Just finished The Queen's gambit on Netflix

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Super complicated? It's a spectrum disorder that explains a wide range of quirks and differences. Beth was a quirky person who acted very differently than her peers. It's not a huge leap of logic to wonder if she was considered on the spectrum. But that's insulting to a few people on here apparently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Super complicated? It's a spectrum disorder that explains a wide range of quirks and differences. Beth was a quirky person who acted very differently than her peers. It's not a huge leap of logic to wonder if she was considered on the spectrum. But that's insulting to a few people on here apparently.

Who do you consider her "peers" though? None of the other people in the show had anything close to her set of experiences. I don't think there was anything typical at all about her environment - or talent. The Russians even called out her defining characteristic - she was an orphan.

People aren't "insulted" - they just don't agree with you. Why is that so hard for you to grasp?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Super complicated? It's a spectrum disorder that explains a wide range of quirks and differences. Beth was a quirky person who acted very differently than her peers. It's not a huge leap of logic to wonder if she was considered on the spectrum. But that's insulting to a few people on here apparently.

Who do you consider her "peers" though? None of the other people in the show had anything close to her set of experiences. I don't think there was anything typical at all about her environment - or talent. The Russians even called out her defining characteristic - she was an orphan.

People aren't "insulted" - they just don't agree with you. Why is that so hard for you to grasp?

People who just say "no" and insist its trauma only haven't offered up anything compelling to back up the assertion. People talking about autism are providing links from people who recognize Beth's mannerisms and personality which make a lot of sense and see well thought out. I don't agree with the trauma is the only explanation because the people saying it aren't offering any insights or other evidence of people similar to Beth who suffered trauma and had very similar quirks and differences. So, frankly, you aren't making a very convincing case for your opinion so I don't take you very seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Super complicated? It's a spectrum disorder that explains a wide range of quirks and differences. Beth was a quirky person who acted very differently than her peers. It's not a huge leap of logic to wonder if she was considered on the spectrum. But that's insulting to a few people on here apparently.

The book was written in 1940 when Autism was barely a concept on the psychiatry agenda. The writer of the book died in 1983 when that was still the case. The "spectrum" has been extended so much in recent years - this past decade - that it incorporates many, many people who would simply have been considered eccentric or unusual in those times.

End of subject.

[Anonymous]

Not much to add to this thread that hasn't already been said, but I love this show and the buzz it's getting. Despite the niche subject, it has a HUGE range of watchers. I know tons of HS and college kids (men and women alike) who are loving it, and then on the flip side, my elderly parents and their friends are all watching it, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Super complicated? It's a spectrum disorder that explains a wide range of quirks and differences. Beth was a quirky person who acted very differently than her peers. It's not a huge leap of logic to wonder if she was considered on the spectrum. But that's insulting to a few people on here apparently.

Who do you consider her "peers" though? None of the other people in the show had anything close to her set of experiences. I don't think there was anything typical at all about her environment - or talent. The Russians even called out her defining characteristic - she was an orphan.

People aren't "insulted" - they just don't agree with you. Why is that so hard for you to grasp?

People who just say "no" and insist its trauma only haven't offered up anything compelling to back up the assertion. People talking about autism are providing links from people who recognize Beth's mannerisms and personality which make a lot of sense and see well thought out. I don't agree with the trauma is the only explanation because the people saying it aren't offering any insights or other evidence of people similar to Beth who suffered trauma and had very similar quirks and differences. So, frankly, you aren't making a very convincing case for your opinion so I don't take you very seriously.

It's difficult to "prove" a negative.

But how about this post from earlier....the opinion of the screenwriter and actress who discuss her background, *not* some underlying difference:
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/270/922168.page#18632844

Since you are dwelling seriously on this topic, how much do you think confirmation bias may be affecting opinions here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Super complicated? It's a spectrum disorder that explains a wide range of quirks and differences. Beth was a quirky person who acted very differently than her peers. It's not a huge leap of logic to wonder if she was considered on the spectrum. But that's insulting to a few people on here apparently.

The book was written in 1940 when Autism was barely a concept on the psychiatry agenda. The writer of the book died in 1983 when that was still the case. The "spectrum" has been extended so much in recent years - this past decade - that it incorporates many, many people who would simply have been considered eccentric or unusual in those times.

End of subject.

The book is obviously different than the series. What I would be interested in hearing more about is the director or actress take on the character development. They made deliberate choices to portray Beth a certain way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Super complicated? It's a spectrum disorder that explains a wide range of quirks and differences. Beth was a quirky person who acted very differently than her peers. It's not a huge leap of logic to wonder if she was considered on the spectrum. But that's insulting to a few people on here apparently.

The book was written in 1940 when Autism was barely a concept on the psychiatry agenda. The writer of the book died in 1983 when that was still the case. The "spectrum" has been extended so much in recent years - this past decade - that it incorporates many, many people who would simply have been considered eccentric or unusual in those times.

End of subject.

The book is obviously different than the series. What I would be interested in hearing more about is the director or actress take on the character development. They made deliberate choices to portray Beth a certain way.

no, the writers who adapted it would have the most to say - everything is in the words and stage directions - the director is just the puppet master and the actors the puppets. seriously, writers are so overlooked, but without them you'd have nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Super complicated? It's a spectrum disorder that explains a wide range of quirks and differences. Beth was a quirky person who acted very differently than her peers. It's not a huge leap of logic to wonder if she was considered on the spectrum. But that's insulting to a few people on here apparently.

