Just finished The Queen's gambit on Netflix

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it okay for a 14 year old?

No

No. Makes light of drug use. It seems for most of the story that her success is somewhat tied to it. Not a great lesson for a teen.

We are watching it with our tweens and using it as a teaching moment. Showing how despite any initial feelings of success from drugs or alcohol it can oh so easily spiral out of control.

In the end, her victory is conquering her dependencies and embracing the help of others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^ Agreed. We can certainly all have different opinions but it is very peculiar how the one poster is extremely argumentative and offended by the idea of Beth being on the spectrum.

There are multiple people posting, not just one.

As for myself, I’m not offended at all. It’s just that her “quirks” can easily be explained by her experiences & drugs. No need to add to it.

How is it “argumentative and defensive” when I share my opinion, but not when you share yours?

No, it's just you. And you are becoming far more interesting that the fictional character. Continue to post!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it okay for a 14 year old?

No

No. Makes light of drug use. It seems for most of the story that her success is somewhat tied to it. Not a great lesson for a teen.

We are watching it with our tweens and using it as a teaching moment. Showing how despite any initial feelings of success from drugs or alcohol it can oh so easily spiral out of control.

In the end, her victory is conquering her dependencies and embracing the help of others.

But that is not how drug and alcohol dependencies often work out. Kicking the habit is quite difficult for most and is a life long challenge. She seemed to flip switch and be done with it all. I would be concerned that the story does not show the effort that would require of most. I guess a mature teen could handle it. Mine are still a little too young.

[Anonymous]

I think the story of her drug use / quitting drugs is the weakest part of the whole story. No one kicks a life long habit that easily. I object when former addicts come to schools and say how proud they are of their sobriety when in fact most addicts NEVER get sober.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^ Agreed. We can certainly all have different opinions but it is very peculiar how the one poster is extremely argumentative and offended by the idea of Beth being on the spectrum.

There are multiple people posting, not just one.

As for myself, I’m not offended at all. It’s just that her “quirks” can easily be explained by her experiences & drugs. No need to add to it.

How is it “argumentative and defensive” when I share my opinion, but not when you share yours?

No, it's just you. And you are becoming far more interesting that the fictional character. Continue to post!

Funny how you still can't answer how is it “argumentative and defensive” when I share my opinion, but not when you share yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^ Agreed. We can certainly all have different opinions but it is very peculiar how the one poster is extremely argumentative and offended by the idea of Beth being on the spectrum.

There are multiple people posting, not just one.

As for myself, I’m not offended at all. It’s just that her “quirks” can easily be explained by her experiences & drugs. No need to add to it.

How is it “argumentative and defensive” when I share my opinion, but not when you share yours?

No, it's just you. And you are becoming far more interesting that the fictional character. Continue to post!

Different poster, no there is more than one person who thinks the trauma and drugs are the biggest contributor to Beth’s mannerisms.

[Anonymous]

I've just started reading the book, having watched the Netflix show. It is different in a lot of ways.

Jolene molests Beth when they are 12 and 8 years old. She is also having a relationship with Ferguson, the guy who dishes out the drugs.

It is quite a different book. There is nothing about autism, unless you look at the description of Mr. Shiebal. He definitely reads as very much on the spectrum, but Beth, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've just started reading the book, having watched the Netflix show. It is different in a lot of ways.

Jolene molests Beth when they are 12 and 8 years old. She is also having a relationship with Ferguson, the guy who dishes out the drugs.

It is quite a different book. There is nothing about autism, unless you look at the description of Mr. Shiebal. He definitely reads as very much on the spectrum, but Beth, no.

I read the book years ago so am going off memory.

I remember very well what you mention, but overall my impression is that the series is consistent with the spirit of the book. That said, the author definitely didn’t give a half second’s thought to Beth on the spectrum. She was a once in a generation (or more) genius who also came from trauma.

[Anonymous]

Did Cleo and Beth have a tryst??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've just started reading the book, having watched the Netflix show. It is different in a lot of ways.

Jolene molests Beth when they are 12 and 8 years old. She is also having a relationship with Ferguson, the guy who dishes out the drugs.

It is quite a different book. There is nothing about autism, unless you look at the description of Mr. Shiebal. He definitely reads as very much on the spectrum, but Beth, no.

I read the book years ago so am going off memory.

I remember very well what you mention, but overall my impression is that the series is consistent with the spirit of the book. That said, the author definitely didn’t give a half second’s thought to Beth on the spectrum. She was a once in a generation (or more) genius who also came from trauma.

The show has obviously been changed from the original book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did Cleo and Beth have a tryst??

It’s unclear. We see Beth wake up (fully clothed) in the bathtub, while Cleo is asleep in the bed. I think it’s implied they hooked up after getting wasted together, but not definitively spelled out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just saw episode one last night and it seemed clear that she is on the spectrum. Is it even possible she's not?

She was a traumatized child. She grew up with an absent father and a mentally ill mother. Then her mother kills herself right before her eyes (and almost kills her). These are deeply traumatizing things. Some kids completely withdraw and even become mute after such events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just saw episode one last night and it seemed clear that she is on the spectrum. Is it even possible she's not?

She was a traumatized child. She grew up with an absent father and a mentally ill mother. Then her mother kills herself right before her eyes (and almost kills her). These are deeply traumatizing things. Some kids completely withdraw and even become mute after such events.

Meh. She can be both. She has specific traits just like people on the spectrum. It's hard to overlook that even given the circumstances of her life. Whether or not it gets a label its obvious mental health issues are a key component of her character. There may be comorbidities, or maybe not. It seems like its splitting hairs whether is trauma, ASD, anxiety, depression or some combination explaining why she is the way she is.

[Anonymous]

NP here: Why is is important (or not important) that she is (or is not) on the spectrum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've just started reading the book, having watched the Netflix show. It is different in a lot of ways.

Jolene molests Beth when they are 12 and 8 years old. She is also having a relationship with Ferguson, the guy who dishes out the drugs.

It is quite a different book. There is nothing about autism, unless you look at the description of Mr. Shiebal. He definitely reads as very much on the spectrum, but Beth, no.

I read the book years ago so am going off memory.

I remember very well what you mention, but overall my impression is that the series is consistent with the spirit of the book. That said, the author definitely didn’t give a half second’s thought to Beth on the spectrum. She was a once in a generation (or more) genius who also came from trauma.

I agree. And that was my opinion before I read the book. I suspect some folks who are hung up on the Autism theory just haven't met that many people who don't conform to their standards of "normality" without some super complicated diagnosis.