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“The Queen’s Gambit” is a 2020 Netflix miniseries that centers around the orphaned chess prodigy Beth Harmon and her journey to becoming a professional chess player while struggling with substance and alcohol addiction.
You can relive the bold ascent of Beth into the male-dominated world of chess on streaming services in Canada.
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What Is The Queen’s Gambit About?
“The Queen’s Gambit” follows the life of its protagonist, Beth Harmon, who grew up in a foster home after her mother died in a car crash. During her years at the orphanage, Beth learned to play chess under the guidance of the institution’s caretaker, Mr. Shaibel. As Beth’s skills continued to advance, she joined countless chess tournaments, from regional to international ones, where she competed against some of the top players in the world. Beth struggled with substance and alcohol addiction, loss, and gender dynamics in the competitive, male-dominated field throughout her quest to become an elite chess player.
The first season of “The Queen’s Gambit” had its premiere on Netflix in October 2020. While fans eagerly await a second season of the show, it’s best not to keep hopes up since it’s a limited series.
Who Are in the Cast and Production of The Queen’s Gambit?
“The Queen’s Gambit” is a series adaptation of Walter Tevis’ 1983 novel of the same name. American filmmaker Scott Frank wrote and directed “The Queen’s Gambit” and created it with Scottish writer Allan Scott. The cast of “The Queen’s Gambit” also features the award-winning British-American actress Anya Taylor-Joy and equally talented supporting actors like Thomas Brodie-Sansgter and Harry Melling. Here’s the entire cast of “The Queen’s Gambit”:
- Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon
- Bill Camp as Mr. William Shaibel
- Moses Ingram as Jolene
- Christiane Seidel as Helen Deardorff
- Rebecca Root as Miss Lonsdale
- Chloe Pirrie as Alice Harmon
- Akemnji Ndifornyen as Mr. Fergusson
- Marielle Heller as Alma Wheatley
- Harry Melling as Harry Beltik
- Patrick Kennedy as Allston Wheatley
- Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as D.L. Townes
- Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Benny Watts
- Marcin Dorociński as Vasily Borgov
What is the Rating for The Queen’s Gambit?
“The Queen’s Gambit” is rated TV-MA in Canada, which suggests that the show is suitable for mature audiences only due to mild to moderate depictions of coarse language, violence, substance use, nudity, and sexual content.
How Many People Watch The Queen’s Gambit?
“The Queen’s Gambit” became the most-watched miniseries on Netflix in its first month of release. The show gathered 62 million viewers.
How Are the Reviews for The Queen’s Gambit?
Critics and viewers alike commended the miniseries for staying true to its source material and for Anya Taylor-Joy’s impressive acting chops. “The Queen’s Gambit” bagged 11 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. Anya Taylor-Joy also won the Best Actress Award at the Golden Globes. The show received a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes, 79/100 on Metacritic, and 8.6/10 on IMDb. See what critics are saying about “The Queen’s Gambit”:
- “It is Anya Taylor-Joy, playing Beth from the age of 13 to 22 in a seemingly effortless metamorphosis who makes Frank’s film work, particularly in the way she beautifully articulates the inwardness, the fury, and the intelligence of Tevis’ creation. And thanks to the stunning collaborative skill of Scott Frank and Anya Taylor-Joy, there’s never any doubt about what that heart holds,” says The Daily Beast.
- “It absorbs the viewer into the rarefied realm of world-class competition and acquaints the nonplayer with enough of the mechanics to make the outcomes accessible and meaningful. Ms. Taylor-Joy is really the beginning and endgame of “The Queen’s Gambit,” and gives a performance that is as precisely physical as it is emotional,” The Wall Street Journal also said.
Where to Watch The Queen’s Gambit in Canada
“The Queen’s Gambit” is available on streaming services in Canada.
Is The Queen’s Gambit Available on Streaming?
Netflix
“The Queen’s Gambit” is exclusively available on Netflix. To stream the miniseries on the platform, subscribe to any of the following monthly plans:
| Plan | Price | Number of simultaneous screens | Streaming quality |
| Basic with ads | CAD$5.99 | 1 device | SD |
| Basic | CAD$9.99 | 1 device | HD |
| Standard | CAD$16.49 | 2 devices | HD |
| Premium | CAD$20.99 | 4 devices | Ultra HD |
Netflix is compatible with a variety of devices, such as smartphones, smart TVs, PCs, laptops, tablets, game consoles, and web players like Chromecast and Roku. You can also watch your favorite Netflix shows offline with its download feature.
Popular shows like “Black Mirror,” “You,” “The Witcher,” and “Sweet Tooth” are also available for you to stream on Netflix.
Is The Queen’s Gambit Available for Rent (VOD)?
“The Queen’s Gambit” is not available on any video-on-demand services since the show is exclusive to Netflix.
Is The Queen’s Gambit Available on Cable or Free TV?
“The Queen’s Gambit” did not air on any cable channels in Canada.
Should I Use a VPN to Watch The Queen’s Gambit?
“The Queen’s Gambit” is readily available on Netflix Canada, so there is no need to use a VPN.
A Game-changing Miniseries
“The Queen’s Gambit” perfectly captured the essence of chess with its masterful storytelling that transcended the game and resonated with viewers, chess players or not. So, don’t feel intimidated to tune into “The Queen’s Gambit” if you don’t know a thing or two about getting a checkmate.
You can watch “The Queen’s Gambit” on Netflix in Canada.