Who do you consider her "peers" though? None of the other people in the show had anything close to her set of experiences. I don't think there was anything typical at all about her environment - or talent. The Russians even called out her defining characteristic - she was an orphan.

People aren't "insulted" - they just don't agree with you. Why is that so hard for you to grasp?

People who just say "no" and insist its trauma only haven't offered up anything compelling to back up the assertion. People talking about autism are providing links from people who recognize Beth's mannerisms and personality which make a lot of sense and see well thought out. I don't agree with the trauma is the only explanation because the people saying it aren't offering any insights or other evidence of people similar to Beth who suffered trauma and had very similar quirks and differences. So, frankly, you aren't making a very convincing case for your opinion so I don't take you very seriously.

It's difficult to "prove" a negative.

But how about this post from earlier....the opinion of the screenwriter and actress who discuss her background, *not* some underlying difference:
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/270/922168.page#18632844

Since you are dwelling seriously on this topic, how much do you think confirmation bias may be affecting opinions here?

I'm just one of the people weighing in here, multiple people are saying the same thing. Beth is an interesting character. Hence the discussion and the popularity of the series. Deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Super complicated? It's a spectrum disorder that explains a wide range of quirks and differences. Beth was a quirky person who acted very differently than her peers. It's not a huge leap of logic to wonder if she was considered on the spectrum. But that's insulting to a few people on here apparently.

The book was written in 1940 when Autism was barely a concept on the psychiatry agenda. The writer of the book died in 1983 when that was still the case. The "spectrum" has been extended so much in recent years - this past decade - that it incorporates many, many people who would simply have been considered eccentric or unusual in those times.

End of subject.

The book is obviously different than the series. What I would be interested in hearing more about is the director or actress take on the character development. They made deliberate choices to portray Beth a certain way.

They briefly touched on in during the interview posted here:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/270/922168.page#18632844

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Super complicated? It's a spectrum disorder that explains a wide range of quirks and differences. Beth was a quirky person who acted very differently than her peers. It's not a huge leap of logic to wonder if she was considered on the spectrum. But that's insulting to a few people on here apparently.

The book was written in 1940 when Autism was barely a concept on the psychiatry agenda. The writer of the book died in 1983 when that was still the case. The "spectrum" has been extended so much in recent years - this past decade - that it incorporates many, many people who would simply have been considered eccentric or unusual in those times.

End of subject.

The book is obviously different than the series. What I would be interested in hearing more about is the director or actress take on the character development. They made deliberate choices to portray Beth a certain way.

no, the writers who adapted it would have the most to say - everything is in the words and stage directions - the director is just the puppet master and the actors the puppets. seriously, writers are so overlooked, but without them you'd have nothing.

I believe the screen adaptor/creator was also the director: Scott Frank
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10048342/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ql_1

https://ew.com/tv/the-queens-gambit-netflix-scott-frank-interview/
“The very first script I ever wrote was [the 1991 film] Little Man Tate, and originally I wanted it to be about the cost of genius, and I didn't quite get there with it,” says Frank, who also penned such films as Out of Sight and Minority Report, and wrote and directed every episode of The Queen’s Gambit. “I was too young, and I didn't quite understand what I was writing about. And when I read [The Queen’s Gambit] I thought, ‘This is a much better way to tell that story.’ This notion that she's both the protagonist and antagonist in her story, I thought, was really, really interesting, and chess was actually the perfect vehicle to tell this, [with] a chess genius.”



The actress commenting on Beth:
https://ew.com/tv/the-queens-gambit-preview-anya-taylor-joy-netflix/
“To borrow a 2020 phrase, I felt very seen by Beth,” the actress says. “We're very different in a lot of ways, but at our core, we've struggled with a lot of the same things, and one of them [is] being inherently lonely. I think some people just have that thing where they're like, ‘I am separate,’ and it takes finding a place where you feel that you're not separate for you to understand that. So for me it was my art, for Beth it's chess.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Super complicated? It's a spectrum disorder that explains a wide range of quirks and differences. Beth was a quirky person who acted very differently than her peers. It's not a huge leap of logic to wonder if she was considered on the spectrum. But that's insulting to a few people on here apparently.

This x 100

[Anonymous]

What bothers me is when one can't attribute genius to a "normal" person, there's often an explanation that points to a "disorder".

In my opinion, extreme success requires obsession, whether it be in chess, art, or athleticism - whatever. What gets a person to that point is usually interesting; I loved Beth's story.

[Anonymous]

Did anyone else feel like the first episodes were good, but it kind of lost steam and dragged out toward the end? Parts of the last two episodes felt like filller (or repeat of the same themes as previous, with not much new).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What bothers me is when one can't attribute genius to a "normal" person, there's often an explanation that points to a "disorder".

In my opinion, extreme success requires obsession, whether it be in chess, art, or athleticism - whatever. What gets a person to that point is usually interesting; I loved Beth's story.

It's not the genius its the other things that have been said in here again and again. Someone upthread listed like 7 examples of the social interactions which have nothing to do with the genius aspect. I'm sure there are plenty of genius people who don't struggle as much socially, but Beth was not one of those characters. Everyone agrees that she had a traumatic past but it just doesn't easily explain away all the other instances people have cited here. The bizarre instance that it definitely and cannot be autism is very odd here.