--- title: "The Queen's Gambit: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/the-queens-gambit/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/the-queens-gambit" critics_score: 76 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Queen's Gambit (2020): what the critics said Critics' score 76 from 11 reviews: 9 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics warm to it. Nine of the eleven reviews are positive, and the praise clusters on Anya Taylor-Joy, whose Beth Harmon is called magnetic, intense and near-perfect, with several reviewers saying the whole series rests on her. The production draws almost as much credit: the period design and costumes are described as lavish, and the chess sequences are singled out for making a slow, silent game tense and even exciting. The handling of addiction and genius is generally judged thoughtful. The reservations are about depth. Radio Times notes heavy-handed moments and expository dialogue, The Guardian finds it works best as wish-fulfilment and adds up to slightly less than its parts, and NME calls its view of addiction rose-tinted and its plotting paint-by-numbers. Collider is the clear outlier, finding the seven episodes repetitive and bloated and, alone among the eleven, calling Taylor-Joy detached while praising Marielle Heller instead. The spread is wide, from the fifties to ninety, but the doubters are few. ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 20 October 2020. Anya Taylor-Joy shines in a tour de force as the troubled chess prodigy in this smart, lavishly produced limited series that generates thriller-like intensity from the game. It is cerebral, methodical television for inquisitive grownups that is something to relish. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/the-queens-gambit-tv-review-4078272/) ## Variety — Caroline Framke Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2020. The limited series is a shrewd study of genius that personalizes chess through clever storytelling and a magnetic lead performance. It becomes a portrait of a special, flawed person that reveres her fire as much as her brilliance. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2020/tv/reviews/the-queens-gambit-review-anya-taylor-joy-1234810169/) ## Radio Times — Patrick Cremona Rating 4/5. 22 October 2020. The series is an engaging and captivating piece of work, lavishly produced and brilliantly acted, with thrilling chess scenes thanks to inventive direction and Taylor-Joy's tour-de-force performance. Some heavy-handed moments and expository dialogue slightly detract from the otherwise perfectly paced rise-to-the-top story. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/the-queens-gambit-review-netflix/) ## The i Paper — Sarah Hughes Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 11 November 2020. The critic calls it one of the year's best dramas for its thoughtful take on female genius, addiction and friendship. They single out Anya Taylor-Joy's nuanced, near-perfect central performance while noting a minor misstep in downplaying a key supporting friendship. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/the-queens-gambit-netflix-series-drama-year-chess-755642) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 23 October 2020. The series is largely satisfying as a handsome period piece and showcase for Taylor-Joy. The critic praises how it makes chess exciting and sexy while exploring addiction, trauma, and genius. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-queens-gambit-netflix-review-anya-taylor-joy.html) ## IndieWire — Ben Travers Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 October 2020. The critic finds the series a refined coming-of-age story that largely pays off thanks to its lead performance. Taylor-Joy's portrayal of the chess prodigy is singled out as impeccable amid struggles with addiction and despair. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/queens-gambit-review-netflix-anya-taylor-joy-chess-1234594891/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 October 2020. The series is a gorgeous, fun rags-to-riches fantasy about a chess prodigy rising from an orphanage, with superb performances and neatly handled chess sequences. It functions best as wish-fulfilment escapism rather than deeper commentary, feeling slightly less than the sum of its parts. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/oct/23/the-queens-gambit-review-chess-anya-taylor-joy-walter-tevis-netflix) ## The Ringer — Alison Herman Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 23 October 2020. The series succeeds thanks to its lead performance in a story of a female chess prodigy navigating personal demons and international competition. It singles out Anya Taylor-Joy's magnetic, intense portrayal of Beth Harmon as the standout element that elevates familiar tropes. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2020/10/23/tv/queens-gambit-review-anya-taylor-joy) ## Den of Geek — Natalie Zutter Rating 4/5. 1 October 2020. The miniseries is a masterful portrait of genius and addiction with striking visuals and sensitive storytelling. The critic highlights Taylor-Joy's magnetic performance as the prodigy grappling with pills and self-reliance. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-queens-gambit-review/) ## NME — Beth Webb Rating 3/5. 23 October 2020. The critic finds the series fails to deliver a checkmate, offering a rose-tinted view of addiction and womanhood with paint-by-numbers redemption instead of raw punk spirit. It praises the lavish production and costumes but criticizes the meandering narrative and lack of depth in portraying struggles. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/tv-reviews/the-queens-gambit-review-netflix-2796375) ## Collider — Gregory Lawrence Rating C-. 23 October 2020. The review notes the series has potential but stalls due to repetitive points and bloat over seven episodes; it singles out Marielle Heller's performance for praise while faulting Anya Taylor-Joy's detached portrayal and the lack of meaningful change or momentum. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-queens-gambit-netflix-review-anya-taylor-joy/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/the-queens-gambit.md