The Queen’s Gambit: Elizabeth & Townes Relationship Explained

Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit deconstructs the “manic pixie dream girl” trope with its protagonist Elizabeth “Beth” Harmon and the complicated relationship and unrequited love between Townes and Elizabeth. The Queen’s Gambit follows Beth’s lifelong quest to become the world’s greatest chess player, starting with her traumatic childhood in an orphanage and addiction to tranquilizers. After meeting The Queen’s Gambit‘s Townes at her first chess tournament, Beth develops a crush on him, and the two navigate a complex friendship that follows them for the rest of their lives. Townes’ Queen’s Gambit role is incredibly nuanced, and he isn’t a simple romantic interest.