
    And don't forget to walk around the room between moves not paying attention to your competitor,it will freak them out and the game will be in the bag!

    Walking around is common enough at tournaments, when games can last up to three hours. It's nice to be able to stretch your legs and see if there's anything interesting happening on any of the other boards. Or see if there's anyone with a worse position than your own. And it's a good way to kill time if your own game has been brought to an untimely and unfortunate end.. :)

    If you're referring of the game against the Russian kid, Bath was within her rights to walk around, but she did it in a pretty intimidating manner, and that foot-tapping was well out of order, and should have been brought to the attention of the tournament director. That was definitely her meaner side coming out.

    The novel indicates that playing someone so young actually got to her: "... she felt uncomfortable. She was supposed to be the prodigy [...] She looked at him as he was moving a piece—at the skinny little arm stuck out from the absurd shirt—and she hated him. He could have been a machine. You little creep, she thought, suddenly realizing that the adults she had played as a child must have thought the same thing about her."


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    #67
    E mac
    Registered Users Posts: 403 ✭✭E mac


    storker wrote: »
    Walking around is common enough at tournaments, when games can last up to three hours. It's nice to be able to stretch your legs and see if there's anything interesting happening on any of the other boards. Or see if there's anyone with a worse position than your own. And it's a good way to kill time if your own game has been brought to an untimely and unfortunate end.. :)

    If you're referring of the game against the Russian kid, Bath was within her rights to walk around, but she did it in a pretty intimidating manner, and that foot-tapping was well out of order, and should have been brought to the attention of the tournament director. That was definitely her meaner side coming out.

    The novel indicates that playing someone so young actually got to her: "... she felt uncomfortable. She was supposed to be the prodigy [...] She looked at him as he was moving a piece—at the skinny little arm stuck out from the absurd shirt—and she hated him. He could have been a machine. You little creep, she thought, suddenly realizing that the adults she had played as a child must have thought the same thing about her."


    Did not know that! Thought it was highly disrespectful to walk away from the board as she did.


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    #68
    storker
    Registered Users Posts: 5,646 ✭✭✭storker


    pummice wrote: »
    I play a bit of chess - so in future i'm going to stare at my opponent after every move, like in this series. I should be ok, right?

    During the Kasparov-Short match in 1993, one of the commentators noted that Short was giving Kasp some unfriendly body language, possibly even declining to shake hands, I can't remember. The comment of another GM was along the lines of "That's all very well, but you do actually have to play some good moves too..."


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    #69
    longfellow deeds
    Registered Users Posts: 65 ✭✭longfellow deeds


    This was really very good, the best thing I've watched in some time.
    Discovered it on Sunday night and watched the first episode, 2 episodes on Monday, 3 last night and just finished the last episode tonight Wednesday.
    Who would have thought a story involving chess could be so entertaining.
    Cleary they put a lot of thought into the style as well.
    The mother was some character.
    9/10


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    #70
    Thecageyone
    Registered Users Posts: 6,756 ✭✭✭Thecageyone


    So many melodramatic viewers ... it was good, not great in the end. Nit picking her 'demeanor' is off, we were never meant to love her, nor even like her, it's not a sit-com - her opponents were less likable in general, and I'm never feeling for a kid who's clearly been forced into that life - grow up son, find your own ventures - reminds me of those tortured Russian gymnasts - I wonder how many of them that were forced to do the splits at age 3-4 are still running the horse today


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    #71
    Treppen
    Registered Users Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭Treppen


    I thought the chess presentation was inconsequential.
    Fine quoting all the greats but they rarely showed any of her gameplay.
    Character was like a cross between killing Zoe and Amelie. Music was a bit rip off of Requiem for a Dream.
    It kept me watching and enjoying it ...but in a frustrated way.


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    #72
    whisky_galore
    Registered Users Posts: 15,918 ✭✭✭✭whisky_galore


    Treppen wrote: »
    I thought the chess presentation was inconsequential.
    Fine quoting all the greats but they rarely showed any of her gameplay.

    It would bore anyone who isn't a chess nerd to death if they did that.


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    #73
    Thecageyone
    Registered Users Posts: 6,756 ✭✭✭Thecageyone


    Yeah I know nothing about chess, I'm glad they didn't go more in depth about the gameplay as it would have added nothing but filler for me


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    #74
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Odeta wrote: »
    I love playing chess

    No you don't, trust them


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    #75
    Shane St.
    Registered Users Posts: 2,797 ✭✭✭Shane St.


    great show. watched it all in 2 days


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    #76
    ShineOn7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,550 ✭✭✭ShineOn7


    Hector Savage wrote: »
    So based on an actual game ... between men ?

    But me must clean history ...

    woke nonsense.

