{ "id": "ep511r7nat", "slug": "lessons-in-chemistry", "title": "Lessons in Chemistry", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv", "label": "Scripted television and comedy series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series", "label": "Drama and prestige series (individual series)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series.historical-and-period-drama", "label": "Historical and period drama", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series.historical-and-period-drama" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Drama and prestige series (individual series)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021", "label": "United States · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv", "label": "Scripted television and comedy series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series", "label": "Drama and prestige series (individual series)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Lessons in Chemistry is an Apple TV+ eight-episode limited series (premiered October 13, 2023) adapted from Bonnie Garmus's 2022 novel, starring Brie Larson as chemist Elizabeth Zott, who hosts the cooking show Supper at Six; showrunner Lee Eisenberg.", "snippet": "Lessons in Chemistry is an Apple TV+ eight-episode limited series (premiered October 13, 2023) adapted from Bonnie Garmus's 2022 novel, starring Brie Larson as chemist Elizabeth Zott, who hosts the cooking show Supper at Six; showrunner Lee Eisenberg.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series.historical-and-period-drama", "markdown": "# Lessons in Chemistry\n\n**Lessons in Chemistry** is an American drama limited series that premiered on Apple TV+ on October 13, 2023, adapted from Bonnie Garmus's best-selling 2022 debut novel of the same name. It stars [Brie Larson](https://www.edgepedia.org/brie-larson) as Elizabeth Zott, a chemist in the 1950s whose scientific career is blocked by sexism; after she is fired from her lab, she becomes the host of a television cooking show called *Supper at Six*, where she teaches a national audience of housewives far more than recipes.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/lessons-in-chemistry/) • [2](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/lessons-in-chemistry/)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Premiere | October 13, 2023, on Apple TV+; produced by Apple Studios[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/lessons-in-chemistry/) |\n| Format | Eight-episode limited series; episodes run roughly 42 to 50 minutes[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/lessons-in-chemistry-brie-larson) • [4](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/lessons-in-chemistry/umc.cmc.40yycssgxelw4zur8m2ilmvyx) |\n| Source | Bonnie Garmus's 2022 debut novel; the first episode aired just under 19 months after the book's publication[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/lessons-in-chemistry-brie-larson) • [5](https://www.uc.edu/content/dam/refresh/cont-ed-62/olli/winter24-handouts/History%20and%20Literature%20-%20Lessons%20in%20Chemistry%20Handout%20UC.pdf) |\n| Lead cast | Brie Larson (Elizabeth Zott), Lewis Pullman (Calvin Evans), Aja Naomi King (Harriet Sloane), Stephanie Koenig (Fran Frask), Patrick Walker (Reverend Wakely)[2](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/lessons-in-chemistry/) |\n| Showrunner | Lee Eisenberg; executive producers include Susannah Grant, Brie Larson, and Jason Bateman[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/lessons-in-chemistry/) |\n| Directors | Bert and Bertie, Tara Miele, Millicent Shelton, and Sarah Adina Smith[6](https://thegreatunknownproductions.com/project/lessons-in-chemistry/) |\n| Reception | Metacritic Metascore of 68 from 30 critic reviews; user score 7.4 from 80 ratings[2](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/lessons-in-chemistry/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise\n\nSet in the early 1950s, the series follows Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant lab technician whose dream of being a scientist is put on hold in a patriarchal society. In the first episode, \"Little Miss Hastings,\" she is punished after being caught conducting her own research after hours.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/lessons-in-chemistry/) • [4](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/lessons-in-chemistry/umc.cmc.40yycssgxelw4zur8m2ilmvyx) After losing her position, and finding herself pregnant and alone, she accepts a job hosting a television cooking show, *Supper at Six*, and uses the platform to teach scientific concepts to a national audience of housewives while craving a return to science.[6](https://thegreatunknownproductions.com/project/lessons-in-chemistry/) • [7](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/53079/lessons-in-chemistry)\n\nOn the show, Zott calls ingredients by their chemical names and treats the preparation of food as serious work; a reviewer for *Time* described her presence on *Supper at Six* as something new to television of the era.