Lessons in Chemistry Ending Explained: How Elizabeth Zott Found Her True Calling

Summary

• Lessons in Chemistry ends on a happy note, as Elizabeth Zott takes up a new job as a chemistry teacher and pursues her true passions.
• Elizabeth and Mad meet Avery Parker, Calvin’s mother who had been looking for his son for a while.
• Harriet fails to convince the government to stop the construction of the freeway through her Black neighborhood.

The final episode of Apple TV’s latest series, Lessons in Chemistry, wraps up the intriguing story of Elizabeth Zott on a happy note.

Lessons in Chemistry is based on Bonnie Garmus’s best-selling novel of the same name, but the series makes quite a few changes to the story. Season 1, episode 8, titled “Introduction to Chemistry,” had a few surprises for fans, even if they’re familiar with the book.

In the finale, Elizabeth Zott announces that she is quitting her live show during her Christmas special episode. It is also revealed that Zott goes back to school as a chemistry professor after leaving the show.

Elizabeth values the legacy she leaves behind more than anything else. She insists that her show, Supper at Six, will find its new host from their massive fanbase, which mainly includes housewives. Elizabeth wanted to teach women how to control their destinies, so this is a step towards the approach.

Here’s a complete breakdown of the Lessons in Chemistry season 1 finale ending!

1. Why did Elizabeth quit Supper at Six?

Elizabeth quit Supper at Six as she wanted to pursue chemistry. Her decision was inspired by her daughter, Mad, who reminded her that a chemist usually pursues chemistry. Elizabeth realizes that due to her job as a host, she has been pushing her true passion behind.

Elizabeth decided to focus on chemistry instead of continuing with her job, as it was her true passion. She wanted to give more time to her subject and science. However, the ending is very different from the original ending in the books.

In the books, Elizabeth does not suddenly become a chemistry teacher in a school. Instead, she goes back to working as a lab tech at Hastings Research Institute after quitting her show.

The series changes the ending and brings a refreshing change for Elizabeth, who is a part of a loving, vibrant community as a chemistry teacher. Either way, she is able to pursue her true interests.

2. Who is Avery Parker?

Avery Parker is Calvin’s real mother, whom he considered dead for a long time. Although Calvin grew up in a boys’ home, it was not his biological parents who left him there.

The Lessons in Chemistry finale introduces Calvin’s birth mother, Avery Parker, who is now a wealthy science nerd. It turns out that Avery became pregnant when she was 16, so she was forced to give away Calvin to adoptive parents.

Calvin’s adoptive parents died when he was 16, so he grew up in a boy’s home. Avery tried looking for her son once she got hold of her trust fund. She took the help of her lawyer, Wilson.

However, the bishop at the boys’ home lied to Wilson that Calvin died years back to get them to donate money to the home. Avery later discovers that Calvin is alive through his profile, and she reunites with Mad and Elizabeth in the finale.

3. What happens to Harriett at the end of Lessons in Chemistry?

While we see everything turning out well for Elizabeth in the series, we also see the ongoing story of a Black woman named Harriett. Comparing and contrasting Elizabeth and Harriet’s stories show how differently they are treated because of their race.

Throughout the series, Harriet is fighting to stop the building of a highway through her Black neighborhood. In the end, she fails to bring any change and the construction of the highway is approved by the government.

Nothing concrete about what happens to Harriet is mentioned, as the finale focuses more on Elizabeth’s happy ending. However, the series adds a lot of substance to Harriet’s character by portraying the struggles of Black people in that day and age.

4. Does Lessons in Chemistry have a happy ending?

Lessons in Chemistry has a happy ending for its protagonist, Elizabeth Zott. However, Elizabeth’s friend, Harriet, does not get her happy ending as she is unable to stop her local government from building a highway through her predominantly Black neighborhood.

Overall, Lessons in Chemistry ends on a happy note as Elizabeth is finally able to pursue her love of chemistry. She also meets Avery Parker, who bonds with Mad and Elizabeth.

Moreover, she also leaves a strong message as she makes it clear that her show, Supper at Six, should find her replacement among the many housewives who made her show so popular.

5. About Lessons in Chemistry

Lessons in Chemistry is a drama television series based on the novel of the same name by Bonnie Garmus. It is due to debut in 2023 on Apple TV+.

A female scientist in the 1960s begins using a cooking show she is hired to host to educate housewives on scientific topics after she is fired from her own lab.

The show stars Brie Larson as Elizabeth Zott, Lewis Pullman as Calvin Evans, Aja Naomi King as Harriet Slone, Stephanie Koenig as Fran Frask and Patrick Walker as Wakely in lead roles.