    You're always angry Hector

    Be it in the Covid threads or here, where we seek light distractions away from things

    Get some fresh air


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    #77
    ShineOn7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,550 ✭✭✭ShineOn7


    ShooterSF wrote: »
    Really enjoyed this but one thing and it isn't really a complaint about the show, just something personal but I found it hard to get behind Beth after
    she reveals she never sent the 10 dollars. Dunno why for a fictional story it just really stuck with me.


    What was that part again? She didn't send it to who?


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    #78
    ShineOn7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,550 ✭✭✭ShineOn7


    Outkast_IRE wrote: »
    Think this was one of the best things netflix has produced all year.


    It's easily in their all time top 3 for me

    It felt as strong as season one of House Of Cards


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    #79
    Treppen
    Registered Users Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭Treppen


    whisky_galore wrote: »
    It would bore anyone who isn't a chess nerd to death if they did that.

    Ya but all I hear is people saying the chess scenes were very well presented!
    "Oh no it's not boring they make chess look interesting actually" I've heard in a view reviews .
    It looks shoite actually.
    I think they're just doing the whole autism thing but badly


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    #80
    Emmy Rhythmic Rumor
    Posts: 0 ✭ Emmy Rhythmic Rumor


    ShineOn7 wrote: »
    What was that part again? She didn't send it to who?
    Shaibel, when he sent her the money to enter the tournament.


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    #81
    pixelburp
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 35,956 CMod ✭✭✭✭pixelburp


    Watched the first episode and impressed with the deft storytelling on display. The chess aspect was almost immaterial to the surprisingly dark, sad story of child drug addiction. Little of Taylor-Joy but the child actor was excellent.

    While I'd generally criticise Netflix's programming tactic of volume over precision, there's a sense something like this couldn't ever get made on a traditional network. A very cinematic, obviously creative production allowed to be as long or short as needs be.


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    #82
    Lucas Hood
    Registered Users Posts: 7,205 ✭✭✭Lucas Hood


    Just finished this tonight.

    First 4 or 5 episodes were really good. Last 2 or 4 not so much.


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    #83
    MattressRick
    Registered Users Posts: 744 ✭✭✭MattressRick


    ShooterSF wrote: »
    Really enjoyed this but one thing and it isn't really a complaint about the show, just something personal but I found it hard to get behind Beth after
    she reveals she never sent the 10 dollars. Dunno why for a fictional story it just really stuck with me.

    Yeah it definitely made you think of her as selfish


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    #84
    jon1981
    Registered Users Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭jon1981


    Presume this will be a one season only thing. Hard to see how they could swing a second.


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    #85
    Thecageyone
    Registered Users Posts: 6,756 ✭✭✭Thecageyone


    MattressRick wrote: »
    Yeah it definitely made you think of her as selfish

    Fitting with her character in general I thought

    Can't see there being a 2nd series, would have to be a different character - I mean they made this one up so why not? And he'd have to have 'issues' of some kind as every lead tends to these days


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    #86
    ShineOn7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,550 ✭✭✭ShineOn7


    jon1981 wrote: »
    Presume this will be a one season only thing. Hard to see how they could swing a second.


    As much as the appetite is there for it from many Netflix viewers, I hope they leave it at one very good to excellent season


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    #87
    Liam O
    Registered Users Posts: 19,082 ✭✭✭✭Liam O


    MattressRick wrote: »
    Yeah it definitely made you think of her as selfish

    She was happy enough for the adoptive mother to get 15%. It probably slipped her mind or she didn't want to think of the place again if she could help it.

    Her not visiting Mr. Shaibel I thought was strange but could have been for the same reason. I was waiting for that but you see it in real life with parents or grandparents if someone has moved out they may have the best intentions but it just keeps getting pushed back and you may not see them as regularly as you want. Especially when you are likely drained from taking a huge amount of pills!


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    #88
    whisky_galore
    Registered Users Posts: 15,918 ✭✭✭✭whisky_galore


    ShineOn7 wrote: »
    As much as the appetite is there for it from many Netflix viewers, I hope they leave it at one very good to excellent season

    I think it's better to have a short, punchy run and leave it at that.


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    #89
    Emmy Rhythmic Rumor
    Posts: 0 ✭ Emmy Rhythmic Rumor


    I wouldn't mind seeing a Jolene spin-off.


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    #90
    46 Long
    Closed Accounts Posts: 355 ✭✭46 Long


    Deleted User wrote: »
    I wouldn't mind seeing a Jolene spin-off.

    No thanks. The horribly clichéd 'magical black person' trope in the last episode was one of the few flaws with the series.


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    #91
    storker
    Registered Users Posts: 5,646 ✭✭✭storker


    whisky_galore wrote: »
    I think it's better to have a short, punchy run and leave it at that.

    Now now, TV series can work really well after the books stop. Just look at Game of Thrones.

    Oh...


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