Beth Harmon remains single by the end of The Queen's Gambit, which is the best conclusion for her character arc. The Netflix miniseries is an adaptation of the 1983 Walter Tevis novel about a female prodigy's rise in the world of competitive chess. In both versions of the story, Beth is orphaned at a young age, and her journey to becoming a Grandmaster is complicated by her personal trauma and addiction issues.
was one of the best TV shows of 2020. Although the story (both the novel and the adaptation) is ostensibly a sports drama, it is also a gripping period piece and a powerfully evocative portrait of a young woman's coming of age. Most of the story focuses on Beth as a teenager, maturing into a young woman as she matures into a master player. Through chess, Beth forms emotional connections, develops self-esteem, and — perhaps most importantly — learns humility. Chess alone is not what allows Beth to ultimately overcome her personal struggles, but the sport and its culture is a significant conduit to the life lessons and relationships that help her heal.
Beth has several sexual The Queen's Gambit ends with Beth triumphant, having finally mastered chess only after she's conquered her own self-doubt; introducing a romance as a part of that ending would have only served to undermine the miniseries's feminist themes and central message.
A key part of Beth's journey is her overcoming her own demons. Beth may be a gifted chess player, but she lacks self-esteem because of her abandonment issues; this manifests in the various ways she seeks validation throughout the miniseries. Repeatedly, Beth engages in sexual behavior with someone who doesn't know or understand her. This behavior hints at the young's woman's lack of maturity and self-worth; rather than pursue a relationship with someone who treats her with the respect and dignity she deserves, the young woman settles for less — just as Beth's adoptive mother Alma did in her marriage. Beth's first sexual experience is with someone she barely knows, and she spends the following day hanging out in and cleaning his apartment alone. Beth begins romantic relationships with two of her peers from the competitive chess community, Harry and Benny, despite a lack of obvious physical attraction for them (unlike Townes, who Beth is clearly infatuated with upon first meeting him).
Harry leaves Beth, likely because he realizes how unhealthy it is, and Beth later exits her relationship with Benny, perhaps because she recognizes his true interest is her skill at chess (not her). This pays off when the American players rallying around Beth for her climactic final match in Russia, calling her long-distance to help her strategize her match. Townes, Beth's long-time love interest, even s the effort in person, having arranged a working visa to cover the tournament. The moment sees Beth finally belonging to the chess community as an equal member: initially, as a young woman she was dismissed; then, as a rising prodigy, she was objectified. When The Queen's Gambit ends, Beth is finally a respected part of the community — on her own .