Queen's Gambit: A Series Review

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Writing this in haste because I need to go to for a lab test for an arterial and venous duple. My feet had been constricted a long time and my endocrinologist wants to know what has been affecting my walking. But I had a coerced (by my daughter) marathon viewing of Queen's Gambit yesterday that I need to say something about it now. Will probably edit later. Anyway, the seven-episode netflix drama featured the story of an orphan girl by the name of Elizabeth Harmon who rose to fame by winning a most coveted feat no American has done in the sixties - defeat the Russians in the game of chess. Troubled by the unfortunate circumstances of the demise of her mother and the drug addiction brought about by the tranquilizers (vitamins) administered in the orphanage, the nine-year old Beth, as she was called, has a natural affinity to guess what - play the age-old black and white board game with pawns and knights, bishops and castles, and a queen defending a king. The child found her self intrigued by complicated moves when once she saw the old janitor playing the game in his lonesome. She challenged the old man to teach her the game. Before long, the janitor recognized the savant in Beth. The story proceeded to introduce Beth to a world of wizard minds competing to win. Against all odds. Beth was later adopted by a pathetic couple who couldn't live together. With her new found freedom, Beth pursued her zest for chess and discovered she could earn the very important money by simply winning the game. Thus her life story unfolded. Beth has no fear. Just addiction to drugs and alcohol. She has a single goal - to win against the Russian, the undefeated world champion. Beth's young life story as a chess competitor was also a search for the self and the longing to belong. People had come and gone and had left no distinctive meaning unto Beth's person, except for the janitor who, Beth later discovered, followed her feat through the years. In the end, Beth found her being in a park where men who play chess hailed her the world's undisputed champion. The Queen's Gambit has succeeded. All rights reserved.