When We Rise

When We Rise

show

TV-14, 2017, Drama

WISE
68%

WISE Score

82

Avg. Tomatometer

ABC's earnest docudrama chronicles 50 years of LGBTQ+ activism from Stonewall forward—important history, heavy viewing.

IMDb7.5
RT Critics82%
MC67
Common Sense Media
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Screenwise Verdict

This is the kind of show you assign for a high school history class, not something teens are going to binge on their own. It's important, well-made, and genuinely educational about a civil rights movement that shaped modern America.

But let's be real: it's a 2017 ABC miniseries with that earnest, slow-burn network TV pacing. The subject matter is heavy—police violence, systemic discrimination, the AIDS crisis—and while the message about solidarity and courage is inspiring, this isn't exactly riveting entertainment for most teens.

If you've got a high schooler interested in history, social justice, or LGBTQ+ issues, this is valuable viewing. Just know it's a commitment, not a page-turner. The enrichment value is genuinely high, but the watchability factor for modern teens is middling unless they're already invested in the topic.

Age Fit

Best for ages 15+ given the police violence, mature themes, and heavy emotional content around discrimination and the AIDS crisis. This is educational viewing for high schoolers who can handle serious historical trauma, not family movie night with younger kids.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
72

Models courage, solidarity, and standing up for dignity and rights. Shows people from different backgrounds joining forces for a common cause. However, depicts significant real-world violence from police (billy clubs, tear gas) and social discrimination that can be emotionally heavy. The tone is serious and grounded, not chaotic, but the subject matter involves trauma and struggle.

Imaginative
48

This is a historical docudrama chronicling real events from 1969 forward. It's educational and well-executed but follows a traditional biographical miniseries format without much creative innovation. It's more about accurately retelling history than inviting imagination or creative expression. The storytelling intersects three lives effectively but doesn't break new ground in form.

Safe
55

Contains police violence with billy clubs and tear gas, physical confrontations, and likely some mature sexual content given the subject matter. Common Sense Media rates it 15+ for these reasons. This isn't content that would be appropriate if a young child stumbled upon it unexpectedly. The violence is contextual and historical rather than gratuitous, but it's still present and intense.

Enriching
88

Exceptional educational value about a crucial civil rights movement in American history. Teaches empathy, historical context, and the real costs of fighting for equality. Multiple reviews emphasize it as important viewing that should be used to educate people. Strong ratings across the board (82% RT critics, 78% audience, 7.5 IMDB) indicate it delivers meaningful takeaways. The 'one struggle, one fight' message about solidarity is powerful.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • Tells a crucial piece of American civil rights history that many teens don't learn in school
  • Shows real courage and the actual cost of fighting for equality—not sanitized or dumbed down
  • Intersects three very different lives (two gay men, one lesbian woman) to show the breadth of the movement
  • The 'one struggle, one fight' message about solidarity across differences is genuinely powerful
  • Strong ratings suggest it's well-executed and impactful for those ready for the subject matter
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What to Watch For

  • Police violence with billy clubs and tear gas—this depicts real historical brutality, not action-movie stuff
  • Mature themes around sexuality and discrimination that make this firmly 15+ territory
  • Heavy emotional content about trauma, AIDS crisis, and decades of struggle—not a light watch
  • Traditional miniseries pacing from 2017 network TV, so it's earnest and a bit slow by today's standards

Conversation Starters

  • "What surprised you most about what LGBTQ+ people had to fight for that we take for granted now?"
  • "The show covers 50 years—how do you think things have changed since then, and what still needs work?"
  • "Why do you think it was so hard for people to accept others just for who they loved?"
  • "What would you have done if you were a teenager during the Stonewall riots?"

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