Based on Bonnie Garmus’ best-selling novel, Apple TV+ limited series Lessons in Chemistry follows Elizabeth Zott (Brie Larson) whose education and career are derailed in an era that imposed women to dim their light to make others comfortable and follow the wife-and-mother path. The pervasively unfair system — gross gender inequities including sexual predation — places Elizabeth “making excellent coffee for mediocre chemists” as a lab technician (slightly above secretaries) at Hastings Research Institute teemed with sexists, misogynists, bullies, and dopes.

Despite a rough start and their polar opposite temperament and quirks, Dr. Calvin Evans (Lewis Pullman), a world-renown scientist on whose coattails Hastings Institute rides, finds Elizabeth quite captivating. Once Calvin figures out what ticks Elizabeth and vice versa, the two ‘peculiar’ peas in a pod become not only lab/research partners but also life partners; they find a home they’ve never had in each other.

By a series of unfortunate circumstances, however, Elizabeth is left having to come to terms with unfinished research project as well as being unceremoniously fired from the lab due to an out-of-wedlock pregnancy. She is forced to make a sharp course correction — unimaginable to her tunnel-visioned quest for the goal, mind you — in order to survive her single motherhood.

After much trial and error, she stumbles upon such uncharted territory for any scientists who don’t watch TV. She morphs into a host of Supper at Six, a live TV cooking show with a twist. After all, the art of cooking itself is chemistry. Elizabeth uses her newfound celebrity status to challenge America’s homemakers bored silly by never-ending and mind-numbing duties and obligations imposed by the 1950s societal norms; You don’t have to choose between professional realization and personal fulfillment. Who knows what women can be when you are finally free to become yourselves? In other words, the chemist wannabe, so far ahead of the curve, models the idea of a modern, fiercely independent woman thriving against all odds.

I’m no brilliant scientist, but definitely a brain drain from Japan, the eternal Mad Men land, in search of greater independence, agency, and opportunities. My mother’s unhappy marriage informed me of the significance of being independent and self-reliant if I want to live my passion untethered. Although several decades and worlds apart, Elizabeth’s and my experiences of being treated as second-class citizens motivated us to fight back; it’s a matter of personal ambition and also a question of necessity, of persistence of a dream.

That’s why I’m a little miffed by the fanciful ending utterly out of left field. The natural genius à la Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory) — superior even to the world-renown scientist Dr. Calvin Evans — would not let go of her dream so easily, would she? Or did Elizabeth realize that her lack of political savvy and social skills doubtless ruffle a few feathers no matter where she works? Maybe her unwed motherhood and chosen family softened her stereotypical autistic traits; inflexibility, hyper-focused and detail-oriented personality. Whatever the reason might be, what Elizabeth fought for should not be in vain. Let it be a powerful but infuriating reminder of what our foremothers had to endure while America is sliding backward as far as preserving and protecting the fundamental rights of marginalized groups.

The first two episodes of Lessons in Chemistry premiere on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, October 13, 2023 followed by a new episode every Wednesdays until November 24, 2023.

About the Author

Meg Mimura is a TV critic who actually watches shows zealously in search of thought-provoking and paradigm shifting human drama worth our precious time. She is a member of Television Critics Association. Follow her on Twitter.

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