[8](https://time.com/6321425/lessons-in-chemistry-review-apple/) The series also weaves in a romance with fellow scientist Calvin Evans, played by [Lewis Pullman](https://www.edgepedia.org/lewis-pullman), and storylines about grief, motherhood, systemic racism, and sexism.[9](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/lessons-in-chemistry-interview-lee-eisenberg-76900/)\n\n### Episodes\n\nSeason 1 consists of eight episodes released weekly from October 13 to November 22, 2023. Titled episodes include \"Little Miss Hastings,\" \"Her and Him,\" in which Elizabeth and Calvin join forces in pursuit of a prestigious grant; \"Living Dead Things,\" in which Elizabeth befriends Harriet; \"Primitive Instinct\"; \"CH₃COOH,\" in which Elizabeth clashes with her new boss at *Supper at Six*; \"Poirot\"; \"Book of Calvin\"; and the finale \"Introduction to Chemistry,\" in which, with the fate of *Supper at Six* uncertain, Elizabeth makes a decision about her future.[4](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/lessons-in-chemistry/umc.cmc.40yycssgxelw4zur8m2ilmvyx) • [11](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/lessons-in-chemistry/episodes-images/)\n\n## Production\n\n**Development.** Showrunner Lee Eisenberg, creator of the Apple TV+ miniseries *WeCrashed* and co-creator of *Jury Duty*, was pointed to Garmus's novel by his wife and pitched his take to Brie Larson within two days; Larson was already attached to star. Eisenberg had never adapted a book before, and says it took some persuading for Apple to put him on the project.[9](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/lessons-in-chemistry-interview-lee-eisenberg-76900/) Executive producers include Susannah Grant, Larson herself, and [Jason Bateman](https://www.edgepedia.org/jason-bateman) and Michael Costigan for Aggregate Films, with Natalie Sandy of Piece of Work Entertainment and Louise Shore.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/lessons-in-chemistry/) • [10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1PuK8mxASE) Sarah Adina Smith directed and executive produced the first two episodes.[10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1PuK8mxASE)\n\n**Casting.** [Aja Naomi King](https://www.edgepedia.org/aja-naomi-king) impressed Eisenberg enough that he wrote a new composite character for her: Harriet Sloane, a young Black lawyer and community organizer. In Garmus's novel, the character is a white woman trapped in an abusive marriage. Eisenberg said the change gave Larson's character a contemporary dealing not only with the misogyny of the period but with overt racism.[9](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/lessons-in-chemistry-interview-lee-eisenberg-76900/) The supporting cast also includes Stephanie Koenig, Kevin Sussman, Patrick Walker, Thomas Mann, Beau Bridges, and [Rainn Wilson](https://www.edgepedia.org/rainn-wilson) as a television executive.[10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1PuK8mxASE) • [11](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/lessons-in-chemistry/episodes-images/) • [8](https://time.com/6321425/lessons-in-chemistry-review-apple/)\n\n**Design.** The crafts team built the period world around a protagonist deliberately out of step with it. Makeup head Miho Suzuki kept Larson's look deliberately raw against the fully made-up 1950s norm, and costume designer Mirren Gordon-Crozier drew on off-duty [Ingrid Bergman](https://www.edgepedia.org/ingrid-bergman) and [Katharine Hepburn](https://www.edgepedia.org/katharine-hepburn), dressing Zott mostly in muted, earthy greens. Hair department head Teressa Hill fitted the cast, including background actors, in roughly 225 wigs, most of human hair, each re-set nightly.[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/lessons-in-chemistry-brie-larson)\n\n## Adaptation from the novel\n\nThe show follows the novel's trajectory, a woman scientist in the 1950s and 1960s facing systemic sexism and abusive bosses who finds an ally and lover in Calvin, but *Time* reported that showrunner Lee Eisenberg smoothed plot holes, explained twists, and took the era's politics more seriously than the book did.[12](https://time.com/6323295/lessons-in-chemistry-show-book-changes/) Specific changes include the meet-cute setting: in the book, Calvin's drunken encounter with Elizabeth happens at a play, while the show invents the Little Miss Hastings pageant held by her employer, Hastings Lab, an addition used to highlight the sexist demands placed on Elizabeth at work.[12](https://time.com/6323295/lessons-in-chemistry-show-book-changes/) The show also expands secondary characters, most visibly Harriet Sloane, and gives Calvin's pen pal, Minister Wakely, substantial screen time with Elizabeth to discuss clashes between faith and science.[12](https://time.com/6323295/lessons-in-chemistry-show-book-changes/)\n\n## Reception and context\n\nThe series scored 68 on Metacritic, labeled \"generally favorable,\" based on 30 critic reviews.