I admire the serialisation the Queen's Gambit is showing. This episodes deftly moves Beth from zero parents, to two parents, to one, and from basement games to a state tournament.
The chess tournament is exciting stuff - even if we can't see the moves, the atmosphere make it worth. The domestic material is more confused. The Wheatley's marriage disintegrates, which would be a bigger deal if Mr. Wheatley weren't such a non-factor and Mrs. Wheatley's dialogue weren't so overwrought. And, in a clever collision, the chess-powering tranquilising pills are back!
The acting belongs to the hyphens. Anna Taylor-Joy takes over as Beth and her bright, emotive eyes are one of the episode's delights. I wouldn't be surprised if they end up being the standout feature of the Queen's Gambit. And Jacob Fortune-Lloyd is a scene-stealer as the suave player Mr. Townes - finally we get some chess banter!
The score really establishes itself in this episode. There's a lovely piano theme the episode's director clearly loves, because it's splashed in most scenes. The 60s background is a bit broad here - there's one moment where Mrs Wheatley is discontentedly smoking and vacuuming in front of gaudy wallpaper and it's ... all a bit too much.
Still, a nice, contained episode.
The chess tournament is exciting stuff - even if we can't see the moves, the atmosphere make it worth. The domestic material is more confused. The Wheatley's marriage disintegrates, which would be a bigger deal if Mr. Wheatley weren't such a non-factor and Mrs. Wheatley's dialogue weren't so overwrought. And, in a clever collision, the chess-powering tranquilising pills are back!
The acting belongs to the hyphens. Anna Taylor-Joy takes over as Beth and her bright, emotive eyes are one of the episode's delights. I wouldn't be surprised if they end up being the standout feature of the Queen's Gambit. And Jacob Fortune-Lloyd is a scene-stealer as the suave player Mr. Townes - finally we get some chess banter!
The score really establishes itself in this episode. There's a lovely piano theme the episode's director clearly loves, because it's splashed in most scenes. The 60s background is a bit broad here - there's one moment where Mrs Wheatley is discontentedly smoking and vacuuming in front of gaudy wallpaper and it's ... all a bit too much.
Still, a nice, contained episode.