Chemistry Revealed: Unveiling the 15 Most Surprising Twists in Lessons In Chemistry

The following article contains a discussion of sexual assault.

WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Lessons in Chemistry episodes 1 & 2 and the book Lessons in Chemistry.

Summary

Calvin's sudden death has a profound impact on Elizabeth and changes the tone of the story, exploring themes of grief and single motherhood.

Elizabeth's career and personal life have been profoundly impacted by a distressing incident of sexual assault she endured while pursuing her academic goals. Besides, her transition from being a chemist to becoming the renowned host of a popular cooking show defies traditional gender norms and societal expectations, serving as a testament to women's boundless capabilities.

Lessons in Chemistry, the miniseries, is a remarkable adaptation of Bonnie Garmus' captivating novel of the same name. The novel received praise for its unique style, well-developed characters, and brilliant plot twists. While the miniseries may diverge from the novel with several alterations already seen in the initial episodes, it still holds the potential for numerous surprises. Set in the 1950s, Lessons in Chemistry centers around Elizabeth Zott, whose life takes a transformative turn when she falls in love with fellow chemist Calvin Evans.

The Apple TV+ trailer and the first two episodes of Lessons in Chemistry provide a glimpse into the world of this book adaptation. The novel skillfully employs a third-person omniscient narrative voice, seamlessly shifting between different chapters, timelines, and characters. This clever storytelling approach allows for the gradual revelation of both character development and the intricately woven plot. Each concise chapter contributes to a complex, emotional, and thought-provoking reading experience that ultimately culminates in a powerful conclusion.

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15 Calvin Dies Prematurely In Lessons In Chemistry

A shocking moment unfolded in both the book and miniseries of Lessons in Chemistry, where Calvin’s life was abruptly taken by a motor vehicle while walking Six-Thirty, the dog he shared with Elizabeth. This event swiftly transformed Lessons in Chemistry from a mere romance novel into a poignant exploration of grief and the challenges of single motherhood. Despite its brevity, Calvin’s life left a profound emotional impact, exemplified in the composition “Calvin” on the Lessons in Chemistry score. This piece of music, created by the Emmy Award-winning composer Carlos Rafael Rivera, is regarded as the show’s definitive musical and emotional centerpiece.

14 Elizabeth’s Thesis Advisor Assaulted Her

13 Elizabeth Is Pregnant With Calvin’s Baby & Was Fired From Hastings

Years prior to the commencement of the primary storyline in Lessons in Chemistry, Zott, a young woman pursuing her PhD in chemistry, experienced a distressing incident. Her thesis advisor, a senior male figure, violated her in an act of rape just when she was about to achieve her doctoral degree. In a desperate act of self-defense, Elizabeth defended herself by using a pencil to stab Dr. Bates. However, her subsequent expulsion from the program for refusing to apologize was an unjust consequence. The statement she provided as an official expression of remorse was, “Pencils… I deeply regret not possessing a larger quantity of them.” The vicious sexual assault forcibly deprived her of the opportunity to complete her PhD and caused profound changes to both her professional and personal life as she grappled with the repercussions of the traumatic experience.

Elizabeth and Calvin's intense, but brief, relationship served as a mere prelude to the true narrative of Lessons in Chemistry. After Calvin's untimely death, Zott, who had never aspired to become a mother, discovered that she was pregnant. Unfortunately, being an unmarried and expectant woman in the conservative 1950s, Hastings Research Institute seized this as an opportunity to terminate her employment. Stripped of any support at Hastings without Calvin by her side, she found herself defenseless, unemployed, and overwhelmed by the prospect of motherhood.

12 Harriet Helps Elizabeth Raise Mad While She Worked

Elizabeth’s overwhelming emotion during and after giving birth was anger, specifically directed towards Calvin for abandoning her and leaving her to raise their child alone. Following some miscommunication, her previously unnamed baby girl accompanied her home, and she was presented with a birth certificate that stated “Mad Zott.” Elizabeth, a stressed-out young woman, struggled to balance her new role as a mother and the clandestine research she conducted for her former colleagues at Hastings. Fortunately, Harriet, their older neighbor who had already raised several children of her own, assumed a familial role that allowed Zott to continue working as the sole provider for herself and her daughter, Mad "Madeline" Zott.

