When We Rise: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 49 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 49 Ratings

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When We Rise: Dustin Lance Black, Creator & Executive Producer, On The Show

Now Playing: When We Rise: Dustin Lance Black, Creator & Executive Producer, On The Show

Season Details & Credits

ABC | Season Premiere Date: February 27, 2017

Summary: The miniseries written and created by Dustin Lance Black focuses on the LGBT movement from its beginnings in the 1970s to the present with LGBT activist Cleve Jones (Guy Pearce); women’s rights leader Roma Guy (Mary-Louise Parker); her wife, social justice activist Diane Jones (Rachel Griffiths); African-American community organizer KenThe miniseries written and created by Dustin Lance Black focuses on the LGBT movement from its beginnings in the 1970s to the present with LGBT activist Cleve Jones (Guy Pearce); women’s rights leader Roma Guy (Mary-Louise Parker); her wife, social justice activist Diane Jones (Rachel Griffiths); African-American community organizer Ken Jones (Michael K. Williams); and transgender-activist Cecilia Chung (Ivory Aquino).… Expand

Genre(s): Drama, Movie/Mini-Series

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E8. Part VIII
Air Date: March 3, 2017
tbd
S1:E7. Part VII
Air Date: March 3, 2017
tbd
S1:E6. Part VI
Air Date: March 2, 2017

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Uncle Barky Ed Bark

Feb 24, 2017

When We Rise is an enriching, bonafide TV event of the first order and also powerful enough to change more than a few entrenched minds. Read full review

Lorraine Ali

Feb 27, 2017

Though the star power doesn’t arrive until the last two episodes, it’s the first half of When We Rise that is riveting. The early years are passionate and filled with urgency, mirroring the excitement and promise of an era still basking in the glow of the optimistic ’60s. Read full review

Robert Bianco

Feb 24, 2017

[The first two installments] are Rise's best, most concise episodes, yet even they try to do too much, falling prey to an "and then this happened" narrative, a slew of distracting (and often badly bewigged) cameos and a rushed pace that is particularly ill-suited to the segment on the AIDS crisis. Read full review

Verne Gay

Feb 27, 2017

Important television, but also wildly, maddeningly uneven TV, too. Read full review

Collider Chris Cabin

Feb 27, 2017

The drama grows more plainly mature in the last few volumes, but the sheer amount of what Lance Black and the creative team are biting off here ends up limiting just how knowledgeable, sincere, and convincing the series comes off as. Read full review

IndieWire Ben Travers

Feb 23, 2017

The narrative strains to fit in dramatic moments, but time restrictions squeeze out poignancy and power. And every episode hews to the blunt screenwriting aesthetic that defines most broadcast fare: heavy on exposition, and willing to sacrifice confusing or ambiguous emotional moments for the sake of clarity. Read full review

Dave Nemetz

Feb 21, 2017

It sets out to be the comprehensive historical record of gay rights in America, but its unwieldy structure and clumsy writing make it more of a footnote. Read full review

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User Score

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User Reviews

Trivial

Feb 27, 2017

When we rise is an important and authentic miniseries that is able to convey a message of hope to the new generations. I really liked it, well directed by Gus van Sant, Dee Rees, thomas Schlamme and DLB.

3 of 11 users found this helpful38

elizabf

Mar 4, 2017

When We Rise is such an important show wow. it's just so wonderfully made and written. loved Michael k. William and Mary Louse Parker. do yourself a favor and watch it.

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

AryamanS

Mar 3, 2017

It feels relevant and that's the most important thing. Viewers should tune in to the mini-series because there are only a few shows (including when we rise) that portray matters which need a necessary conversation.

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

Rachelmc4

Mar 5, 2017

Heartbreaking, inspiring, outstanding. Stellar performances from so many of the cast it's hard to choose a standout, but Michael K Williams gives a particularly powerful performance as Ken Jones.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

jadonut

Mar 8, 2017

There was not a dry tear in my eye during any of these episodes. It hit me in the gut, repeatedly, To see gay couples portrayed in such a positive light, then ripped apart by the epidemic and social upheaval...it was devastating.

The series at its best hit an emotional chord whileThere was not a dry tear in my eye during any of these episodes. It hit me in the gut, repeatedly, To see gay couples portrayed in such a positive light, then ripped apart by the epidemic and social upheaval...it was devastating.

The series at its best hit an emotional chord while providing enlightenment to America's rich LGBT history. At it's worst, it was rushed and muddled (through the second half) but the emotional punches kept coming. It's hard not to take away from it a renewed sense of understanding for this older generation, who as a Millennial, knew little about.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

JorgeLestre

Feb 28, 2017

'When We Rise' is a very important television exercise that speaks louder than its mind. Gus Van Sant's directing is compelling and the characters seem very interesting throughout the episode. It still needs some polishing here and there but it is definitely worth a look.

