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The Best Shows I Have Binge-Watched During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Some good shows have helped pass the time during this trying year
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced more people to seek at-home entertainment than ever before. Fortunately, there is no end to the number of options that can be slowly consumed, or if they really grab hold of you, binge-watched. I have lost count of the number of shows I have devoured over the past eight-plus months, but I do remember well the best I have come across during this trying time.
The Queen’s Gambit: Despite orphan Beth Harmon growing up in a haze of substance abuse and emotional detachment, she discovers chess is her constant. Learning the game from the dour handyman in the basement of an orphanage, she in short order becomes a world-class player who finds financial success and the stability she lacks elsewhere.
You don’t have to be a chess nut in order to enjoy this seven-episode first season. They delve into the strategic game enough to show the intricate mental exercise necessary of the best players in the world. However, they don’t hammer it into you to the degree that it becomes boring. Star Anya Taylor Joy is compelling in the lead role, as her teacup saucer-sized eyes are a striking contrast to her character’s aversion to vulnerability.
