#chess game

[theroundbartable]

Uther hates playing chess.

It's not that he hates the game, he just has terrible opponents. His son, Arthur, is a worthy match, but his prince duties are increasing lately and Uther is tired of Arthur's complaints that Uther 'only wins because he's the King'.

The problem is that it's true. No one wants to win against a King except another King. But how often does Uther get to challenge one except for endless bouts through letters?

Until -

Arthur: he's a terrible servant! He doesn't listen to me and treats me like a commoner!

Uther: *perking up* that servant?

Arthur: *realizing whom he's talking to* ... Yes, but- he's not that bad! An idiot, one who doesn't care about propriety but he's a good one. And it's sort of refreshing to not be-

Uther: You misunderstand. It's fine. Do you think he knows how to play chess?

Arthur: ... I don't know? I mean, he can read and write, which is surprising, and he speaks more languages than you'd expect, so maybe?

Uther: wonderful. I'd like to try it our

Arthur: *irritated* yes, Sire.

...

Uther: go on then. You do know how to play?

Merlin: *nervous* A little. My mother taught me

Uther: wonderful. And do not be afraid to put in a fight, I'm so bored of easy wins.

Merlin: am I not being executed if I win?

Uther: *shocked at Merlin's bluntness* excuse me?

Merlin: ... Am I being executed for asking?

Uther: ... I think this is gonna be fun. You take the white pieces.

Merlin: alright, Sire.

...

Uther: *shellshocked*

Merlin: may I leave, Sire?

Uther: how on earth did you-

Merlin: I was allowed to win, right?

Uther: of course. But how-

Merlin: it's in the strategy. You like to sacrifice your pawns to make space for your knights and bishops. And you barely move your Queen.

Uther: I'm protecting the King! The most important piece on the field!!!

Merlin: A good King wouldn't sacrifice his people for no reason. There is no shame in trying to save them all.

Uther: that's what Arthur would do and how he would keep losing. You didn't do that at all! You basically sacrificed every single piece on the field in a suicide mission!

Merlin: *blinking dumbly* I'm protecting my King. The most important piece on the field.

Basically...

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Men playing chess in Central Park, 1948.

Photo: Slim Aarons via Getty Images

[lucafuwafuwa24]

forgor to post

[autumnmobile12]

"Your move, my friend."

[nalyra-dreaming]

The lovely @alcassin dug out a post on reddit (and kindly allowed me to share it, TY dear) in regards to what Lestat screams about after the chess game in episode 6, which I for one had thought were probably... curses. Or cursing. Nothing too bad, but just... temper tantrum level curses.

But... no?!

And I find that hugely interesting, and it changes the whole end scene a bit for me, because this is the actual scene there:

Louis (voiceover): She was right.

Lestat: Spoiled, selfish, thankless.

Louis: It was inevitable.

Lestat: Heedless, disagreeable, obnoxious, repellent, unkind, spoiled to the core!

( Shouting in French )

Louis: We were going to kill Lestat.

Now we know that this statement was a deliberate one, to Daniel. He repeats it after, to make sure the impact lands.

That also means that the last voice over part was in all likelihood not his thoughts in that moment, but a deliberate comment to lead over to this statement.

And ... these words deflect. Try to brush away that outburst, which Louis does not address further. Or cares to translate.

Inevitable? .... Why? Louis can understand Lestat after all. So why should the outburst seem to make it inevitable? Why should it lead to the "killing remark"?

Lestat... Lestat is addressing the elephant in the room there.

Namely that Claudia is both child and adult. Forever. And that this was Louis' choice.

And that they have failed her in their parenting.

(And we have seen throughout episode 4 and 5 that Louis had a habit of interfering with Lestat's parenting, and would argue about it behind closed doors, which is what the child rearing and compromise comment points to. Whether he was right to do so or not is not important here imho, only that it was addressed and what became of it all later.)

It is no wonder that Louis deflects from that, and doesn't "translate" it for Daniel. This is not something he likes to dwell on after all, even though he probably feels this guilt keenly.

But to admit that Lestat, temper-tantrum or not, was actually right there?

Because... even if the past Louis might not have known it back then - but the issues with Claudia's state of being, and the lack of trust in her parents, and the... lack of abilities and awareness in regards to other vampires, the lack of strength, and the spite (as Lestat calls it) - that is something that modern Louis is all too aware of will be part of her downfall.

Lestat screams at Louis there, about the problem in regards to Claudia (given, the screaming itself is... well, not helpful at all^^), and Louis... turns the radio louder. Because he doesn't want to hear it, or discuss it. Both literally, and figuratively.

And he still doesn't want to dwell on that in modern Dubai.

Because it is inevitable because Claudia was who she was, then. And because Lestat was who he was, then. And because Louis was who he was back then.

It was inevitable.

But not because of what Louis is trying to present as reasoning. (And I hope/bet Daniel will still break open that part of the tale, too.)

[thora-sniper]

I accidentally came across this picture in a group where they collect jokes. It doesn't really matter what kind of inscription it is, I was inspired by the very opportunity to return to interaction between Crosshair and Echo. So... something before order 66.

[huariqueje]

Chess Game - Sabina Caceres

Latvian , b. ?

oil on canvas , 35.5 x 45 in.

[r4rw1ngd1n0]

When stress, play chess.

[strangemagic27]

Chess. Her Move. Part 1.

(Used by permission. All Rights Reserved by the original photographer)

[misterlemonztenth]

08-14-24 | no info. misterlemonztenth.tumblr.com/archive

[arinewman7]

Chess Game

Will Barnet

1973

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Unfazed by the 17.7 degree Fahrenheit temperature, J. Kay and Nathan Turkel continued their chess game in Central Park, December 1, 1958.

Photo: UPI via Harry Ransom Center, Univ. of Texas

[palatteflags]

Chess based Fictosexual moodboard! :) For an anon! hope you enjoy this~

Want one? send an ask! -mod Jay

[wojakgallery]

Brainiak - Big Brain Chess Game, White (Template)

Know Your Meme/Wojak: Click Here for info about ‘Brainiak / Big Brain’

[nalyra-dreaming]

something just hit me. Lestat's last chess game with Claudia was foreshadowing. How she surprised him. He thought he knew what she was doing, only to turn around and go in a different direction.

And him screaming "move your piece finish the game!" Hello Louis! Do it. Finish it.

I swear I'm not this dumb lol but sometimes I'm so focused on everything at the surface that I forget to look beyond that. Best part of rewatching is reliving all these moments with fresher eyes.

:) The chess game was incredible.

I talked about it here (though I thought the "broadcasting theory" was solid then, but it was a clue after all as we know now. Still, I do think he reacts to her, at least instinctively):

Here is a good post on it all by someone else, too (that I reblogged):

AND, if I may:

The outburst after is NOT just yelling - it carries a lot of meaning, that Louis... glosses over in the tale, for a lot of reasons:

But in any case - this show is brilliant, all the way into the last level or hint. The chess game they used is incredible, too, namely the infamous: "The Immortal"

Just incredible on all levels :))

[thatbrownchic]

Can Tumblr find me a chess mate close to my rating? 😬 My rating is 1300.

Drop your rating in the comments maybe? 🌼💖♟️