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

BRETTER

Mar 3, 2017

Liberal leftwing media needs to figure out that having shows like this thrown down our thought for a week will not work. I support LGBT, but this is not a way to do it. Much of America is tolerant and respectful of people's rights. People are tired of parades and disrespectful protesters.Liberal leftwing media needs to figure out that having shows like this thrown down our thought for a week will not work. I support LGBT, but this is not a way to do it. Much of America is tolerant and respectful of people's rights. People are tired of parades and disrespectful protesters. ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN & California need to just stop trying to destroy our country's moral values.… Expand

4 of 16 users found this helpful412

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More From When We Rise

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When We Rise: Dustin Lance Black, Creator & Executive Producer, On The Show

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When We Rise: Jonathan Majors On The Show As A Story Of Humanity

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When We Rise: Emily Skeggs On Roma Guy

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When We Rise: Michael Kenneth Williams On The Show

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When We Rise: Dustin Lance Black, Creator & Executive Producer, On Working...

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When We Rise: Ivory Aquino On Why She Wanted To Be A Part Of The Show

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When We Rise: Mary-Louise Parker On What Inspires Her About This Story

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When We Rise: Emily Skeggs On The Script And Her Character

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When We Rise: Guy Pearce On Why He Wanted To Be A Part Of This Project

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When We Rise: Jonathan Majors On How Ken Jones' Struggle Differed From Roma...

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When We Rise: Rachel Griffiths On Her Character

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When We Rise: Guy Pearce On Cleve Jones

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When We Rise: Guy Pearce On The Show

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When We Rise: Rachel Griffiths On Working With Mary-Louise Parker

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When We Rise: Promo

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When We Rise: Emily Skeggs On Whether This Story Is About Family

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When We Rise: Mary-Louise Parker On Working With Dustin Lance Black

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When We Rise: Dustin Lance Black, Creator & Executive Producer, On The Guest...

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When We Rise: Dustin Lance Black, Creator & Executive Producer, On Whether...

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When We Rise: Ivory Aquino On Cecilia Chung

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When We Rise: Emily Skeggs On The Impact Of Ken Jones, Cleve Jones And Roma Guy

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When We Rise: Rachel Griffiths On Describing The Show As Gay Roots

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When We Rise: Michael Kenneth Williams On His Character

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When We Rise: Michael Kenneth Williams On Appreciating The Struggles That...

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When We Rise: Emily Skeggs On Gus Van Sant

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When We Rise: Ivory Aquino On What She Hopes Viewers Take Away From The Show

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When We Rise: Not Again

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When We Rise: Getting Married

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When We Rise: Jonathan Majors On Ken Jones

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When We Rise: Mary-Louise Parker On Meeting And Portraying Roma Guy

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When We Rise: Guy Pearce On His Character

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When We Rise: Message To America

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When We Rise: Necessity

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When We Rise: Family Already

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When We Rise: City Hall Proposal

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When We Rise: Share It

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When We Rise: Doctor

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When We Rise: Ivory Aquino On The Show

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When We Rise: Ivory Aquino On Casting Trans Actresses In Trans Roles

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When We Rise: Guy Pearce On Whether The Show Can Make A Difference

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When We Rise: Michael Kenneth Williams On Why He Wanted To Be A Part Of The Show

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When We Rise: Rachel Griffiths On The Role San Francisco Plays In The Story

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When We Rise: Mary-Louise Parker On Working With Rachel Griffiths

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When We Rise: Jonathan Majors On Working With Dustin Lance Black

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When We Rise: Jonathan Majors On The Feeling On Set

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When We Rise: Dustin Lance Black, Creator & Executive Producer, On Developing...

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When We Rise: Extended Trailer

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When We Rise: Mary-Louise Parker On What She Hopes Viewers Take Away From The...

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When We Rise: Michael Kenneth Williams On Spending Time With Ken Jones

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When We Rise: Rachel Griffiths On Researching The Role Of Caregivers During...

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When We Rise: Va Hospital

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Seasons & Episodes

67

Series Overview
Season 1

67
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: February 27, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E8. Part VIII
  Air Date: March 3, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E7. Part VII
  Air Date: March 3, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E6. Part VI
  Air Date: March 2, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E5. Part V
  Air Date: March 2, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E4. Part IV
  Air Date: March 3, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E3. Part III
  Air Date: March 2, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E2. Part II
  Air Date: March 1, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E1. Part I
  Air Date: February 27, 2017