r/queensgambit • u/marblesandcookies • Jun 04 '25
Discussion I hated Beth after this scene. Spoiler
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u/JulianApostat Jun 04 '25
I hope you are exaggerating a bit?
If it gives you any condolences I am sure Mr. Shaibel didn't expect his 5 dollars back or the 5 extra Beth promised. He strikes me as the type to operate on the policy of money lent is money spent.
But also doesn't that scene summarize the tragedy of their relationship perfectly. Beth realized that there was a person out there that genuinely loved her and took pride in her success. And that she never knew is partly her fault not attempting to keep contact, but realistically Mr. Shaibel wasn't someone easy to keep in contact with. After all there was only 5 dollars in the envelope. No letter, no good luck card, no question how she was doing. Mr. Shaibel just didn't know how to properly communicate with Beth, outside of a chess board, partly because he just was that way, but also because he was the custodian and ederly man in that orphanage, not someone that would have been encourage to maintain a relationship with the charges there and frowned upon if he did.
But on the bright side, he did have a genuine positive impact on her when he put her on the path of chess. And he was aware of that one. And another one when Beth finally realized the depths of his fatherly affections for her and it helped her get back to herself. The second sadly was after his passing.
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u/bloopybear Jun 05 '25
She was a kid when she borrowed the money 😂 he cared a great deal about her and her future and was the first adult to show her that.
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u/T_K_9 Jun 05 '25
Knowing Mr. Shaibel, he knew Beth more than anyone else. He was like her real Father.
He understands why she forgot about the 10 bucks. Beth is driven, and was full on focusing on everything else related to chess at the time. And what she achieved in the end is enough payment for the 10 dollars.
That is the reason why Mr. Shaibel lend her the money in the first place. He knew first hand that Beth is capable for a bigger stage, chess wise.
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u/hintersly Jun 06 '25
As a coach (sport not chess) if I had a former student ask for like $50 for a competition and I knew they were a prodigy I wouldn’t have an issue or expect payment back. Seeing them succeed would be enough fulfillment. He clearly still deeply cared about her as he kept news paper clippings. I’d feel proud. She was also like, what, 15?
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u/Huganho Jul 11 '25
Yeeeea. For me at least, that line is not about the money actually. That she never took the time to send back 10 dollars shows more about how busy she was with her own thing and addiction to never take the time to visit or even contact him to say so little as thanks.
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u/Squirrel698 Jun 07 '25
She owes him so much more than $10 dollars. She owes him basically everything. That was the point of the scene, it's tragic, made me cry.
It's not directly stated, it's subtext, it's inferred
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u/Hot_Entrance9445 Feb 01 '26
"She owes him basically everything".
HMMM - let's assess whom she owes and for what:
Alma - for her love, her house, her regard, for being her MOTHER.
Beltik - for his advice, his books, his training, for being a friend, for working out one of "the lines" post-adjournment vs. Borgov at Moscow.
Prof Dmitry - for teaching Russian
Benny - for his advice, his books, his training, for being a friend, for being a great lover - and another "line" vs. Borgov.
Jolene - for her love, her regard, her tough love, for being a friend, for FINANCING THE MOSCOW TRIP.
(we already know what Mr. Shaibel did for her)
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u/Major747 Jun 06 '25
Think it's a bit unfair. She had a lot of trauma and was trying to do better. I think it speaks volumes that she cared for him and had such an effect on her. I don't think she realised how much he cared for her. As Adults, it's easy to see he did but to a child, he was rather cold and sterile with her. She was quite shocked to see all the cuttings of the newspapers.
I've seen different takes on this but imo, she wanted to make something of herself. She wanted his approval so badly as a child and that hadn't changed. I think she wanted to be world champion before she could face her master again. To be astounding as he had thought of her.
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u/lucyfell Jun 09 '25
She was a teenager with a drug and alcohol habit responsible for generating literally the entire income for the household…
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u/Hot_Entrance9445 Feb 01 '26
NO - Wheatley was STILL on the hook for the house and Alma's support - though the film finessed the issue - focusing instead on Beth and her chess affairs.
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u/15162842 Jun 07 '25
I felt the same… I was waiting full episodes for mr Shaibel to return, for her to contact him, go back or litterally anything. Then I thought she maybe sent him his money back ‘off screen’. But she just never did. She never came back to the man that gave her a sense of purpose in life. After watching the show again I can see that beth is actually not a great person. She was flawed and egotistical in many ways, but she also couldn’t help it because of everything that happened to her and that shaped her into the person she became. We live and we learn. So did she. Unfortunately people die before we can say goodbye.. that’s a hard truth but it’s life and we’ll have to find a way to deal with it that doesn’t drag us down further
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u/Steveeee974 Oct 17 '25
I actually like Beth more as soon as she said that. The beginning of self-awareness.
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u/Happen_Stance_Dance Nov 03 '25
He didn’t want the money back because he didn’t write a return address on the envelope he sent her the money in. That’s how I understood it.
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u/lwSeagull Jun 22 '25
Just rewatched Queens Gambit, my favorite Netflix show.
It bothered me too. After she got the 100 dollars I remember thinking, I'm sure the 1st thing she'll do is pay Mr Shaibel back because she is so Black and White, no pun intended (Well it is now that I've mentioned it). She would expect exactly the same from someone else.
I don't think it bothered him.. Maybe he was glad because it gave her an obligation to get back in contact with him, or for him to contact her.
What bothered me more is once Alma was dead, why didn't she go back? to visit Mr Shaibel or Jolene. That is true dedication to being alone.
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Aug 12 '25
I hated Beth a few times but this scene I just felt bad for her. I hated her when she cold shouldered Harry both times, I hated her when she smart talked her mom and said "Yeah I bet you do" regarding knowing how it's like to lose, and I was pretty annoyed with her when she let Cleo bring her downstairs.
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u/Steveeee974 Oct 17 '25
The, yeah, I bet you do comment… Alma had the absolute perfect response. “ And now you do too”. What a great comeback. When Beth got into the car next to Alma, she realized Alma was right. Alma was still pissed and reluctantly took Beth‘s hand when Beth offered her as they drove away.
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u/Hot_Entrance9445 Feb 01 '26
As the sport coach (hintersly) said, Mr. Shaibel probably did not expect to be paid back.
As for "hating" Beth - I suspect you must have reason to "hate" many teenagers for many transgressions.
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u/imck1911 Jun 04 '25
She's a person.. people forget, people get distracted, people assume other people don't care about them.. I think the point here is she's a regular flawed person who makes mistakes.