Lessons In Chemistry Finale: Brie Larson Talks Major Book Change, #GirlDinner And More — Watch
Children, set the table. Your mother needs a moment to discuss the Lessons in Chemistry finale.
The Apple TV+ series starring Brie Larson wrapped on Wednesday, with a surprising new Supper at Six sponsor: Tampax. Elizabeth Zott's speech announcing the partnership — and her subsequent explanation of menstruation in terms so sterile it was perfectly powerful and comedic — was an astonishing moment because it wasn't in the Bonnie Garmus novel on which the series is based. Yet, the love letter to tampons wasn't all that shocking considering what we've come to know about Larson's character: She's a no-nonsense scientist who despises sexism — of course she values the importance of feminine hygiene!
But how did the Lessons in Chemistry team land on such a fitting finale moment? TVLine talked to Larson, who also serves as executive producer, to get some answers.
"It was a lot of conversation about what would be the elegant way to get out of this situation that she's in, and what would be the revolution for Elizabeth in that," Larson explains in the video above. "And she's a very practical person. [Tampax] would definitely be a taboo product that she would not understand why it's taboo in any way, because [menstruation] is a very natural human function. Once we understood that, we were able to pull apart, with her mind, how that would work."
According to Larson, the finale moment "was just perfect."
Following her rousing menstruation monologue, Elizabeth announces she'll be leaving Supper at Six to pursue what she really values: science. Her departure is authentic, but doesn't minimize the cooking show as something frivolous. She says Supper at Six will continue without her, and that one of the audience members will become its new host.
"She's now freed herself while also acknowledging and allowing the show to continue to live and to continue to be this thing, that it doesn't have to be an either/or," Larson says. "That it can still be this thing that's empowering and will empower others, and she can empower herself. It's just the perfect blend."
The series ends with a three year time jump, where we find Elizabeth teaching Introduction to Chemistry to a room full of a men and women: She's pursuing her PhD.
And so she finishes the series as a feminist icon, just as she began. As such, we wanted to know how she would navigate science, food and feminism today: Namely, what would Elizabeth think of the current #GirlDinner trend? (If you aren't extremely online, #GirlDinner is a TikTok phenomenon where women arrange snack plates full of little goodies — such as pickles, cheese, crackers, grapes and carrots — and call it a meal!)
Press PLAY on the video above to hear Larson's thoughts on #GirlDinner, grade the episode and the season as a whole via the polls below, then hit the comments: What did you think of the Lessons in Chemistry finale? Were you shocked by that Supper at Six partnership? Tell us all your thoughts!