Talents talk Lessons in Chemistry on Apple TV+

I spoke with Lee Eisenberg (showrunner, executive producer), Sarah Adina Smith (director, executive producer for episodes 101-102), and Courtney McBroom (food consultant) ahead of the release of Lessons in Chemistry on Apple TV today. 

If you’re unfamiliar with Lessons in Chemistry, let me give you a little rundown before I begin my interviews with the top talent. The series is based on the best-selling and first novel “Lessons in Chemistry” by author, science editor, and copywriter Bonnie Garmus. 

“Lessons in Chemistry” is set in the early 1950s and follows Elizabeth Zott (played by Brie Larson), whose dream of becoming a scientist is put on hold in a patriarchal culture. When Elizabeth gets dismissed from her lab, she accepts a position as a host on a TV cooking show and sets out to teach a nation of unnoticed housewives and men who are suddenly paying attention for reasons other than recipes. 

I’d like to start with my talk with Courtney McBroom because it involves food. “I wanted all the viewers after they finished watching an episode to be like, I’m so hungry,” stated McBroom. Without giving away any surprises beyond the first episode, I can attest to how expertly she and the team collaborated to bring the meals to life in a way that blended art and science. Even if it’s the simplest meal, seeing Elizabeth unpack her lunch from the stuff she made the night before makes you salivate. 

Courtney said, “That’s the part I love the most: seeing the character arc be so great.” When we first meet Elizabeth, she is a scientist who views food as merely chemicals and bonds being controlled to create nutrition. However, as the series unfolds, she falls in love with cooking and follows her emotions rather than logical principles. 

If that isn’t enough, Courtney revealed that they will be publishing recipes to go along with the food on the show. I suppose the lesson isn’t simply on the screen; we can practically take it with us. 

Now that the food is out of the way, let’s move on to the main topic and my conversations with Lee and Sarah. “When I initially met Lee, he had such a clear idea of how he wanted this adaptation to be made. It was quite motivating for me. That’s what I’m always seeking for. “I just want to get to the heart of the matter, figure out how I can help, and tell the story,” Smith explained. It spoke to her because this study highlighted what women faced in the workplace in the 1950s through the eyes of a female scientist. What was most striking was Lee’s explanation to her that the narrative is genuinely about how lovely life can be through the unexpected and surprising things we encounter. And in order for that beauty to be noticed, we must be receptive to it. Sarah went on to say, “It can be beautiful; it can be so painful, but if you’re not open to that, you risk missing out on the stuff that is the most meaningful and the stuff that makes your life so rich.” 

“The title of the book Lessons in Chemistry really gets to the heart of it,” Lee stated. It isn’t just because she is a chemist. It’s all about chemistry and the formation of relationships and connections.” That’s what intrigued him to Elizabeth’s character. It’s her trip, the people she meets, the ties she creates with them, and how she touches them, and vice versa. The book and series both demonstrate this well, because everything that happens in the series, from scientific discovery to pain and laughter, shows these multifaceted individuals from various socioeconomic backgrounds either forming lifelong relationships or learning something from each other that challenges their own beliefs or stigmas. 

“I think that most people—not everybody—have good intentions but don’t recognize their own unconscious biases and assumptions,” he said. The book and series demonstrate that, although having come a long way as a civilization, we still have a long way to go. And, as you follow Elizabeth’s path, you will find that it is a two-way street of understanding and acceptance.