Beth Harmon started learning chess at the age of 9, became the Intercontinental Champion at the age of 15, and won the World Championship at the age of 20 - Beth Harmon's growth experience seems to be smooth sailing. But is it really so? Abandoned by his father, committed suicide by his mother, lived in an orphanage, adopted, abandoned by his adoptive father, died of his adoptive mother... In the first 19 years of Harmon, he experienced helplessness and loneliness that ordinary people may never experience in their entire lives. with pain.
But she was also lucky, where she met Jolene, a family-like friend, and Shaibel, her chess enlightenment "teacher". This is where the story of a chess genius girl begins.
Among the world's professional chess players, female players account for only 1/7, and in the 1960s, the number was even smaller. After Harmon won the Intercontinental Championship, many media were attracted by this talented girl who was born out of nowhere and rushed to report it. Harmon said, "Most of the reports emphasize that I'm a girl, but that shouldn't be the point."
She was gifted and desperate to win—a reliance on sedatives and alcohol put her on the verge of self-doubt and breakdown. Facing the world number one Borgov, she did not crush her opponent as before, and the two fiasco made her prepare passively for a while. Her adoptive mother told her that "playing chess is just a part of life." But for Harmon, playing chess is everything to her.
After learning of Shaibel's death, Harmon returned to the former orphanage, back to the original basement. There, she found scraps of newspapers plastered across a blackboard, full of reports of her championship win and pictures of herself. There is also the letter that I wrote to Mr. Shaibel to borrow money to participate in the competition because of lack of money. It turns out that this little old man in the basement has been paying attention to his growth and is proud of himself. And 20 dollars owed to him, but never had a chance to pay him back. Holding the only photo with Mr. Shaibel, Harmon finally burst into tears. At this moment, Harmon's goal of winning the world championship has become more determined.
Signing up for the final game required money, and Harmon had been left with nothing after spending all his savings on buying his adoptive father's house. It was Jolene who provided her with the cost of going to the Soviet Union, which Jolene used to pay for her law school tuition. "I'm not your Guardian Angel. I'm not to save you. Hell, I can barely save me." "I'm here because you need me to be here. That's what family does." It is the closest person, and the people who share your troubles and accompany you must be family members.
In the gap between the closing game with Borgov, top players from the United States replayed the game overnight to help Harmon find a way to deal with Borgov the next day. At this time, Harmon was no longer fighting alone, and the men who were her defeated men had become her right-hand men. Although, "The strongest person is the person who isn't scared to be alone."
In the last scene of the film, a gray-haired Soviet old man, a mediocre chess player all his life, still came to the open-air arena early, took out a box of chess in the freezing weather, and invited Harmon to play with him. plate. At this moment, it seems to be back ten years ago. In that dim basement, Mr. Shaibel smiled and said to her, would you like a plate?
"My experience has taught me what you know isn't always what is improtant, but living and growing. Living your life. Treating yourself. And adventure." lasting. It's really cool to keep failing at one thing and admit your limitations and still not give up and stick to it.
Some people may say that this is a cool drama with a big heroine, but I think this miniseries has produced something that cannot be produced in domestic dramas. Whether it's the plot or the soundtrack, I'm immersed in it, and I can't get enough of it. This is not just a female-themed drama, it is also suitable for everyone to watch. In just seven episodes, we present Harmon's talent, persistence and growth. And the emotional lines with Mr. Shaibel, Jolene, Benny, Townes, Harry and others have enriched Harmon's image better and created a world full of love-although this world is always not so fair to women.
"You just let them blow by, and you go on ahead, and do just what the hell you feel like."
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