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Rise Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
10 Episodes 2018 - 2018
Episode 1
Pilot
Tue, Mar 13, 201844 mins
In the premiere, Lou petitions to take over as director of the theater program in an attempt to revitalize his passion for teaching, but quickly realizes he has his work cut out for him. His controversial decision to change the musical to the more provocative "Spring Awakening" and his atypical casting choices create a ripple effect for the program's assistant director Tracey Wolfe. the school's football coach Sam Strickland, and the students in the show.
Episode 2
Most of All to Dream
Tue, Mar 20, 201843 mins
Lou is brought down to earth when his production budget is slashed, Coach Strickland vindictively monopolizes Robbie's time, and he has a conflict with Tracey. Lilette finds herself starting to fall for Robbie, while Simon contends with conflicting feelings about his role in the show. As Michael finds support within the theater troupe, Gwen acts out in rehearsals in response to tensions at home.
Episode 3
What Flowers May Bloom
Tue, Mar 27, 201843 mins
With the first production meeting, Lou continues to dream big despite the meager budget, he not wanting to let those dreams go until absolutely necessary. He gets a surprising person on his side. Those dreams take a major hit when Simon drops his bombshell of news, which hits everyone hard, especially Lilette, the two who have been best friends since second grade. One of the results of Simon's news is that Tracey has to get some issues off her chest with regard to Lou and the Theater program. Meanwhile, Sam continues to get the cold shoulder from Denise at home, which makes his thoughts turn back to Vanessa. Vanessa's man troubles continue to affect how she parents Lilette, who in turn sees Robbie as just another guy who only has his own interests at heart. But Lilette sees another unexpected side of Robbie in the process. And Maashous' presence in the Mazzuchelli home continues to have negative repercussions on Gordy. Lou and Gail have to decide what to do in the matter, with their first priority needing to be Gordy, while hopefully not totally dismissing Maashous' welfare in the process. On an associated process, Gordy will find that Coach Strickland, who is supposed to be providing him adult guidance, is nothing like his own father.
Episode 4
Victory Party
Tue, Apr 3, 201843 mins
Working so closely with Tracey shows Lou that she needs a life outside of school. Lou, seeing the signs, encourages something to make that outside life happen, the intention being there with or without Lou's intervention. Lou's action may build upon the already tense situation between the two of them. The Mazzuchellis are also planning a trip to Pittsburgh to visit Gail's sister Carol and her family, and to watch Carol's seven year old daughter Bailey perform in a ballet production of "Cats". Lou and Gail would normally allow Gordy to stay at home, but as his drinking issue is still unresolved, they force him to go along. Something that Gordy does may place his parents' trust of him on shakier ground. Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Thorne will be hosting a party for Robbie and the football team to celebrate what should be the easy victory in their next game, where scouts will be in attendance to watch Jamal play, but where Mr. Thorne hopes they will also notice Robbie, despite he only being in his sophomore year. Lilette receives an invitation to the party directly from Robbie, it yet another ambiguous situation between the two in that Lilette is unsure if it's a date or just friends hanging out. While someone tries to clarify matters to ensure Lilette doesn't get hurt, Lilette in turn receives a message that is unambiguous in its meaning despite it being delivered with somewhat oblique language. Although the party is meant solely to be for the football team, the theater group, learning of the party through the grapevine, believes that they are also invited. What happens at the party, exacerbated by events at the football game, places Robbie dead center in a bad situation.
Episode 5
We've All Got Our Junk
Tue, Apr 10, 201843 mins
The production hits another obstacle concerning the actual performance, something that Tracey was aware of but hits Lou by surprise. Maashous believes he has at least a partial solution, but what Lou decides to do to improve the situation may have the opposite effect in he not fully comprehending all the pieces in play. Something else that is affecting the production is Robbie and Lilette's off stage relationship, which is reflected in how they interact with each other on stage. Meanwhile, Lou and Gail have to decide what to do about Gordy, especially after he stays out all evening following the party without telling them where he was. They know that they have to provide a united front in dealing with him, and follow through with whatever rule and consequence they lay down with him. A conversation Lou has with Sam may provide another perspective despite Sam not having a game plan in taking charge of Gordy. Sam and Denise make a decision about their marriage which is made all the more real when they bring Gwen into the discussion. Following Tracey and Andy's date, Tracey has mixed feelings about what to do in both having a good time on that date and liking Andy, while not wanting to place herself in either an unprofessional situation or in a situation of potentially being hurt. And Simon begins school at St. Francis. He tries to put on a good face about school, but may not ultimately be able to hide the fact that he'd still rather be at Stanton. With all these issues, a few characters hit their breaking point and react in extreme ways.
Episode 6
Bring Me Stanton
Tue, Apr 17, 201843 mins
It's three weeks until opening night. From a scale model he's asked Maashous to build, Lou has designed his dream set - a mix of old Germany with modern day Stanton, it meant to bring the Stanton audience into the experience - he determined to have it built despite the obstacles. This is only the latest of a series of obstacles as Vanessa's actions at the diner have had a ripple effect on Lilette, which in turn has had a ripple effect on the logistics of rehearsals. Vanessa does not comprehend the emotional aspect of what her dealing with the aftermath is having on her daughter. Due to the latest gaffe at practice, Robbie is given an ultimatum by Coach. And Sasha confides a personal issue with Tracey, who tries to help her bridge the problem at least emotionally. These obstacles lead to further issues with Lou at home as Gail feels he's neglecting the needs of the family. Meanwhile, Simon overcompensates for an admission made to him by Jeremy, with Annabelle the party who may be the used object. Gwen continues to stew about what is happening with her parents, she now having a focus to her anger. And stemming from an issue associated with the set, Gordy is placed into a situation where he is shown the extent of his drinking problem.