11 Frask’s Professor Also Sexually Assaulted Her

Fran Frask, the head of personnel at Hastings, is initially portrayed as the complete opposite of Zott in terms of intelligence and priorities in Lessons in Chemistry. Miss Frask harbored feelings of jealousy and resentment towards Zott, unfairly venting her own discontent with life onto the chemist. Both of them made unfair judgments about each other until Zott finally opens up about the true reason behind her inability to attain a PhD in chemistry. This revelation allows Frask to empathize with her, leading to a significant turning point in their characters and their relationship. It also serves as a poignant reminder of the widespread issue of sexual assault in academia, which still persists today.

10 Donatti Steals & Plagiarizes Elizabeth’s Research

Elizabeth faced significant opposition at Hastings from Dr. Donatti, the head of Chemistry. Despite his awareness of Zott's undeniable brilliance, he chose to ignore it due to his sexist beliefs. Dr. Donatti consistently belittled Elizabeth and her work, creating a hostile environment. When Elizabeth found herself in a position where she had to plead with a smug Dr. Donatti to keep her job in order to support her family, she reluctantly accepted a demotion from chemist to lab tech. However, just two months later, Elizabeth made the difficult decision to resign. This was prompted by the distressing revelation that Dr. Donatti had stolen her research and was passing it off as his own. Although Elizabeth was well aware of this injustice, she found herself in a helpless position as it was a matter of her word against his. Therefore, in Lessons in Chemistry, Elizabeth felt compelled to resign.

9 Madeline Meets Calvin’s Old Pen Pal

Throughout Lessons in Chemistry, Reverend Wakely serves as a guiding presence for Evans, Mad, and Elizabeth. As Calvin's closest friend and former pen pal from their college days, their communication abruptly ceased due to a painful misunderstanding. However, fate eventually brings Wakely and a young Madeline together at the local library. Recognizing her need for assistance, Wakely selflessly offers to help Madeline trace her father's origins at the Catholic orphanage, a task required for her kindergarten family tree project. In this process, they uncover shocking revelations about the orphanage and discover an almost supernatural connection between themselves and Calvin.

8 Elizabeth Is The Host Of A Famous Cooking Show

Zott's transformation from chemist to the host of Supper At Six lies at the core of Lessons in Chemistry. Elizabeth, having recently quit her job at Hastings, is offered a position by Walter Pine, a television producer and the father of one of Mad's classmates. Although she has no desire to become a television personality, Elizabeth accepts the offer because she needs the money to support her daughter. With her profound belief that cooking is akin to chemistry, she excels as an expert cook. Through Supper at Six, Zott becomes a cultural sensation by not only expressing her progressive ideas but also by educating and empowering women. She firmly asserts that being a homemaker is a full-time job in itself and that women are capable of achieving anything they set their minds to.

7 Elizabeth’s Boss Has A Heart Attack After Trying To Sexually Assault Her

Zott's workplace experience in Lessons in Chemistry is plagued by men abusing her and their power. When Phil Lebensmal, Elizabeth and Walter's boss at KCTV, reveals his intentions to sexually assault her, she brandishes a large, sharp kitchen knife as a warning. The sight of it triggers a heart attack in him, leading to a doctor's order for at least a year of home bed rest. As a result, Walter is promoted to executive producer of Supper at Six, allowing them to expand the show and bring their shared creative vision to life with significantly reduced fear of reprisal.

6 Elizabeth Declares Herself As An Atheist On Live TV

As part of Supper at Six, Elizabeth fearlessly embraces a wide array of questions from her dedicated audience, responding with unwavering honesty regardless of the potential consequences. When she boldly declares herself an atheist during a live television broadcast in the early 1960s, this revelation ignites a tumultuous reaction in Lessons in Chemistry, triggering intense protests and even death threats towards Zott, including a bomb maliciously placed at the studio. Despite Zott merely expressing her truth, this pivotal moment signifies the onset of the demise of Supper at Six, compromising both her mental well-being and personal safety.

