David Farnor | On 15, Oct 2023

From Scott Pilgrim vs the World to Room, Brie Larson has proven herself to be a remarkably versatile actor across a wide range of budgets, genres and tones. But from Captain Marvel to Fast X, she’s also found herself in that unfair position of many leading ladies in Hollywood – the position of studios for some reason not knowing what to do with them (something that feels even dafter after her amiable directorial debut, Unicorn Store, proved her talent for storytelling behind the camera as well as in front of it). Lessons in Chemistry, then, is a welcome opportunity for Larson to take centre stage – and she doesn’t disappoint.

The series, based on Bonnie Garmus’ brilliant book of the same name, follows Elizabeth Zott (Larson), a science whizz in Los Angeles who is overlooked by the men around her. When she falls into a relationship with celebrated colleague Calvin Evans (Lewis Pullman), the challenge of sharing work and life without him overshadowing her is just another headwind she has to overcome.

The very premise of the story, though, means that we know she will eventually go on to present a smash hit cooking show with an audience of adoring female fans. Where the book makes us wait for that to happen, the series – adapted by Lee Eisenberg for the screen – jumps back and forth in time so that we can see this in action from the off. It’s a smart move that lets us share in Zott’s frustration but also celebrate her in her fully-formed element, and turns what could have been a slow-moving screen drama into a sparky, entertaining one.

It means that, as the story goes on to focus on Zott in the spotlight, we get more Calvin Evans on our screen, which reinforces the passionate chemistry between our star couple. Lewis Pullman is superb as the rowing aficionado who sees Zott as his soulmate, not just personally and professionally but chemically. In bringing their relationship to life, the series gives a real weight and heft to everything that follows.

Director Sarah Adina Smith, who has impressed repeatedly with The Midnight Swim and Buster’s Mal Heart, is wonderfully at home here, skipping through period details with visual wit as she creates a world to enjoy being immersed in. She and Eisenberg also manage to thread the needle of some difficult topics – including one instance of trauma that felt unnecessary in the original book – and find a solution for the novel’s tricky narrating dog motif, while simultaneously expanding the role of Harriet (Aja Naomi King), Zott’s neighbour, to add extra depth.

The result sets the stage for a tale of progress and change over a long period of time, both on an individual and wider social level. Holding it all together, however, is Larson’s impeccable performance, which effortlessly helps us keep pace with Zott’s journey, weaving the challenges of parenthood and the joys and pains of love into a twisting career path.

Crucially, she makes sure that Zott isn’t just an underdog due a turn in the limelight, but a complex figure with obstacles that are her own as well as those put upon her by society. In Larson’s hands, a character who could have been translated to TV as an elementary figurehead of equality is a witty, smart and awkward person who inspires us as much as she does the other women around her. “Cooking is chemistry and chemistry is life,” she tells her viewers with a curt tone that’s at odds with the freewheeling jazz soundtrack. “Your ability to change everything, including yourself, starts here.” A portion of this every week for two months? Yes please.

Add to Watchlist