Have an off-screen narration from the canine perspective of grief. Sounds weird? Of course it is, and although cliché, there is chemistry. We say goodbye to the second episode of Lessons in Chemistry with the two almost autistic, chemists, Elizabeth Zott (Brie Larson) and Calvin Evans (Lewis Pullman, son of Bill Pullman) in a brief, intense, and sweet passion that was obviously so idyllic that it would have to be tragic. Calvin is run over in front of his house, leaving a desolate Elizabeth back in the scenario where she was just escaping from a sexist and intolerable universe. Not even the unplanned pregnancy is a relief for her as she is immediately fired for it.

Let’s go back. We already know that it will turn things around, that the current villains will somehow pay forward, but in a universe where the cliché of patriarchy is the basis of the story, we also need to recognize that unfortunately Lessons in Chemistry demands that we want to indulge in escapism, not the central message. That’s because often, like all the projects the ultra-engaged Brie Larson gets involved with, it’s very “on the nose”, to borrow the expression in English. This almost aggressive obviousness of her involvement with feminist and racial causes is problematic when it doesn’t provoke empathy and is so correct that I get upset reacting to it more than connecting. Brie’s specialty has seemed to be women without a moment of love, of affection, of hope. Her revolt is apparent and risks hindering more than helping. Elizabeth Zott, like others in the actress’s filmography, is, as she said, almost autistic. She sees the world as a chemistry where simple coffee is a formula, her sentences are rational to the point of arrogance. That Elizabeth was like that in the book would be something, but since I know that in another film Brie did the same thing to an author I know who is the opposite of what she played (I’m talking about Glass Castle), I suspect she’s doing the same now.

Getting that out of the way, Lessons in Chemistry follows its path of ‘engaged romantic comedy’, with men being men, that is, villains and sisterhood bringing hope. There is something important about the story: male evil is real, it is the source of much pain and in Elizabeth’s case, the destruction of her career. All things considered, it’s an inspiring story and we’ll soon see how out of adversity, inspired by Calvin, she will change all that.