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The Queen's Gambit is a show that everyone's been talking about since its release. It's an American coming-of-age period drama that aired on Netflix in October 2020. It's based on a book of the same name from the 1980s by Walter Tevis and was created by Scott Frank.
The Queen's Gambit is about an orphan girl, Elizabeth Harmon, who's a chess genius. She's trying to make it big in the chess world, but she's also dealing with issues like hard emotions and dependency on drugs and alcohol. The show takes place in the 1950s and 1960s and shows Beth's journey to become a chess champ.
The Queen's Gambit has been a huge hit, becoming Netflix's most-watched miniseries after just four weeks. It's been a favorite in 63 countries and has received rave reviews, winning the Golden Globe among other awards. It also got everyone talking about chess again, with more people playing online and looking up how to play.
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Is Beth Harmon based on a real person?
Beth Harmon isn't real. She's just a character by author Walter Tevis in his 1983 novel The Queen's Gambit, which was turned into the popular Netflix show in 2020. While the story is fictional, Tevis took cues from actual chess players and pros when crafting her character.
Bobby Fischer, who became a chess champ at just 14 like Beth does in the story, was a major influence. Beth's issues with drug and alcohol addiction were based on Tevis' struggles.
When he was young, he was given a lot of tranquilizers for his heart condition, which influenced Beth's reliance on pills in the story. Tevis found it therapeutic to address his addiction problems through Beth's character. Beth's visions of chess patterns on her bedroom ceiling might not be accurate, but they draw inspiration from the skills of some grandmasters.
Who was in love with Beth Harmon on The Queen's Gambit?
Chess is the number one love in Beth's life. It's her passion and she's devoted to it, even if it means putting relationships on the back burner. As she tells a reporter in The Queen's Gambit,
"It's an entire world of just 64 squares. I feel safe in it. I can control it. I can dominate it. And it's predictable."
Harry Beltik
Harry used to be the chess champion of Kentucky, but Beth managed to beat him when she was a teenager. When they meet again as adults, Harry starts to have feelings for Beth, but she sees him more as a mentor than a romantic interest.
Benny Watts
Benny and Beth have a complicated relationship; they start as rivals but end up becoming close friends. There's a hint of romantic tension between them, but it never goes anywhere. Benny is a cocky American chess grandmaster, and Beth is just trying to figure things out.
D.L. Townes
Townes, a young journalist, interviews Beth for a Life magazine cover story, and they have a short fling. Beth sees him as just a casual lover. In the end, it's revealed that Townes had secretly been in love with Beth all this time. Throughout the series, Beth has a few potential love interests, but her true love is chess. She prioritizes her passion for the game over any romantic relationships.
As she tells Townes in The Queen's Gambit,
"I don't want to be a woman. I want to be a great chess player."
Did Beth Harmon love her adoptive mother?
Beth Harmon and her adoptive mom, Alma Wheatley, had a complex but important relationship in The Queen's Gambit. They were close, and Alma had a big impact on Beth's life. Alma cheered Beth on in her chess journey, went to tournaments with her, and was there for her through thick and thin.
Even though they didn't always see eye-to-eye, they loved each other. When Alma died, Beth was devastated and ended up buying the Wheatley family home as a way to keep her memory alive on The Queen's Gambit.
Alma had a lasting and positive influence on Beth, helping her become the chess prodigy she is today. Their relationship, while not perfect, was important for Beth's growth and success, proving that she cared for her adoptive mother.
Watch The Queen's Gambit on Netflix to see how Beth becomes a chess prodigy.
