10 Reasons To Watch "The Queen's Gambit" Immediately

Checkmate.

The Queen's Gambit is one of the most-watched shows on Netflix right now, which isn't surprising at all.

Netflix / YouTube

The limited series stars Anya Taylor-Joy as a chess prodigy who overcomes substance abuse issues and a troubled past while trying to become the best player in the world.

Charlie Gray / Netflix

If you haven't started watching it yet, you don't know what you're missing. Here's 10 reasons why The Queen's Gambit should be your next binge-watch.

Phil Bray / Netflix

1. Anya Taylor-Joy's amazing performance.

Phil Bray / Netflix

From her breakout performance in 2015's The Witch and roles in M. Night Shyamalan's Split and Glass to her titular turn in this year's beautiful Emma, Taylor-Joy has already become a top acting talent — and her turn as chess prodigy Beth Harmon in The Queen's Gambit is more proof of her intimidating emotional range.

2. The actor who portrays young Beth Harmon is great too.

Phil Bray / Netflix

The Queen's Gambit starts off by showing us Beth's early childhood years in an orphanage, and Isla Johnston does an excellent job of charismatically portraying young Beth.

3. Bill Camp kills it as young Beth's mentor.

Courtesy Of Netflix

Bill Camp is one of the ultimate "Hey, I recognize that guy!" character actors, and he stars in The Queen Gambit's early episodes as the orphanage janitor who teaches young Beth the ways of the chessboard.

4. Marielle Heller shines in a rare acting role.

Phil Bray / Netflix

Marielle Heller is known more for her directing work than her acting roles: She helmed 2018's underrated Can You Ever Forgive Me? and last year's Tom Hanks–starring Mr. Rogers biopic A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. But she's pitch-perfect as Beth's adoptive mother Alma Wheatley, turning in a funny and empathetic performance.

5. Scott Frank's top-notch writing and direction.

Phil Bray / Netflix

As a screenwriter, Frank has two Oscar noms under his belt for 1998's Out of Sight and 2017's Logan. So, he knows what he's doing with the pen — but his second time behind the camera for a Netflix limited series (his first was Godless in 2017) is a showcase of his estimable talent helming projects, too.

6. Dudley Dursley's an adult now.

Phil Bray / Netflix

'Memba him? He's all grown-up.

7. Harry Melling isn't the only familiar face, either...

Phil Bray / Netflix

Recognize this guy? That's Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who played the lovestruck kid in Love Actually as well as playing Jojen Reed in Game of Thrones.

8. The set designs are a period piece feast for the eyes.

Ken Woroner / Netflix

The Queen's Gambit is set during the Cold War era of the mid-1950s into the late-1960s, and the show's set design is rich with detail when it comes to evoking its temporal setting.

9. And so are the wardrobe choices.

Phil Bray / Netflix

Similar to the beloved TV show Mad Men, The Queen's Gambit oozes style, with every costume choice expertly handled by costume designer Gabriele Binder.

10. Above all else, it's all about the chess.

Phil Bray / Netflix

The Queen's Gambit is about a lot of things — finding your own family in the world, struggling with addiction, the pursuit of greatness at all costs — but it's really about chess. There's so much chess, in fact, that you just might be inspired to get into chess yourself. Isn't picking up a new hobby great?