It’s become weirdly common for limited series to get renewed for a second season and expanded into full shows, but Anya Taylor-Joy’sThe Queen’s Gambitmercifully remained a miniseries. DespiteThe Queen’s Gambit’s universal critical acclaimand massive viewership, Netflix didn’t force the creators to bring it back for another season like they did withStranger Things.
The Queen’s Gambit Was Announced As A Limited Series (And It Stayed Like That)
It Was Done After 7 Episodes
Based on Walter Tevis’ novel of the same name,The Queen’s Gambittells the story ofchess prodigy Beth Harmon, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, who becomes a champion while hiding a worsening drug addiction. Taylor-Joy gave a star-making performance, andScott Frank wrote and directed the entire seven-part miniseries through an auteur’s lens. Against all odds, it made chess exciting.
Against all odds, it made chess exciting.
The Queen’s Gambitwas released on Netflix in October 2020, when millions of people around the world were still stuck in their homes in the midst of lockdowns. While these lockdowns were a detriment of epic proportions to society and the economy, they were great for the streaming business. Shows likeTiger KingandSquid Gamebecame global hits.
Back in the days of stay-at-home orders,The Queen’s Gambitwas a huge hit for Netflix. But, thankfully, the streamer let it remain a seven-episode limited series anddidn’t pressure Frank to follow it up with a second season. It sounds ridiculous, but that’s become a frequent occurrence in Hollywood.
A Lot Of “Limited Series” Are Getting More Seasons Because They Were So Successful
It’s Become Very Common For Limited Series To Go Beyond Their Limits
The television landscape has gotten so saturated in the age of streaming that genuine hits are few and far between. That means thatwhen a studio has a bona fide blockbuster show on their hands, they refuse to let it die. In recent years, it’s become more and more common for shows announced as limited series to become unlimited series.
BeefandThe White Lotuswere both turned into anthology shows.Big Little Lies,13 Reasons Why, andGood Omenswere all renewed for additional seasons to stretch out their stories. It’s rare that today’s TV industry just lets a miniseries be a miniseries. It’s a testament to Netflix that it hasn’t churned outThe Queen’s Gambitseason 2.
Why It’s Good That The Queen’s Gambit Season 2 Didn’t Happen
The Story Was Told In Its Entirety
While it would’ve made financial sense for Netflix to greenlight a second season ofThe Queen’s Gambit, it’s definitely for the best that it didn’t happen. The story was already told in its entirety in that initial seven-episode run. Plus, lettingThe Queen’s Gambitexist as a one-and-done miniseries allowed Taylor-Joy to become a movie star.
