While our daughter was here from California for a few days for my birthday, we watched Lessons in Chemistry, which is on Apple TV (which she has and we don’t). You may remember I recommended the book when reviewing it on my blog back in 2022 (see that post here), and you can read that post to see the storyline.  The adaptation was done in an eight part series, and we liked it even though it departed from the book in places.

There are trigger warnings here galore: rape, suicide, sudden accidental death, lying church, and loads of white male patriarchy. the story line has an arch toward hope, although facing these things bracingly and head on. By the end, however, against all odds, family and love and warmth were in place, while all throughout all was competent backbone and a refusal to be undermined. I always appreciate a female character owning her own intrinsic worth, and forging ahead regardless of impediments society (or life) puts in her way.

I thought the casting, acting, pacing, costuming, and cinematography here were are good. I give the series 5 stars.