Snowflake #5 and 6 (The Queen's Gambit)

[nrgburst]

Challenge #5

In your own space, promote a canon/talk about a part of canon that you love.


x

That's it. That's the show. XD

Okay, okay, maybe this is a better visual representation of Beth's journey/central conflict throughout the series:

x

The main character, Beth Harmon, is a chess prodigy-- and she's also an orphan who struggles with drug addiction and alcoholism. This story was apparently inspired by the dramatic ups and downs of Bobby Fischer's life as well as the original book author's (Walter Tevis) own struggle with drug addiction. He went with a female protagonist to set her even further apart from her peers- chess was (and still is) mostly a game played by men. So one of the defining traits of Beth's journey is how alone she is: it's both something she doesn't mind --she can just play chess in her head; she likes being the best-- and yet still troubles her when she's feeling abandoned and friendless. What makes this show shine is how it explores her imperfect relationships, from her family to ones she forges with her opponents, as well as beautifully showing her passion for chess. Probably the most surprising thing is how grippingly tense the matches are even if you only know a few chess rules/pieces- the acting and soundtrack are top notch. And the whole thing is gorgeously shot with fine attention to period details, casting (Benny Watts is supposed to look oddly young for his age and they cast Thomas Brodie Sangster, who looks perennially 17), and meta reasons behind the costumes and cinematography and even how they structured the show into 7 episodes, to represent the number of squares a pawn must advance on a chess board to be promoted to queen! Like... this show is perfection. And can I also mention that there is The Perfect Rivals-to-Lovers arc? One that they underscore by constantly dressing Benny in black and Beth in white, so that they represent the chess pieces. (All that talk about this show making chess sexy has to do with the tension between them when they repeatedly humiliate each other playing speed chess.) 


I've been so inspired by this canon that I've written a couple of fics (Check and Mate and An Exchange of Kings) and made GIFsets and edits on tumblr. The fandom is still pretty small, but we love newcomers! Join us stanning a um, Chess Cowboy/Pirate and an Actual Queen. :DDD



Challenge #6

In your own space, rec at least three fanworks that you didn’t create.

I'm running with The Queen's Gambit theme for this challenge!


Fic:

My Head is My Only House Unless it Rains (2979 words) by runningscissors
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Queen's Gambit (TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Beth Harmon/Benny Watts, Harry Beltik & Beth Harmon
Characters: Benny Watts, Beth Harmon, Harry Beltik
Additional Tags: Canon Compliant, Family Issues, Character Study, Introspection, References to Addiction, Mild Sexual Content
Summary: "It isn’t until rumblings of a fifteen-year-old girl from Kentucky start swirling around the U.S. circuit, does he realize how tenuous his hold on it all is. You’re only the best until you’re not, and Benny’s been the best for so long, he doesn’t know what comes next."

This is such a great Benny POV one-shot. Awesome characterization.


A Tale of Two Cities (2583 words) by profangirlintoomanyfandoms
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Queen's Gambit (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Beth Harmon/Benny Watts
Characters: Beth Harmon, Benny Watts, Harry Beltik, Arthur Levertov, Original Male Character(s)
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Post-Canon Fix-It
Summary: Right place, wrong time. Right time, wrong place. Maybe third time's the charm.

I loved how this flipped between Beth and Benny's POV, and its sense of realism, as well as a thoughtful resolution that suited the tone of the show, IMO.


Fanart:

Digital renders of Beth Harmon

Gorgeous painting of Beth

Beth through time- a series of paintings

There are a tonne more linked in the B2/Checkmates discord- let me know if you'd like an invite! I tend to use tumblr and not twitter/reddit, but other users link lots of amazing art all the time.


GIFsets/photo edits:

Pawn, Knight, Queen
three crystal clear, vibrantly colored GIFs showing Beth's stages of evolution as a player

"Beth sees things the same way I do."
the blending/merging on these gifs is so well done!

Let's play
very pretty pink colouring

The US Championship National Chess Tournament, Ohio 1967
love how this imitates the montage style in the 5th ep

Comments

[spikedluv]

Loved the artwork and GIFsets!

NGL, on first look, I was like, this show about chess isn't my 'thing', but you've made it sound quite interesting. (Thinking like that always reminds me of the time my brother and I went to see 'Backdraft' and I found out later that he hadn't really wanted to go, thinking, 'what kind of movie can they make about firemen?' And he ended up enjoying it. So there's a moral there, I think, that I need to heed myself. *g*)

[nrgburst]

People are sooo talented! Some of the most amazing artwork is from the Chinese and Japanese fans on twitter though, and I don't know how to link those! :(

I didn't think it would be my thing either! Like you know that James Bond movie Casino Royale? The game scenes were such a snoozefest- I was like, what did I expect. It's a card game I don't know. These are the complete opposite- you can feel the tension, see the cunning strikes coming on their faces and just how bewildered the other player is to be ambushed, even if you have no idea what they did with the pieces.

[wheatear]

Truly a delightful show. One of my favourites of 2020.

[nrgburst]

I love it soooo much! <3

[lynnenne]

Same! I loved it.

[nrgburst]

:DDD

[libbi]

Thank you for sharing all of the beautiful fanart that is made for this show. I have seen the first episode and will probably finish the series... someday. (I take forever to watch shows anymore!). I also feel like I should know a bit more about chess to watch it, which has been my goal for a while. But a Rivals to Lovers plot! Be still my heart.

[nrgburst]

Oh, my pleasure! People are really talented! it's really just the tip of the iceberg to what's out there. :D And you don't need to know chess to enjoy the show, IMO! Although they did get real chess masters there to consult and show the actors how to move the pieces convincingly, with styles reminiscent of actual players, and the gameplay is often taken from famous games, apparently- they paid a lot of attention to detail.

The Rivals to Lovers is great, but just to spoil you: the show leaves the ending up in the air as to whether they end up together. But the glaring daggers and bitter competitiveness! The baiting and smirking! The eventual realization that they think so much alike! <33333