Do You Know a Rook From a Queen?

Maybe you play chess or, like me, once did, and thought that the loudly touted Netflix mini-series The Queen’s Gambit was a documentary about a well-known opening move in the game of chess. Perhaps you missed the raves from media, friends, and family because you were held prisoner somewhere without electricity, wifi, and/or access to the ability to stream. For whatever reason, you’ve missed out. I, too, was late to the game. Or should I say games?

One night, lazy and not looking forward to searching for a movie that met both Dad’s and my interests (think a well-armed Colonel Brandon in body armor taking out Willoughby). I turned to my list of recommendations from friends, especially Jesse Kornbluth’s piece on the book—more on his site Head Butler. That’s where I found out it had been a book first.

“How about The Queen’s Gambit?” I asked. “It’s a series, so if we don’t like the first episode, we can stop and move on.”

“Sounds good,” Dad said.

Two or three episodes later we were both hooked. The story, the acting, and the character development were totally addictive. By the third night Dad said, “I can’t take another episode. This kid is driving me crazy.”

I was sure my father was thinking about me at the age of Clare, the main character, in that episode based in the sixties. Thankfully, I was supervised. Clare, well… I don’t want to give anything away.

We couldn’t wait to watch each night and were disappointed. when the series ended.

The next day, out of nowhere, Dad looked at me and said, “I miss my girl.”

Thinking he meant one of his four granddaughters, I said, “Which one?”

“Clare,” he said sadly.

Me, too, Dad. Me, too.