Netflix Original TV Shows That Depict Mental Health Issues
10 Netflix TV Shows Put a Spotlight on Mental Health Conditions
2
The Queen's Gambit is one of Netflix's most popular original shows — and it also happens to be a realistic depiction of childhood trauma and addiction. Beth Harmon, an orphan, displays great intelligence from a young age and ultimately becomes a world-renowned chess player in the 1960s, when women were relatively new to the competitive chess circuit. Beth's addiction to tranquilizers as a child and her eventual dependence on alcohol resurfaces throughout the series, even as she becomes a rising star in the chess world, which speaks to the fact that addiction and success can often go hand-in-hand. In addition to exploring "high-functioning" substance use, The Queen's Gambit also depicts how strongly childhood trauma can play into addiction.