The Queens Gambit

[Destinysdaughter]

Has anyone seen this? It was a brilliant piece of filmmaking and had me in bits at the end. But, what was striking about it for me was firstly, there was no sexual abuse in it. So, the scenes where she played chess in the basement, I expected the old janitor to have sexual designs on her. But he didn't. And then, when she was adopted, I expected the husband to be sexually abusive towards her, but he wasn't.

And then, when she kept on winning against men after men, she experienced no misogyny, just respect and support

And although that was so lovely and refreshing to see, part of me thought, no that would never happen in the real world!

Maybe I've just become too cynical and too expectant of sexism and misogyny but I found it a bit idealistic in terms of what a young, attractive woman would have experienced in that world?

@MrsTwitcher

I am watching and loving it, was tranquillising childrens in orphanages common in those days?

In the US (and Canada, I believe), sadly, yes. It's no longer a matter of routine in the same way, and orphanages like those don't really exist in the same way but even today, children in care in the US are far more likely to be given anti-psychotics than children who aren't in care but present with the same symptoms.

@dotdotdot3 wow ok I'm sold, much more complicated themes than I expected. Scott Frank seems very open about his writing process so I hope to read more of how he worked through the original text. The scifi robot book is also up my alley. Thanks

I loved it, and for exactly the same reasons others have stated. The men largely turning out to be supportive rather than bastards. And the adoptive mother who turns out to be a wonderful parent and friend, despite her own issues. So refreshing, and very moving.

@dotdotdot3 thanks that was really interesting.

Apparently the new tv series of Brave New World was very similar in theme (especially the ending) to Mockingbird. Did you see that?

Sorry for derailing the thread hope no one minds (although it's nowhere near as derailed as that Vaseline on face/vicks on feet/human combustion thread the other day so maybe I can be forgiven!)

Just listened to a woman chess champion being interviewed about the film. She said that the chess circuit is very macho.

In 'Wild' there is an ominous scene where she has to wait for her water to clear and 2 guys do the same, I was so nervous for her as they seemed so threatening.

I've just finished this on Netflix.
I LOVED it.
Fascinating topic, beautifully shot (locations and clothes).
Thank you for comparing it to the book (title?) @dotdotdot3
I'd like to read that now too.

What i liked most I think is that it didn't go where I thought it might most obviously go. None of the men abused her. The adoptive Mother became kind over time and began to treat her as an equal.
The stepfather was predictable and it did have it's dark moments.
But it was also very thoughtful (see Beth's return to the Orphanage) and the way her reunion with Jolene (fab character) was handled.

I wish there was a 2nd series...

Has anyone read the book? I feel like there was a lot more to the step parents' relationship and that it was probably quite dark.

I expected the SM to turn out abusive/exploitative but that didn't seem to happen either.

Oops, sorry that'll teach me for skimming the thread.

Just finished watching this. A really unusual and fascinating watch. Beth is an unpredictable character, not typical at all in many ways. Refreshingly unconventional.
Haven't read the book.

Oh god, yes - I thought exactly this.

A feeling of dread with every new male character

• the male nurse giving her tranquilizers and the friend advising her she'll need them at night
• the janitor in the basement
• the friend who gave her a doll
• the adoptive father looking at her in the car mirror

What does this say about how girls and women are usually portrayed in TV dramas?

@CousinKrispy

I was thinking the same thing about the series, OP. It makes me wonder how often the violence we see inflicted on women in most dramas is truly necessary for the story, and how often it's actually fetishizing the victimisation of women.

And the CLOTHES!

Yes - I really think that a lot of TV/movies made by men actually put things in there because they want to see it happen. If it isn't essential to the plot, then the ONLY reason to include rape/abuse is to remind women of their vulnerability and to gloat in it.

I stopped watching Shetland after a female police officer was raped, and it was used to show how sympathetic and supportive the detective was. It felt very much like it was her own stupid fault for daring to have a job and leave the house by herself.

@52andblue

I've just finished this on Netflix. I LOVED it. Fascinating topic, beautifully shot (locations and clothes). Thank you for comparing it to the book (title?) *@dotdotdot3* I'd like to read that now too.

