The MVP: Brie Larson Commands Grief and Joy in Lessons in Chemistry

Editor’s Note: Welcome to The MVP, a column where we celebrate the best performances TV has to offer. Whether it be through heart-wrenching outbursts, powerful looks, or perfectly-timed comedy, TV’s most memorable moments are made by the medium’s greatest players—top-billed or otherwise. Join us as we dive deep on our favorite TV performances, past and present:

When it comes to Emmys season, there are a few different types of nominations. There are the eye-roll-inducing ones; the nods that feel like they were just chosen out of sheer popularity, or, more likely, a lack of knowledge of the full breadth of television released within the eligibility window. And there are, of course, the snubs; the performances that didn’t even make it into the room but were undoubtedly deserving of some celebration. But, sometimes, the Television Academy absolutely nails it. Specifically, Brie Larson’s nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her performance as Elizabeth Zott in Apple TV+’s underrated Lessons in Chemistry is undoubtedly deserved. 

This Emmys nomination marks the first time Larson has been recognized for her work on the small screen, which, admittedly, is a rather small repertoire. A film actor by trade, Lessons is her first television leading role, only having made small appearances in shows like Community and Ms Marvel previously. She would, of course, also reprise her role as Envy in Netflix’s Scott Pilgrim Takes Off concurrently with Lessons’ roll-out last year, but even that (delightful and extremely well-performed) outing is still less of an undertaking than the journey she embarks on throughout the Apple limited series. Perhaps more importantly, this nomination marks a return to the prestige for Larson, who won the Best Actress Oscar in 2016 for Room before getting trapped in franchise hell ever since. And while I will always love and appreciate the depth she’s brought to stellar characters like Captain Marvel’s Carol Danvers, it’s just refreshing to see this extremely talented actress come back into awards contention after so many years. 

Lessons in Chemistry follows Elizabeth Zott, a female scientist trying to make a name for herself in the cutthroat scientific community of the 1950s, where men would rather she remain a housewife or an assistant than someone who actually works with their complicated equations and overflowing beakers. That is, until she meets Calvin Evans (Lewis Pullman, another deserved nominee from this stacked cast), a lone-wolf genius who turns out to be her perfect lab partner—and life partner. But, unfortunately, the series doesn’t end in a happily ever after, and, instead, is both a story of love and grief, as Elizabeth loses Calvin to a hit-and-run before the birth of their daughter. Lessons continues to chronicle Elizabeth’s journey through motherhood, her scientific exploits, her stint as a TV personality, and her status as a community icon. It’s a true tour through the complex and enrapturing life of a complicated and compelling woman, and it’s all grounded by Larson’s arresting performance. 

As the episodes tick by, the duet of Pullman and Larson quickly flips to a solo act as Elizabeth’s life continues on without Calvin, but that’s when Larson truly does her best work (despite the electric, for lack of a better word, chemistry she shares with her co-star). There’s a tortured genius vibe to Elizabeth that is both endearing and inaccessible, allowing Larson to tap into both a cagey, logic-based performance while still utilizing her deep bench of emotional touchstones. Elizabeth is blunt and sharp and logical and likely autistic, but Larson never lets this performance veer towards one-note caricature. Unlike other instances of autistic-coded characters on screen, Larson’s sober delivery grounds those moments where Elizabeth may seem inaccessible or impersonal and adds a layer of softness and care to them. As she looks at her newborn baby with a mixture of bewilderment and confusion and sadness and wonder, there’s still never a question of whether Elizabeth cares for her daughter Mad (the nurse told her to name her after what she’s feeling—she took that literally), especially as she grows into a young woman herself. 

More than anything, Larson carries Lessons in Chemistry in a way that is beyond admirable and is just downright incredible. Acting as both the lead actor and an executive producer can be a tough balancing act, especially for a role this demanding, but when you press play on that very first episode, there’s no doubt that Larson knows Elizabeth Zott inside and out, and is ready and able to deliver the performance of a lifetime in the remaining seven outings. As we follow Elizabeth through all the challenges she never expected—the love she didn’t think she wanted, the grief she never saw coming, and the existence that carried on afterwards—it’s all anchored to every minute line on Larson’s face, every twist of her mouth, every slouch of her shoulders, and every gentle hand that would caress many faces throughout the series’ run, from friends and family to lovers and daughters. 

It’s an overall incredible performance in a category beyond stacked at this year’s ceremonies. With competition like Jodie Foster in True Detective: Night Country, Sofia Vergara in Griselda, Juno Temple in Fargo, and Naomi Watts in FEUD: Capote vs. The Swans, it’s tough to say whether or not Larson will ultimately walk away with the statue. But even if she doesn’t, she can rest assured that she turned in a fantastic outing that not only catapulted her back to the top of the awards conversation, but also cemented her place within my heart as one of my all-time favorite performers. Suffice to say, I’ll be seated for whatever she does next.

Anna Govert is the TV Editor of Paste Magazine. For any and all thoughts about TV, film, and her unshakable love of complicated female villains, you can follow her @annagovert.

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