Screen Time

How The Queen’s Gambit Made Chess Sexy

If you’ve been on Netflix lately, you’ve probably seen a clip or two from their new show The Queen’s Gambit! This gorgeous show is set in the 1950s and 1960s, and stars Anya Taylor-Joy. It follows her character, Beth, as she learns to play chess and quickly becomes a big threat in national and international chess competitions. Now, I’ve never played chess myself, but once I began watching, that didn’t matter. The show drew me in right away and didn’t let go until I’d binged all seven episodes. If you don’t know much about chess either, fear not! Here are three ways The Queen’s Gambit makes chess incredibly sexy.

1. The Hair, Makeup and Outfits

Beth is a fierce threat on the chessboard, but that doesn’t mean she can’t be stylish! The costume designers of The Queen’s Gambit have done an amazing job with Beth’s hair, makeup and outfits in each and every episode. I want to steal each and every one of these costume pieces. When will 50s fashion have the comeback it deserves!?

2. The Cinematography

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I had no idea just how much sexual tension could be built over a chessboard. The brilliant cinematic choices and even better acting make for some heart-stopping, breath-hitching games of chess. You’ll never be more glued to a screen, I promise you.

The Queens Gambit Thomas Brodie Sangster GIF from Thequeensgambit GIFs

3. Thomas Brodie-Sangster

This tweet about sums it up:

I also did not know how much I could want to JUMP the kid from Love Actually... #mrsrobinson pic.twitter.com/RUn1dy3rN4
— Elizabeth Turner Stokes (@EStokesCreative) October 30, 2020

Personally, I know TBS from The Maze Runner franchise. He seemed so young back then! Now, he’s all grown up and playing Benny Watts, the charismatic chess champ that gives Beth a run for her money, literally. Benny is lanky, arrogant and snarky, which is totally my catnip. From the moment he appears on screen, he almost, but not quite, steals the show. Suffice it to say that when Benny is on your screen, there will be a smile on your face.

Have I convinced you to watch The Queen’s Gambit yet? It’s the perfect weekend binge to take your mind off of things.