The show is an immaculately constructed period piece following a fictional character as she becomes the first world-class female chess grandmaster. Her story is often tragic, especially in regards to her parental figures, but it is also a story about resiliency, dedication, and friendship. The final episode is the perfect culmination of the many threads that were woven in the episodes before, giving an extraordinarily satisfying conclusion in a way that so few few show have managed to do.
The sets, costumes, music, direction, and acting are all astounding. Anya Taylor-Joy truly shines as the protagonist, Beth Harmon. I can certainly understand why it received so much attention and so many awards, especially since it came out during the height of COVID. While I wonder why Janelle and I didn't watch it sooner, I'm glad that we watched it now and were able to talk about it with Rowen (it turns out that Connor had already watched it on his own). For those who have not seen it yet, and who can handle some mature themes and situations, I highly recommend it.