THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT – this is an interesting delve into the secretive world of chess and the psyche of Beth Harmon, a gifted but troubled chess prodigy. It took me one or two episodes to become engaged, but once I was, it was a fascinating ride. A true character study series, it moves with the pace of a chess game (that’s a compliment and quite appropriate). I also liked the use of chess terminology as titles of each episode. As an intermediate chess player myself, I was unfamiliar with many terms and moves and actually learned something about the game. I particularly like the characters of the adoptive mom and the many friends who help Beth along as she journeys through talent, celebrity, addiction and despair. The arc of Beth’s character is honestly portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy who I had never heard of before. Mike loved her performance, although he is a bit biased because he finds her beautiful. He loved the whole mini series so much he binge watched it, which is something he never does. We both enjoyed watching Beth envision moves in her head by seeing the pieces move in fast-paced, ghostly fashion on the ceiling of her room. The last episode and ending are perfect. A hearty toast from Mike and me! Boyfriends – 0. Girlfriends – 1 (That’s from Mike). Cheers!