It’s called “show business” because, in producing a TV show or movie, artistic decisions must made with an eye to making a profit. A story about a chess player involving lengthy scenes of chess tournaments is a hard sell. Most people wouldn’t watch Queen’s Gambit if the producers hadn’t sweetened the pot. So we get a beautiful, brilliant, yet troubled young woman who wears fabulous clothes. It’s a fantasy that succeeds in large part because most of the audience has no idea what the reality is. Those who know better have a hard time with the concessions made to those who don’t. In the same way, my extensive reading of history and meticulously researched historical fiction made it impossible for me to enjoy Bridgerton. The color-blind casting, coupled with the lack of classical training among the cast members, made the performances hard for me to accept because I can’t easily suspend my disbelief. Other details like the costuming and direction made it painful for me to watch. But to paraphrase Rocky Horror’s Dr. Frankenfurter, they didn’t make it for me. They made it for people who don’t know any better, which is almost everyone else. They didn’t make Queen’s Gambit for chess experts either.