[2](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/lessons-in-chemistry/) *Time*'s review called it sometimes charming but more often didactic and unfocused, while crediting Larson as pitch perfect in the role and noting the show's most original thread: the effect a self-assured, liberated woman has on less extraordinary women too ensconced in their gender roles to aspire to a life outside the home.[8](https://time.com/6321425/lessons-in-chemistry-review-apple/)\n\nThe series sits alongside [HBO Max](https://www.edgepedia.org/hbo-max)'s *Julia*, about the real cooking-show pioneer [Julia Child](https://www.edgepedia.org/julia-child), as a mid-century drama about a woman succeeding in a man's world; the timelines align, since *Lessons in Chemistry* begins in the early 1950s and Zott's television debut falls around the time Child's show piloted in the early 1960s. The *Washington Post* contrasted the two protagonists: Child cooks out of love for [French cuisine](https://www.edgepedia.org/french-cuisine), while Zott treats cooking as a science, broken into chemical reactions and controlled for maximum effect.[13](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2023/11/20/lessons-in-chemistry-julia-child-tv-show-cooking/)\n\n## Availability\n\nThe series streams on Apple TV and the Apple TV Amazon Channel, in 4K with closed captions, with audio and subtitle options including English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, and Portuguese; Apple TV+ pricing is listed at $14.99 per month after a seven-day free trial.[14](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/lessons-in-chemistry) • [15](https://www.moviefone.com/tv-shows/lessons-in-chemistry/eo0QergAWHq23CnnmQssV4/where-to-watch/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Lessons in Chemistry, Apple TV Press](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/lessons-in-chemistry/)\n2. [Lessons in Chemistry Reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/lessons-in-chemistry/)\n3. [Behind the Scenes of Lessons in Chemistry, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/lessons-in-chemistry-brie-larson)\n4. [Watch Lessons in Chemistry, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/lessons-in-chemistry/umc.cmc.40yycssgxelw4zur8m2ilmvyx)\n5. [History and Literature: Lessons in Chemistry handout, University of Cincinnati](https://www.uc.edu/content/dam/refresh/cont-ed-62/olli/winter24-handouts/History%20and%20Literature%20-%20Lessons%20in%20Chemistry%20Handout%20UC.pdf)\n6. [Lessons in Chemistry, The Great Unknown Productions](https://thegreatunknownproductions.com/project/lessons-in-chemistry/)\n7. [Lessons in Chemistry, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/53079/lessons-in-chemistry)\n8. [Lessons in Chemistry Feels Like a Remedial Course in Feminist History, Time](https://time.com/6321425/lessons-in-chemistry-review-apple/)\n9. [Lessons in Chemistry Creator on Collaborating with Brie Larson, Backstage](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/lessons-in-chemistry-interview-lee-eisenberg-76900/)\n10. [Lessons in Chemistry: Official Trailer, Apple TV (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1PuK8mxASE)\n11. [Lessons in Chemistry: Episodes & Images, Apple TV Press](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/lessons-in-chemistry/episodes-images/)\n12. [How Lessons in Chemistry Differs From the Book, Time](https://time.com/6323295/lessons-in-chemistry-show-book-changes/)\n13. [In Lessons in Chemistry and Julia, Rebels Rule the Kitchen, The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2023/11/20/lessons-in-chemistry-julia-child-tv-show-cooking/)\n14. [Lessons in Chemistry: streaming tv show online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/lessons-in-chemistry)\n15. [Lessons in Chemistry (2023): Where to Watch & Stream, Moviefone](https://www.moviefone.com/tv-shows/lessons-in-chemistry/eo0QergAWHq23CnnmQssV4/where-to-watch/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Drama and prestige series (individual series) › Historical and period drama*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/lessons-in-chemistry", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/lessons-in-chemistry.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Lessons in Chemistry\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/lessons-in-chemistry. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Lessons in Chemistry](https://www.edgepedia.org/lessons-in-chemistry)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/lessons-in-chemistry](https://www.edgepedia.org/lessons-in-chemistry). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Lessons in Chemistry\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/lessons-in-chemistry. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Lessons in Chemistry is an Apple TV+ eight-episode limited series adapted from Bonnie Garmus's 2022 novel, starring Brie Larson as chemist Elizabeth Zott, who hosts the cooking show Supper at Six; showrunner Lee Eisenberg." }