Episode 4 of "The Queen's Gambit" dawns, showcasing Beth's unwavering resilience in the wake of her recent defeat. Undeterred, she dives into the study of Russian, her determination a beacon amidst the chessboard's intricate labyrinth. Her journey intertwines with a night out with her Russian club friends, where a phone call to Alma, innocently arranging an overnight stay, inadvertently ushers in Beth's maiden sexual encounter—a fleeting moment that fails to etch itself into her memory.
Awakening to an eerily silent room, Beth discovers her companions have fled to Cincinnati for a cinematic escape, leaving her to embark on a solitary expedition. She indulges in alcohol and a cigarette left behind, her mind wandering as she reaches out to Alma, vowing amidst the alcoholic haze that her nocturnal escapades would not yield the burden of pregnancy.
Months melt into days as Beth graduates from high school, her achievements adorned with Alma's thoughtful gift—a bracelet etched with "To Beth, Love Mother." As they sit in contemplative silence, plans for Beth's journey to Mexico unfold, with Alma surprisingly revealing her intention to accompany her daughter. On the flight, Alma's ulterior motive is unveiled: a reunion with Manuel, a long-distance friend awaiting them at the Mexico City airport.
Throughout their odyssey, Alma serves as a guiding star, yet her counsel is laced with a mischievous undertone, echoing Mr. Shaibel's wisdom, who once delved into the depths of Beth's chess mastery and the turbulent waters within her soul. She urges Beth to temper her relentless study with relaxation, preparing her mind for the pivotal match ahead.
Beth's chess prowess, a beacon of brilliance, is shadowed by a fathomless well of anger, fueled by the tragedies of her parents' fate and the recurrent desertion by potential father figures. On the day of her defining game, Beth's winning streak persists, but beneath the surface, her anger simmers, manifesting in haunting visions of herself submerged in water, a metaphor for the emotional turmoil she battles within.
As Alma and Manuel forge a deeper connection, Beth's inner turmoil threatens to engulf her, the narrative intricately weaving her chess triumphs with those haunting underwater images, portraying a young woman grappling with her past and forging ahead amidst a tempest of emotions, determined to emerge victorious.
Water, the eternal emblem of human emotions, acts as a poignant metaphor for Beth's seemingly boundless ocean of anger, engulfing her in its depths. This visual allegory showcases the show's remarkable aesthetic prowess, weaving a vibrant narrative tapestry.
As the tournament unfolds, Alma's gaze locks onto Borgov as he strides by, a figure of intrigue amidst the fray. Yet, Beth's focus is unwavering, fixed like a laser on a more formidable foe: the youthful Gregiv. Their epic encounter stretches for five relentless hours, suspending the day until dawn, where idle chatter about drive-ins fails to quench Beth's insatiable hunger for triumph. The next day, she emerges victorious, her secret weapon a subtle arsenal of distractions—Beltik's drowsy yawns, hair flips as subtle as whispers—leaving Gregiv to rue his missteps in the aftermath.
In the aftermath of their clash, Beth and Gregiv share aspirations, the latter's dreams of chess glory shimmering on the horizon. Beth concedes gracefully, acknowledging Gregiv as her fiercest challenge yet, only to be jolted by a whispered prophecy: "Until you play Borgov." With those haunting words, our chess prodigy disappears into the shadows, leaving a sense of anticipation in the air.
Meanwhile, Alma's story echoes with a melancholic familiarity as Manuel departs for work, leaving her once again in the solitude of her thoughts. Yet, solace finds her amidst the piano's keys, captivating an audience with her music, though these fleeting moments are overshadowed by Borgov's whispers in the elevator, dissecting Beth's relentless quest for victory, a drive mirrored in him but driven by vastly disparate motives.
Fortunately, Matt and Mike fill in the gaps, painting a vivid portrait of these formidable opponents. And then, the clash of titans commences. Borgov, the Master of the Sicilian, unveils his intricate game plan, and a strategic dance ensues, each move a precise strike against the other's defenses. In this mental chess match, Alma's absence is palpable, a weight that hangs heavy in the air.
Beth channels her rage into her game, but it proves to be a drop in the ocean against Borgov's mastery. She surrenders, haunted by the specter of Mr. Shaibel, and retreats to break the news to her mother. Only to find that Alma's silence speaks volumes; she is gone, her life extinguished by the tragic grip of hepatitis. The hotel, in its own compassionate way, offers to settle the exorbitant liquor bill and notify Allston in Denver, but his response brings Beth back to the solitude that has become her constant companion.
