How exciting can a chess game be?
Put it this way; few action movies rise to the intensity level of Beth Harmon’s final game with the Russian champion in the concluding episode. It is a testament to acting, directing, design, and story.
Beth Harmon is an orphan, a genius, a drug addict, a prize, and all alone. But the list is in a different order depending on the day and which way you look. She’s been abused, pushed around, uplifted, stranded, abandoned, rejected, desired, and written off.
The series gets a bit difficult around the middle – maybe a little oppressive as she enters into the hopeless part of the hero’s journey. It could be dull there, or even just sad. But one of Diane’s friends recommended watching the whole series through – and it was worth it. When the real battle begins, it’s only partly with a Russian chess player. The doldrums are essential to understanding the mountain trails.
Avoiding spoilers here, but the happiest part of the story isn’t where you’d expect.
Highly recommended.
- Based on a novel by Walter Tevis. As usual, Wikipedia has the deets
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