Beth & Mr Shaibel’s Story: An Unlikely Friendship | The Queen’s Gambit

“Now or never.” Mr. Shaibel (Bill Camp) is the janitor at the orphanage Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) grows up in. He introduces her to the game of chess and opens new doors for the young prodigy. Their story - and the unlikely bond between them - is one of the most moving parts of the new powerful drama, The Queen’s Gambit. ⚠️ Warning: Spoilers! ⚠️

When winning takes everything, what are you left with? It's the show everyone's obsessed with: The Queen’s Gambit follows a young chess sensation’s rise from an orphanage to the world stage. But genius comes with a cost. A riveting adaptation of Walter Tevis’ groundbreaking novel is streaming on Netflix now, starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Bill Camp, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Harry Melling and Marcin Dorociński.

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Beth & Mr Shaibel’s Story: An Unlikely Friendship | The Queen’s Gambit

In a 1950s orphanage, a young girl reveals an astonishing talent for chess and begins an unlikely journey to stardom while grappling with addiction.

[senes]

Although it’s a shame she never visited him, I think it’s that regret that pushed Beth to get her shit together again

[andhanidominique]

the fact that he literally hang every achievement beth had, will always broke me. he was so proud of her. he didn't even care about the $10. he was just happy that she made it.

[ReferStuff]

Her adoptive mom tells her once that she should start making a scrapbook of her achievements but never did. And Mr. shaibel really made it . 🥲

[wannahockachewie]

It's sad knowing Mr. Shaibel probably replayed some of Beth's games alone on his board.

[cyberdyne]

Dead people receive more flowers than living ones because regret is stronger than gratitude - Anne Frank

[Berna-kl]

The scene where beth found the pictures after his death always makes me cry ngl

[kikileung_]

Mr. Shaibel never expected anything in return from Beth. This was unconditional love. Glad that Beth realized that there was someone, like a parental figure, who was really proud of her.

[dantuazon]

During the funeral: " I owe him $10"

At the basement : Beth realizing "I owe him everything"

[Rajnish]

It's the only time when cried. She didn't even cried when her own or adopted mother died. Sometimes the unspoken words are the one that struck the hardest.

[FlashakaViolet]

I cried so hard when she finds out he’d been silently keeping track of her life

[arthurbriand]

I like the fact that anytime Beth plays on the ceiling, it's with Shaibel's set.

Edit: 10k likes, 50 comments, 1 Netflix like. It feels like a good round number to edit this comment on. Sorry for breaking the heart of some people that weren't aware of this detail.

[christianmayonove]

It didn't feel like "Mr. Scheibel" died for her, it felt like her father died.

[rossaliestone]

I feel so bad for him, I can not imagine how alone he must have felt when Beth left, and the fact that she never came to visit him must have broke his heart.

[giannisvellichor]

Isla Johnston, the young 13-year-old girl who plays young Beth, deserves more credits, She is awesome actress !!

[ninaharmon]

Mr. Shaibel is my favorite character. I think he is underrated and deeply loving.

[robertweaver]

A Pawn usually takes seven squares (episodes) to become a queen. The death of Sheibel in the last and seventh episode was the moment when the Pawn was exchanged for the Queen. As per definition: a Pawn is a person used by others for their own purposes. The death of Sheibel was this psychic transformation to relieve Harmon from drug addiction, put the past behind her and become a Queen. When Harmon dresses like a white queen in Russia, she no longer needs drugs to see the chess pieces moving on the ceiling when she plays Borgov. On her way to the airport, it is reaffirmed that she is no longer a Pawn and will not become one again for the American government, she exits the car and mingles with her subjects.

[stephentutor]

How I wish Mr. Shaibel saw her became World Champion before he died.

[fabiennericcoboni]

I love how Mr Shaibel plays white against her in her first game, and in her final game she also plays white against the Russian chess master. Also, the head-to-toe white outfit she wears in the last scene really exemplifies her becoming the white queen. Not sure if it has any significance, but kinda feels like everything comes full circle.

[jameso]

Shaibel saved Beth’s life twice. She saved her finding her passion, and then saved her again by guiding her back to that passion.

[mariahgutierrez]

In 2020, that $10 is equal to almost $200. That's an investment he made, and he saw her potential.