Chess has never looked so good, and it's mostly due to Anya Taylor Joy's incredible performance as Beth Harmon. Cool, smart, and sexy, she throws this series on her back and carries it to the promised land. This series is also well-shot, well-written and well-acted. It captures all the glitz and glam of the 1960's filling each scene with its beautiful set designs.

As for the story, it can be just as funny as it is sad. For some, they may even get teary-eyed by the end. Not saying that I would know or anything... In a lot of ways, this series is like Rocky 4 when he has to train and fight Ivan Drago in Russia. Only in this case, it's chess. Checkmate, Adrian. ADRIAAAN!

The show is at its best when it focuses on chess. Each game is intense and nerve-wracking, which is saying something since, you know, it's chess. I also LOVE the fact that we see Beth lose some important games, so she doesn't feel like this unstoppable force.

However, it's biggest issue is its pacing. Sometimes it can be fun and exciting, other times it can be slow and dull. At certain points, it feels like I'm just sitting around waiting for the next chess match to start. Some episodes can also be cliché or predictable, which loses some of its enjoyability.

Some of the hyped-up chess matches also don't payoff. I wanted to see more chess gameplay and how Beth actually beat everyone. I also thought the addiction angle played it safe. I would have preferred the series portray addiction as a lifelong battle instead of something as simple as, "Nah, no booze for me today."

Ultimately, even if you're not a fan of chess, there's a lot to enjoy here. From excellent performances to a heartwarming coming of age story, this is the type of show you'll probably binge in a day (like me).

Score: 8 out of 10 Overall: Great

Recommended for: Fans of Anya Taylor-Joy, fans of coming of age stories, or fans of a child prodigy humiliating grown ass men in a game of chess.

Thanks for reading!