Lessons in Chemistry

One of the biggest surprises for me this year is this gem of a show. Brie Larson is one of the greatest actresses alive today which she has shown over and over again, and we also know that she can carry the story on her own. What we did not know was the rest of the cast also are brilliant, and how compelling their characters and the story would be. The writing is amazing, the dialogue could perhaps use a bit more era authenticity, but is mostly spot on.

The small political innuendoes are greatly handled without taking it too far. I saw a few commentators complain, but please; go back to the 1950s as a woman and try to work in a field like chemistry - you will immediately realise that this show is probably even undercutting it. Besides it is only one main prop for the story, we see very little of it otherwise.

Instead this is more about the characters, and also the chemistry which make it very interesting to watch. This is so well made, and so well produced with such great acting I would say this might be the best TV show of the year. That is how good it is.

A weak 9/10. This is not perfect, and I noticed a few misses, and the language could use more era style, but otherwise this is just Brielliant.

If truth be told I have never been a fan of Brie Larson, however watching Lessons in Chemistry has given me a new take on the actress and I absolutely adore her as Elizabeth Zott. The series follows Elizabeth trying to make her name in science in the 1950's in a completely male dominated world. It ends up with her doing science through a cooking show on television.

Larson plays Zott perfectly. Her almost robotic quality in so captivating.

I have to say that I am completely hooked on the storyline and invested in the characters.

Definitely give this series a chance. I am sure you will love it as much as I do.

Ten stars is, for this show, like giving a one to any other show. Brie Larsen is wonderfully captivating from the first scene to the last - ever a remarkable performance. The writing and direction likewise tug the viewer from scenecto scene, episode to episode. For we who have not read the book, there is little or no foreshadowing - the slight predictability after episode 4 of one major subplot takes us to a very unexpected conclusion. The supporting cast fill their characters with believable behavior and engaging conflicts carrying forward the several threads. Pacing, direction, costumes, color light are all done to perfection.

The mark of a really good show is it entertains. A great show moves our feelings and thoughts to our own lives, drawing out our empathy for the characters and connecting our own experiences. A great show helps us see something about our own lives, threads of connections we may not have known were there until we looked back and saw the pattern, the tapestry that began with a single chance change in our lives. Lessons in Chemistry is such a show for me, and I imagine it will speak to most others as well.

The worst thing one can say about season 1 of Lessons in Chemistry is the show ends with seemingly nowhere to go forward. But as Elizabeth, Brie's character tells us, change is the only constant. We may have great expectations there will be a new chapter, but if there is not, the show as is leaves us richer.

What a pleasant surprise this was. Really, the only issues I see is macro plotting and pacing, which, at the outset, make it feel like it's spinning its wheels a bit too much. Once it does though, it's a force. It is subversive of genre in many ways. The acting is great (Larson is perfect casting especially) . It's unpredictable, thematically cogent, and gets messaging right- something tv shows rarely get right. Usually they beat you over the head with it or else have little to no point at all.

Like all fiction, of any medium, it has a lot to say about many things, and in doing so, has a quality of elegance about it.

Brie Larson is the reason I began watching "Lessons in Chemistry", and sure her acting was exceptional, though it was a kind surprise to see that the story was one of the most touching and emotional that I have ever seen. The rhythm of the narrative is just fine, and the script is marvelous, no pun intended. The series may be a little bit too optimistic, as it holds place for political conversations that were as relevant in the fifties, when it takes place, as they are nowadays. But the rest of it was exceptional, including the reflections of two very relatable characters: Elizabeth Zott and Calvin Evans. Do yourself a favor and fall in love with them!