What i liked most I think is that it didn't go where I thought it might most obviously go. None of the men abused her. The adoptive Mother became kind over time and began to treat her as an equal.
The stepfather was predictable and it did have it's dark moments.
But it was also very thoughtful (see Beth's return to the Orphanage) and the way her reunion with Jolene (fab character) was handled.

I wish there was a 2nd series...

The book's title is The Queen's Gambit, author Walter Tevis.

I think the huge thing about the story (tv and book) is that everyone is basically decent, but also flawed. I love this about the story too!

I've been wondering about a second series, which to be honest I hope they DON'T do. I think it would be really difficult to find a writer to do justice to the project, and because the openings for a second series which they seem to have made, might take them in the (very tired) direction of 'ex-chess vamp takes on double agent role in Cold War action drama', with a bit of Jolene's story thrown in as a nod to the book's original complexity. Please...no. The whole point of QG is that it champions seriousness over typical femininity. If it goes all glossy and over-styled they'll destroy its value.

Really well observed OP, and yes, I nearly stopped watching at episode one because I didn't want to see anymore - girl having a really shit time. (DH gave up watching too).

I loved it - especially the last episode. I'm still grinning about it.

[quote ParadiseLaundry]@dotdotdot3 thanks that was really interesting.

Apparently the new tv series of Brave New World was very similar in theme (especially the ending) to Mockingbird. Did you see that?

Sorry for derailing the thread hope no one minds (although it's nowhere near as derailed as that Vaseline on face/vicks on feet/human combustion thread the other day so maybe I can be forgiven!)[/quote]
I haven't watched it - thanks for the heads-up!

I've only watched 2 episodes, but I like that the people at the orphanage aren't wicked/evil. They're trying to do a good job, but it's still a pretty shitty life for the kids. Thankfully, there's no stereotype of evil women running an orphanage for their own gain/power. These are 'normal' people trying to run a service for the state and the children.

Yes agree. And also found it refreshing that she was so kind to her mother. Her mother asked for a % and she offered more back. That really struck me. What an amazing uncliched show.

And great for all those gorgeous gifted red heads out there

And also found it refreshing that she was so kind to her mother.

Same! And that the mother wasn't just a archetypal bored drunk/pill popper, she was a woman whose life had been stymied by patriarchy: someone who had to smother her talent and her passions to get by.

Gosh it does make you realise how we are so used to all the cliches

I've just started watching this so I've scrolled through the comments.
I was surprised that they had open transwomen in girls schools/orphanages in those days especially the hair cutting scene especially when it was stated that she needed a female chaperone to go to the High school. That part didn't seem to fit historically.

Yes - I really think that a lot of TV/movies made by men actually put things in there because they want to see it happen. If it isn't essential to the plot, then the ONLY reason to include rape/abuse is to remind women of their vulnerability and to gloat in it.

FWR really is full of fascinating insights. Who knew !

@Astraturf, I'm not sure we were meant to think that the music teacher/organist in the orphanage was a transwoman. It might just have been an attempt to cast by gender rather than sex. I found it a touch distracting, as I wasn't sure if I was meant to have spotted this, but I knew that actor was trans at first sight, and that was confirmed by listening to the dialogue. However, I've seen someone commenting that her husband didn't spot it at all. This seems to be a common divide between the sexes. From an evolutionary point of view, it has to be more important for women to know who's male, maybe.

Separately, it did surprise me that an orphanage for girls had a male staff member doling out the pills. There would have been no shortage of women willing and able to do that work. Was that in the book?

I really enjoyed the series. I felt kind of disappointed that such a stunningly beautiful actress has been chosen for the role. It wasn't enough that the character was a genius that could beat all the (plain looking) men, she had to be incredibly beautiful too?

For this reason, it reminded me of the male fantasy manic pixie dream girl trope.

@TotorosFurryBehind ah I disagree with you there. She was indeed beautiful but by no means conventionally so.

I loved this series and thought exactly the same as you OP with the janitor and the adoptive dad.