S1.E1

Openings

Name: Openings
Genre: Drama
Released: 2020-10-23
Duration: 59 min
Rating: 8.4
Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Bill Camp, Moses Ingram

Episode aired Oct 23, 2020
TV-MATV-MA
59m

IMDb RATING

8.4/10

12K

YOUR RATING

Bill Camp and Isla Johnston in The Queen's Gambit (2020)

Drama

Sent to an orphanage at age 9, Beth develops an uncanny knack for chess and a growing dependence on the green tranquilizers given to the children.Sent to an orphanage at age 9, Beth develops an uncanny knack for chess and a growing dependence on the green tranquilizers given to the children.Sent to an orphanage at age 9, Beth develops an uncanny knack for chess and a growing dependence on the green tranquilizers given to the children.

IMDb RATING

8.4/10

12K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Scott Frank
Writers
- Scott Frank(teleplay by)
- Allan Scott
- Walter Tevis(based upon the novel by)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

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Photos59

Isla Johnston in The Queen's Gambit (2020)

Akemnji Ndifornyen in The Queen's Gambit (2020)

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The poem being read in class roughly halfway through this episode is "Not Waving but Drowning" by British poet Stevie Smith. It was published in 1957 as part of a collection of the same title.

Goofs
When Mr. Shaibel first introduces Beth to a Queen Pawn Game Opening (d4 in algebraic notation), he says the opening is the "Queen's Gambit". In fact, the opening is not considered the Queen's gambit unless it continues 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 (or c6). Until then, it could be any number of less popular continuations of the Queens Pawn Game opening, such as London System, Tompowsky Attack, Stonewall Attack, Colle System, etc.

Quotes
Young Beth Harmon: What surprised me, was how bad they played.

Connections
Features The Robe (1953)

Soundtracks
Bringing In the Sheaves
(uncredited)
Written by Knowles Shaw
Performed by Rebecca Root and children

User reviews35

Review

Featured review

10/10

One of the best pilot episodes I've seen

Wow... this episode did not fail at all in gripping me into the show. The story is just so interesting and the feel of the episode was so intimate and I was able to connect with the main character Beth. The writing and directing was superb and the pacing is perfect, keeping you interested all throughout.

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