I was hyped to watch Queens Gambit because of my friends's excitement about it. The beginning and middle is a bit dry. I tried to get into it though, and while I stopped watching for some weeks I eventually pulled through and I'm glad I did.

The costumes and the editing and the music is great, and the way Beth grows up through the fashion periods of the early to late 60s and before that in the 50s was nice to see.

The protagonist Beth waxes and wanes in terms of charisma, but eventually she does impress and you start to care for her and her dependence on drugs and alcohol.

I did feel however that whole chapter was brought to a close rather quickly in the final episode. But there were moments that did cause me to go misty eyed as Beth learns about how people have cared for her despite the trauma that made her an orphan.

Still, a solid series with an alluring lead actor and a range of dignified support characters that impress in their own way without the fanfare. A very good effort all around.