Some
shows you just know you shouldn't go into hungry, but other ones can catch you
off guard. Lessons in Chemistry, a novel that a banner in the Tigard
Barnes & Noble ensured me was the book of the year, does not sound like the
kind of story hungry people should avoid, but after watching the first half of
the Apple TV+ miniseries adaptation I would be lying if I said I haven’t been
craving lasagna ever since. An empowering story of love, science, and food, Lessons
in Chemistry is a satisfying dramatical treat that hits the spot despite
its somewhat formulaic nature.
I am a big fan of the identification
and discussion of popular tropes in our media, and if one were to make a list
of all the ones that apply to Lessons in Chemistry they might never
finish. Brie Larson plays a brilliant yet socially awkward chemist in an era where
misogyny was much more visible than it is today and falls in love with an
equally geeky scientist played by Lewis Pullman. Along the way she encounters
sexism, racism, trauma, loss, and empowerment, all while using her scientific
knowledge to not only stick it to the patriarchy but also create some wonderful
looking dishes. If there was a recipe for creating engaging drama Lessons in
Chemistry follows it pretty closely, but there is a saying in the troper
world that not all tropes are bad, because tropes are, ultimately, just
storytelling tools.
Because say what you will about its
originality, but Lessons in Chemistry utilizes these tools perfectly.
Larson is perfect in her roll (wait, no… I mean “role.” I told you I was
hungry) and her chemistry (no pun intended) with Pullman elicits all the warmth
and awws that you would expect in a story that is partially about two dorks
finding love with each other. And while the sexism and fights against it can be
a bit on the nose sometimes it still feels empowering thanks to the writing,
performances, and timeless messages that the miniseries enjoys. The drama is
intensely felt, the good times make you smile, and there is a very cute dog.
Recipes are followed for a reason, you know?
I still don’t know if the book (which
I have not read) warrants an entire miniseries and not just a feature-length
film adaptation—I imagine that cutting down some of the portions of the
miniseries might have made the whole thing seem a little truncated and rushed,
yet eight episodes still seems a bit excessive—and there is one side plot with
the neighbor of Pullman’s character that only occasionally feels relevant to
the overall narrative, but these complaints are all pretty minor when viewed
next to the miniseries’ successes. Lessons in Chemistry is heartwarming,
heartbreaking, and makes me want to eat something that isn’t Taco Bell or
hastily boiled hot dogs for dinner tonight. I guess there are still some
surprises left for me in my life after all.
The first five episodes of Lessons
in Chemistry are now available on Apple TV+. The remaining three episodes
will release over the next three Fridays.
This review was first published in
the Keizertimes on November 10th, 2023. Visit at www.keizertimes.com/
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