Episode 7
This Will God Willing Get Better
Tue, Apr 24, 201843 mins
It's technical week and both Lou and Tracey are happy with the production at this stage of the process, although Lou, having never gone through technical run-throughs, is overly optimistic that there will be a minimal number of issues. Beyond those technical issues which number more than Lou could have even imagined, he finds that other things are happening to the cast negatively affecting what happens on stage, the backgrounds of which he may not be fully aware. In using the tactic suggested by Lou to deal with the matter, Robbie is benched by Coach Strickland. Not being as natural a musical theater performer as he is a football player, he cannot turn to the show as the replacement for football, and may see Lou as the cause of his problems. And the connection that existed on stage between Simon and Jeremy is no longer, as Jeremy feels betrayed upon learning that Simon and Annabelle are having sex, although reality is not quite as Jeremy is told. Other issues with the cast include Michael and Sasha, once best friends, working through their strained relationship in light of Michael's gender expression, Sasha feeling abandoned as Michael dealt with that transition, and Michael learning about Sasha's current predicament, his action on the matter which is viewed by Sasha as solely an overt expression of his chosen gender. And despite his grand gesture in getting the Stanton Steel sign for the show, Gwen continues to have problems relating to her father. In being all alone, Sam may fall to the temptation that is Vanessa who is now working at the motel where he is living. Through it all, ticket sales are going poorly unlike previous years, as Lou learns the budget for future shows is dependent on the revenue generated by this production. Meanwhile, Maashous learns some news about his foster situation. Coupled with an incident at the Mazzuchelli house leads to Maashous too feeling like his world may be further crumbling around him. And Gordy has started group rehab. His seeming progress and what is really happening within therapy may be totally different from each other. Gordy deals with his problems with the one thing that calms him down.
Episode 8
The Petition
Tue, May 1, 201843 mins
An unauthorized video posted online promoting the show - the video which misrepresents the show in that it shows provocative images from the rehearsals - has mixed results. While ticket sales spike, Lou and Tracey believing by now interested students, opponents to the show begin to mobilize to do whatever they can to stop the show from making it to opening night. This opposition affects the dynamics of one family in particular. If the production does make it to opening night, Lou and Tracey know they have to do something for Robbie to get his mojo back. What Lou unilaterally decides to do in the matter, much to Tracey's ire, has the unexpected consequence of helping Gordy. Meanwhile, Sam and Vanessa's affair affects what happens between them, Lilette, Gwen and Gordy. Maashous tells Lou and Gail about his mother, but not the full extent of the story. And with Michael by her side, Sasha thinks she knows what she will do about her pregnancy. She gets some unexpected support in the matter.
Episode 9
Totally Hosed
Tue, May 8, 201843 mins
With three days until opening night, Lou and Tracey work through the show's changes demanded by Principal Ward and the PTA, with Lou and Principal Ward's jobs on the line. The changes are meant to sanitize the show, removing anything that could be deemed even remotely offensive, such as swear words, and any direct mention of topics that are controversial, like teen pregnancy, abortion, rape, incest, homosexuality and overt sexuality. Lou is however unaware of the full extent of the backroom discussion between Evan and Tracey, and thus Tracey's response to that discussion. Even with the checklist of needed changes, Lou and Tracey go into the process with differing views of how to make the changes without compromising the fundamental messages in the book. Their process further affects the performers, many who are going through their own off stage challenges. Simon is watching his family fall apart in front of his eyes, he needing to be the strong one for Emma, while his father will not let the family break apart if solely in the name of Catholicism. With Vanessa's disappearance, Lilette has to manage her home life on her own, including fending off their landlord Sal who is demanding the already late rent or else. And Robbie receives the news of his mother's failing health and the need to prepare for the end. Meanwhile, Gordy informs his parents that he is required to do community service. His choice of what to do surprises them, and may consciously or unconsciously have something to do with Gwen, which his father in particular can see. And Maashous tells the Mazzuchellis that he is moving back in with his mother. While none of them really want to see Maashous leave, Kaitlin and Sadie take the news the hardest, Kaitlin who thinks she knows the answer to what she sees as the problem.
Episode 10
Opening Night
Tue, May 15, 201843 mins
It's the day of the opening night, and much is happening behind the scenes which affects the psyche of those involved with the show. After an absence of a few days, Vanessa returns home with some big news, the motives behind which Lilette views with some skepticism. The next step in the separation of the Strickland marriage which is meant to be a stabilizing force places yet another strain between Joe and Gwen. Simon has mixed emotions about the fact of his entire family attending opening night: he is happy that they will all be there, but is upset about his father's role in what he believes is a poor substitute in comparison to what the show really could have been. Maashous prepares for his move from the Mazzuchelli home back with his mother who he has not lived with since he was eight. Michael and Sasha continue to open up about things happening between and with them which may add further bumps in their friendship. And Tracey is incommunicado, at least with Lou, she who plans not to attend opening night because of Lou's accusation of having a back room deal with Principal Ward. The only person who may be somewhat happy this day is Robbie, whose mother will be attending the show, probably the only time she will be able to see him act. Lou, who, with Tracey, has made all the requested changes by Principal Ward, the school board superintendent, and the PTA, is afraid that the show is nothing that he envisioned and is nothing with all the sanitized changes despite the bones of the gorgeous set and the stellar performances still intact. Lou is incredulous to one last change requested by Evan hours before curtain, with Lou deciding on necessary further changes as a result. What happens by the end of the show is not what Lou expects.
