Kasparov vs. Deep Blue: is the Rematch a winner? (critical)

More than the game of chess, it is Man against the machine that is played out in this emblematic confrontation of the 1990s told in this careful historical series, to watch on Arte.

Long before The Queen's Game and Anya Taylor-Joy, the small world of chess rested on the shoulders of one man: Gary Kasparov. Genius of the 64-square grid, he has long been the undisputed master of an elitist discipline, which came to light in the 1990s, when the World Champion defeated Deep Blue, a computer designed by a Taiwanese team, programmed to beat the human spirit!

A match that gave ideas to IBM. So in search of a rebound, the IT brand wants to ride the buzz and offers to organize a return match. Except that this time, Taiwanese programmers have significant financial resources to boost their supercomputer. IBM's image is at stake. That of Kasparov too. And through this duel, the world watches the great fight of the future, that of man against machine…

Thirty years later, we see that the zeitgeist has not changed much. At a time when the power of artificial intelligence is shaking the world, Rematch enjoys a very particular resonance. But the mini-series struggles to take the pulse of the times. The series fails – in part – to reflect the societal influence of Kasparov vs. Deep Blue, to raise the stakes of this duel for History.

The reconstruction is feverish and wants to film the chess matches with passion, but the repetitive staging ends up tiring. The painting lacks a little roughness and connects the Epinal images of the master sweating from his forehead while leaning on his Tower before changing his mind and moving his Lady. Exhilarating at times, but ultimately a little vain. It remains that the Kasparov of Rematch – remarkably embodied by a Christian Cooke with a stunning Soviet accent – overflows with charisma in this undeniably careful, but not entirely accomplished, historical chronicle.

Rematch, in 6 episodes, to be seen every Thursday October 17 and 24 on Arte and already in full streaming on Arte.tv.