Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ I definitely thought she was.

I’m not sure, but didn’t Cleo come down to watch the match and snidely sat next to Borgov’s wife and child and then smirked?

I don't exactly recall, I would have to watch again, but I DEFINITELY thought Cleo she was a KGB agent. She was way too flighty with no real job and tight with that whole group, seemingly having come out of nowhere with no connection to the chess world at all. I 100% agree it was a setup for Beth, who I think was naive and kind of craving female friendship or an ally in a male-dominated sphere.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did she sleep with the model? It wasn't clear. I wasn't sure if it was just to show how she had no ties or obligations (related to why she likely elected to stay in Russia) or to show she was reckless in her decisions (not because she was with a woman, but because it was the night before a big tournament and she failed to study and stay sober as she'd wanted to do) or just because. It didn't just show her waking up with a man or alone after a binge night...just curious.

Whether they had sex is debatable. Yes she slept with her in bed but we don't know what happened. But...this actually opens up a much more interesting question:

Was Cleo a KGB asset?

She met Benny while he was playing against Borgov but is no longer really interested in him. She pops up and appears all over the place on a whim. She magically re-enters Beth's life just before the match in Paris, and trashes things. The KGB would certainly have been involved in those sort of things in the 1960s.

I think Cleo was definitely a KGB asset. And Townes too. Cleo asked Beth if she ever loved a guy, and Beth told her Townes, but that it was unrequited. Cleo must have told KGB this. For the tournament in Moscow, Townes shows up and Beth was surprised he was able to get a visa. He tells Beth that the Russians got him the visa. Luckily for Beth, Townes cared for her as a friend and helped Beth instead of sabotaging her like Cleo did.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I loved how in the end it was a black woman that "saved" her.

I was cringing at this trope. The Magical African American Friend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_Negro

+1
I was hoping Beth would look up her old friend and help HER out.

Except that’s not reflective of real life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I loved how in the end it was a black woman that "saved" her.

I was cringing at this trope. The Magical African American Friend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_Negro

+1
I was hoping Beth would look up her old friend and help HER out.

Anonymous wrote:I can see why the ending of The Sopranos was so polarising. Some of you want stuff so spelled out and spoon-fed you may as well just read a Wikipedia article telling you what happened and how to interpret it instead of simply watching the show.

+1
Have you ever waded into the This is Us thread? OML, those people nitpick the tiniest details. It literally ALL has to be spelled out for them. I imagine some of them are here too. I can’t imagine watching a movie with such literal people.

Anonymous wrote:I can see why the ending of The Sopranos was so polarising. Some of you want stuff so spelled out and spoon-fed you may as well just read a Wikipedia article telling you what happened and how to interpret it instead of simply watching the show.

Totally agree! Some people here have no imagination or ability to think for themse!ves.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I loved how in the end it was a black woman that "saved" her.

I was cringing at this trope. The Magical African American Friend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_Negro

Interesting. I didn’t see it that way. The friend was successful in her own right- had obviously overcame aging out of the orphanage, was smart, and made something of herself. She was going to be a lawyer- no small feat- and made it clear she wanted to fight for civil rights. She arguably had it more together than the main character. The friend has been following the main character’s very public success and so knew how to get in touch. She didn’t initially show up to help; she showed up because of the funeral. That trajectory seems different than what is described in this article.

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sad she never returned the custodian’s $10.

I think that's the point. All the coulda woulda shoulda, how she was incapable of being emotionally involved with anyone. He saved her yet again after his death when she saw how much he cared about her. Despite the $10.

Anonymous wrote:I loved how in the end it was a black woman that "saved" her.

I was cringing at this trope. The Magical African American Friend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_Negro

I loved how in the end it was a black woman that "saved" her.

I watched it on your recommendation. Thanks! What an interesting looking person (an beautiful) the main actress is. She was perfect for the part.
The adopted mom got on my nerves though.

Anonymous wrote:^^ I definitely thought she was.

I’m not sure, but didn’t Cleo come down to watch the match and snidely sat next to Borgov’s wife and child and then smirked?

I loved beths eyes. Very alien like

^^ I definitely thought she was.

Anonymous wrote:Did she sleep with the model? It wasn't clear. I wasn't sure if it was just to show how she had no ties or obligations (related to why she likely elected to stay in Russia) or to show she was reckless in her decisions (not because she was with a woman, but because it was the night before a big tournament and she failed to study and stay sober as she'd wanted to do) or just because. It didn't just show her waking up with a man or alone after a binge night...just curious.

Whether they had sex is debatable. Yes she slept with her in bed but we don't know what happened. But...this actually opens up a much more interesting question:

Was Cleo a KGB asset?

She met Benny while he was playing against Borgov but is no longer really interested in him. She pops up and appears all over the place on a whim. She magically re-enters Beth's life just before the match in Paris, and trashes things. The KGB would certainly have been involved in those sort of things in the 1960s.