Thought some thoughts about chess and Maxwell (& Charlie, but also not really.)
In the stage play, Maxwell is seen and described as the King. Which for one, it’s an act of affection and admiration from Charlie.
(“"He twirled his finger in the air,",
LINE10 = "and the trees and flowers bloomed at his command””).
Or two, other way around would be looking at him as the King the way They or rules of Chess looked at him ("But even a King is bound to the board."
"You can't change the rules of the game.")
Looking at this aspect, It makes me believe that Maxwell was doomed from the beginning or at least already doomed by the time Charlie and him had met, bound to the board, altered and watched over by Them. Which isn't far from the truth, given the differences between William & Maxwell. or even Maxwell and time.
The skeletal look on the right one with the hollow/darkened eyes are the obvious facial-physical changes of his mental withdrawal or spiral to madness.
In the game of chess, the king is always on a square of the opposite color. ("White king / Black square" and "Black king / White square")
Despite the fact that he was shown as the black king at the start of Encore, whether it's because of his corruption or its believed that he is on the opposing team, he is actually the white king (See the end).
There's also the discussion and the fact that he was reduced to a pawn on the board. Metaphorically speaking they're all pawns in the game blah blah but this is more-so about the monarchy and power aspect of it.
LEFT : White square, Black piece (King) (Tallest piece in chess)
RIGHT: Black square, Black piece (Pawn) (Smallest piece in chess)
Additional rant about the left image. Charlie stands next to Maxwell as a "Tall" chess piece. It can be seen as the King or Queen, but Queen is more likely given that the Queen chess is piece is the second tallest piece next to King. Point is, whatever their relationship was -however you look at it- It was never meant to be.
If they played in the opposing team, it had always been set for failure and destruction. Even now it all means nothing, with Maxwell being a pawn and Charlie having the highest power. Sure, the pawn can always be promoted to a higher rank, but we already have the bishop/rook/knight in the game. And it is simply impossible to be promoted to King.
But even with that, it is devastating to think that its only because of William's and Charlie's corruption that they can be together again. (as two black chess pieces on the board) And to me, its not even them anymore. its a melancholic and sadistic dance between The Nightmare King and The Shadow queen. William and Charlie are quite literally shadows of their former selves.
Charlie plays in the game as the black king. Whilst it's true that she is the queen for the power that she has over the constant, there is no denying that she is still bound to the throne one way or another.
Obviously Charlie's part would be that she was just a pawn and promoted herself to the Queen status- but that is just pointing out the obvious.
LEFT : White throne, Black dress (King)
(I took the color of their gowns and throne as the chess tiles or the color of the piece.)
RIGHT: Black throne, White dress (King)
Do whatever you want to do with that information.
