by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
Brie Larson is having quite the year. She jumped into the Fast and Furious series with Fast X, the long-awaited Captain Marvel sequel came out, though it was not a commercial success, and she even returned to the role of Envy Adams for Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. In addition to these three, she stars in Lessons in Chemistry, her best performance of the year, and perhaps the best performance she’s had since Room.
The miniseries follows Elizabeth Zott (Larson), a lab tech with a master’s degree in chemistry who is struggling to stand out in the male-dominated Hastings Lab in the 1950s. Elizabeth is subjected to sexism, and has trauma from her old PhD program, which caused her to drop out. At Hastings, she meets Calvin (Lewis Pullman), and her worldview is completely turned upside down. After tragedy strikes and she’s left looking for work, Elizabeth finds an opportunity to teach chemistry through a TV show talking about her other passion, cooking.
Larson has unfairly been the target of internet trolls who say she can’t lead a movie, but Lessons in Chemistry is proof that she is an excellent performer who can most certainly anchor anything that she wants. Elizabeth is a very complicated character. She has multiple traumas and tragedies that befall her in the series, but she manages to not let those tragedies define her as a person. Additionally, she understands the platform that she’s been given, something that her Black neighbor, Harriet (Aja Naomi King), points out to her during her cooking show run in the 1960s. Priding herself on being real with viewers, Elizabeth presents an authentic and refreshing look at what women are capable of in a world where men dominate literally everything. Larson is fantastic, and I would bet quite a bit that she will be getting for Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her performance.
As an individual, Elizabeth can be rigid, but when she’s with Calvin, she’s a version of herself she didn’t realize she could be. I have to admit, they are one of the best and most dynamic couples I’ve seen on television in a long time. Larson and Pullman are so perfect together, and the life they build together is wonderful. Calvin is like Elizabeth in a lot of ways: a brilliant scientist who can be rather obtuse. The main difference is that Calvin gets a platform to excel because he’s male. Treating Elizabeth as an equal partner during their chemistry experiments, Calvin is compassionate, understanding, and open to new ideas. Pullman is also fantastic, but through and through, this is Larson’s show.
The second episode of the series is among one of my favorite episodes of TV this year, because I wasn’t expecting what happens at the end. I haven’t read the book, so I didn’t see it coming at all. It is a shocking way to end the episode, and it changes the events of the entire show from that point forward. I applaud Apple for sticking with this choice and not undoing what happens. It’s a gut-punch moment for sure.
Lessons in Chemistry doesn’t shy away from a lot of topics that were prevalent in the ‘50s and ‘60s. In addition to the sexism that Elizabeth experiences for the majority of the show, the showrunners aren’t afraid to deal with topics involving gender roles or issues involving sexual assault, which is a prevalent subject in the first few episodes.
Harriet experiences racism in her quest to fight the city against building a highway over their neighborhood. There’s one scene in particular where she peacefully protests and there’s a tense exchange with police officers. It’s a teaching moment for Elizabeth, though, about how she gets a platform to speak her truth with her show, while Harriet struggles to get in front of city councils. This moment is crucial for Elizabeth, and it comes at a perfect time, when she needs to be reminded about her values because it feels like fame and celebrity might be getting to her head.
What makes Lessons in Chemistry so enjoyable is that, despite it being potentially frustrating because of its slow pace, it rewards viewers who are patient and let the story unfold organically. The series is a great example of showing not telling, and how the payoff is better with some restraint. A lot of the matters in the show come up, but don’t pay off until later in the series. The same is true with characters. One of my favorite examples is Reverend Wakely (Patrick Walker). His connection with Elizabeth isn’t immediately known, but when it’s revealed, you feel better about it, because the show took its time to lay down all the areas where they can connect and have it make sense. Lessons in Chemistry is full of these moments, and it makes multiple viewings possible.
I didn’t think Apple could top Shrinking, but Lessons in Chemistry is my favorite show on the streamer this year. It hit me emotionally, and has outstanding performances and an amazing story. Larson is pitch-perfect, and deserves all the praise she’s getting.
Rating: Loved It
Lessons in Chemistry is currently streaming on Apple TV+
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