5 Harriet & Walter Begin A Relationship

In the book Lessons in Chemistry, a sense of purpose eludes Harriet, a housewife, until she becomes a part of the Zott family. Walter, a single father, was left by his wife who divorced him and deserted him and their daughter Amanda. It is revealed that Amanda is the result of an affair Walter's ex-wife had, but he loves her just as much as if she were his biological child. Despite being in their mid-50s, both Harriet and Walter feel profoundly lonely and undeserving of love until Zott reminds them and the Supper at Six viewers that one can alter their life at any given moment. This notion is proved when Harriet falls in love with Walter and makes the decision to leave her misogynistic husband.

4 A Negative Article Is Published On Elizabeth In Life Magazine & She Quits The Show

Walter and Harriet persuade Zott, who is hesitant about sharing personal information, to do a cover story for Life magazine. Despite her carefully crafted image, her choice to be open and honest about her personal life and history has unintended negative consequences. The journalist, being fond of Zott, writes a commendable article about her as a chemist but his editor manipulates it into a smear campaign without his knowledge.

The show Supper at Six gains even more popularity following the saying that any publicity is good publicity. However, Zott, who has already battled depression for years, begins to spiral downward. Eventually, she decides to leave the show and pursue a career in chemistry because she believes she will never be truly respected as a chemist while also being a TV cook.

3 Protests Help Elizabeth Get A Proper Profile In Vogue

The journalist resigned from his position at Life and discreetly placed the unpublished favorable profile he had written on her doorstep, along with a note emphasizing his efforts to find a publisher for the truth. Zott, feeling disheartened by the fruitless attempts, no longer finds it worthwhile. However, Mad, burdened by the knowledge that her mother agreed to participate in Supper at Six solely because of her, decides to take matters into her own hands. Frask, now working as Wakely's secretary, takes the initiative and submits the profile to various magazines, accompanied by letters to the editors. She also urges Supper at Six fans to follow suit until the substantial protests compel its publication in Vogue.

2 Calvin’s Biological Mother Is Alive

Calvin's character in Lessons in Chemistry is haunted by the belief that he was cursed, as his entire family had passed away, except for one biological parent who supposedly rejected him. The Catholic boys' home where he was raised often engaged in schemes to exploit desperate parents, including his birth mother, who he was informed had died during childbirth. As an adult, Calvin receives letters from a sorrowful woman who asserts that she is his biological mother. Avery Parker, an unmarried teenage mother, was informed that her son had died at birth, only to later discover that he had actually succumbed to pneumonia at the age of 10.

Calvin assumes that this woman who writes him letters is lying to try and gain access to his money or research, just like others have done in the past. However, his assumption is incorrect. Despite having ample wealth, Avery Parker's home prevented her from seeing her son, even after she found out he had survived birth. The bishop once again lied about the child's death, this time to persuade her foundation to establish a fund for the orphanage in her son's honor. It was only after her son became a renowned chemist and started publishing papers that Avery discovered he was still alive. This explains why she now sends letters under the pseudonym "Sad Mother."

1 Calvin’s Mother Acquires Hastings & Replaces Donatti With Elizabeth

The Parker Foundation played a significant role in funding Calvin's research at Hastings, as well as Elizabeth's investigation on abiogenesis. As a result of Madeline and Wakely's findings, they were led to believe that a man named Wilson was Calvin's biological father, who had rejected him. In reality, Avery, a wealthy unmarried woman with limited financial rights during that era, used Wilson as a front for her foundation. Mad sent a letter to Wilson, and the viral profiles on Zott eventually led Avery to uncover the truth about Elizabeth and Calvin's relationship, as well as Mad's existence.

The Parker Foundation acquired Hastings, terminating Donatti, and extended the offer to Elizabeth Zott to serve as the head of Chemistry, which she gladly accepted. Avery and Elizabeth form a strong connection, sharing their love for Calvin, their experiences of motherhood, and navigating the challenges of being powerful women in a male-dominated realm. Despite enduring significant heartache, Lessons in Chemistry concludes on a positive note as Avery and Wilson embrace their unique family, while Zott resumes her abiogenesis research with unwavering support from Six-Thirty.