Over five years afterThe Queen’s Gambitpremiered on Netflix, it’s still one of the best miniseries the streamer has ever put out, and features incredible performances. Based on the novel by Walter Tevis,The Queen’s Gambitfollows the young chess prodigy Beth Harmonas she fights against her dark past and the sexist world of competitive chess in the 1960s as political tensions rise.
The Queen’s Gambitisn’t based on a real person, but that doesn’t make Anya Taylor-Joy’s performance as Beth Harmon any less compelling. While audiences and critics couldn’t get enough of the show,it didn’t return for a second season,and Netflix has no plans to bring it back. Usually, this would be a tragedy, but when it comes toThe Queen’s Gambit, it’s a good thing.
The Queen’s Gambit Was A Sensational Miniseries For Netflix - And I Get Why
The Show’s Popularity Makes A Lot Of Sense
Anchored by Taylor-Joy, who gives her all to the character of Beth, audiences fall in love with the world ofThe Queen’s Gambitalmost instantly, no matter how much they know about the world of chess. Whilethe series was hailed for its complex understanding of how the game is played,it was Beth’s emotional journey that kept us watching until the action-packed final moments of the story.
It helped that when it was released in October of 2020, many people were still staying home and looking for things to watch because of the pandemic. However, it wasn’t just circumstance that made us loveThe Queen’s Gambit; it was the pacing, the storytelling, and the flawed nature of Beth’s character that made her relatable and lovable all at once.
Another Installment Would’ve Ruined The Queen’s Gambit
One of the best qualities in any TV show isn’t knowing how best to expand the story, but knowing when it’s run its course. The novel the series is based on is a standalone book, meaning the source material had run out, and the way the story was crafted over its seven episodes left little to be desired in a second season.
RenewingThe Queen’s Gambitfor another season, even though it was always intended to be a miniseries, would’ve been far more disappointing. While it might have garnered high viewership numbers, it’s unlikely that the show would’ve been able to top season 1, which told a complete narrative and ended on a definitive note.Beth’s life continues on in our imaginations,not our screens.
Additionally, attempting to raise the stakes and put Beth through more upheaval wouldn’t have been anything other than repetitive and boring. She faced grief, addiction, and defeat throughout the single season of the show, and came out the other side stronger than ever. Though Beth wasn’t perfect by the end ofThe Queen’s Gambit,her character development had reached its apex.
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Another Season Risked Hurting The Queen’s Gambit’s Near-Perfect Legacy
The Queen’s Gambit’s Reputation Shouldn’t Be Marred By An Additional Season
The Queen’s Gambitendingwas the perfect note for the series' conclusion, and disrupting this carefully crafted arc would only have hurt the way we view the show today. The great thing about writing and producing a near-perfect season of television that can stand on its own is thataudiences can return to the project many times without losing interest.
Though we spend a lot of time with Beth in adulthood,The Queen’s Gambitis a coming-of-age story,and this typically comes to an end when the characters have learned their lessons and are able to take on the world by themselves. Beth handles a lot more than a young person should have to within the story, but this is whyThe Queen’s Gambithas so much emotional weight.
It’s true that season 2 could have found a way to raise the stakes and justify itself.
It’s true that season 2 could have found a way to raise the stakes and justify itself, but the fact that it was never supposed to exist would always be hanging over the show.The Queen’s Gambitenjoys a legacy unmarked by mistakes or obvious attempts at cash-grabbing, and this makes it all the easier to revisit today.
