Netflix’s new series begins like an American, Cold War–era Jane Eyre. The Queen’s Gambit, based on Walter Tevis’s 1983 novel of the same title, starts off in an orphanage, where the heroine, Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy), possesses that Brontë combination of chilly anti-sociality and fiery passion. She even has an Abigail of her own, her only friend, Jolene, played expertly by Moses Ingram. Unlike Jane, however, Beth is a prodigious chess player and pill popper, and it is these two talents, rather than, say, a Mr. Rochester type, that chart the course of her life. Out of girlhood, teenage Beth rises in the chess world’s ranks—an achievement for her age and for her gender—in the hopes of becoming an international grand master and outranking the U.S.S.R.’s seemingly unbeatable top player. But as her game strengthens, so does her taste for downers and drinks. While chess may seem dull, director Scott Frank instills each match with an anticipatory edge akin to those of great sports movies—I was shouting at the screen. And beyond the thrills of competition, the show is buoyed up by its large and remarkably strong supporting cast—Marielle Heller, as Beth’s boozy adoptive mother, is particularly captivating. It’s a deep and surprisingly bingeable watch. (Premieres October 23, netflix.com) —Clementine Ford

Imbibing and comfort-eating with alarming frequency? I sympathize. But the whole mess seems much more rarefied when the champagne and gâteaux are served in style. Enter Helle Mardahl, my new favorite purveyor of handblown glassware. Mardahl, who lives and works in Copenhagen, studied at Central Saint Martins, in London, before breaking out with a collection of coupes, candy dishes, vases, and a showstopping cake stand that shows off her use of saturated colors and undulating, organic shapes. Each piece looks even more delicious than whatever it will ultimately contain. As holiday season approaches, you’d be wise to put in an order for the loved ones on your list. But make sure to include a little something for yourself. ($160–$2,620; modaoperandi.com) —Ashley Baker

Here in New York, electric mo-peds have taken over the streets. I suppose I can like them because they are quiet. But there’s something … squishy about them. And, look, I fully admit I’ve never ridden a motorcycle. But this one makes me want to. It’s the kind of bike that makes you think, especially in these times of wanting to really get away, Well, yeah, why the hell couldn’t I do the New York to Tierra del Fuego route? MV Agusta, based outside of Milan, built fewer than 600 of these in the early 1970s, and it’s the design totality that makes it a thing of beauty. Red suede seat? Sky-blue fuel tank? The stripped-down simplicity of the frame? It’s all you need to get up and go. (stuartparrcollection.com) —Michael Hainey

Home-and-design platforms tend to fall into two categories: those that focus on emerging and untested designers, and those that stock big-name brands. &You, founded in Riyadh in 2014, aims to provide both. Selling home fragrance, tableware, lighting, soft furnishings, and more, the store has a price point that starts refreshingly low, at around $15. The products ship worldwide, and the online shop also includes a few exclusives, such as a collaboration with London-based jeweler turned furniture designer Lara Bohinc and a limited-edition set of delicate tusk-colored porcelain plates by Lina Saleh, a Saudi-Italian ceramist. (andyoulifestyle.com) —Bridget Arsenault