This was my first time watching “The Queen’s Gambit”. I wanted to read the book before watching the show, but that didn’t happen. After watching during the event, I started reading the book and, of course, there are differences between the book and what the show portrays. I will try not to get into too much detail because the book is quite explicit, but Beth endures much more than is shown in the show. Jolene plays a much more sinister role in the book. She is a significant cause of suffering for Beth as she s*xually assaults and bullies her. I think that the show chose to omit this part of the storyline because it is a huge trigger (and rightfully, unfortunately so) for several people (Jolene and Beth become friends again a bit after, but a child can never forget a scarring experience like that). However, in the book, it is one of the pushes that causes Beth to become who she becomes. Chess is her escape from all the tension she feels in her life. 

This sort of makes me wonder about people who are truly remarkable, like Beth. Sometimes, people are born remarkable. Others are forced into it through their experiences, positive or negative, like how villains are born. I haven’t watched or read enough of The Queen’s Gambit to know if Beth’s experiences cause her to take a dark, evil turn (besides her substance addictions). As I continue to discover more of the storyline, I’m curious to see how Beth’s life will continue to shape her relationship with chess and her character.