Anya Taylor-Joy gives a brilliant performance in this limited series, easily her best which is saying something as she's been excellent in everything I've seen her in (though it sadly hasn't been much).
Here she shines as Elizabeth Harmon, a young orphan who discovers chess and tranquilizers at the ripe old age of nine at the orphanage. But it isn't until she's adopted by the well-off but grieving and boring couple (Marielle Heller and Patrick Kennedy). Though Allston doesn't want to be around, Alma takes to having a daughter better and once she realizes how much money Beth can earn, supports her in her chess journey, not understanding how influence Beth truly is to several generations of women.
Sure, Beth has issues. She's an addict and a bit cold to all of her potential love interests, which are numerous but she's brilliant on the board and after a few stumbles (falling back to her previous addictions), she defeats the best Soviet chess player of all time. All the men will have to take a backseat as chess is her main love.
And the acting is sensational. The set decoration is also great, completely realistic to the 1960s so you feel as though you are transported back to that time, and while I say that plenty of times, it never ceases to amaze me. The screenplay was also tight and flowed together beautifully. Hands down, this was certainly one of the best mini series of all time. Grade: A
Side Notes:
-It cost a lot to travel to the Soviet Union back in the 60s and she got her own personal FBI agent to accompany her.
-I adored the happy but semi-opened ending of this series though I'm not sure how well she's ended her addiction.
-Jolene (Moses Ingram) is probably my favorite character.
-I couldn't believe that the orphanage gave the children pills (both uppers and lowers), It is a miracle that more of them didn't develop an addiction.
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