Rise Review: The Petition (Season 1 Episode 8)

The students of Stanton High School and their elders continue to clash and miss each other on Rise Season 1 Episode 8, “The Petition.”

So far, Rise has really laid it on thick with how these students and their parents/teachers connect well with the greater themes of Spring Awakening. This is not to come out as a bad thing. Not by any means.

I personally love that Spring Awakening isn’t just the performance these kids are creating. They are living it.

One prime example of that is Sasha and her friend Michael. Sasha is pregnant and must decide what to do with her predicament. Especially because the baby’s father is a grade A douche who’s not really in the picture.

That sounds eerily similar to Wendala’s story in Spring Awakening. While Melchior loved Wendala he was still unavailable to her.

Sasha, much like Wendala, must make a decision and it’s heartwarming to see that she isn’t alone on this journey. At first, she has only herself and Michael.

Michael’s story itself is beautiful and completely undercut in the grand scheme of things. He shows the world that he is a man inside even if on the outside he is clearly female. This strength and confidence is the exact opposite of who Moritz is.

That’s not to say Michael can’t play the role. Honestly, I can think of no one better. Michael can tap into the honesty and integrity of what it means to be a trans teen and use that to connect with Moritz’s darker, more emotional moments.

In fact, Michael’s best non-Moritz styled decision all episode is taking the problem to an adult. As teens, we want to believe we know how to handle everything on our own. Or that we have to. The reality is we can’t and we don’t.

By bringing Mrs. Wolfe into the story he is showing not only Sasha that he is becoming her truest friend again but also Mrs. Wolfe that he trusts her with this problem.

The raw emotional honesty that Rosie Perez portrays in that scene is the best all season. It is also what makes her the woman to watch on the show.

If Sasha is living Wendala’s story then Simon’s is a parallel adjacent to that of Ernst and Hanschen.

It’s been clear all along that Simon is holding something back. After that awkward kiss between him and Jeremy, I had hoped they would at least talk everything out. Instead, he burrows himself more deeply into his hole.

Lou: We can’t water it down. Look. We have full houses now. This is our chance to show people what is really possible! We cannot be afraid of the material. Okay? This is an erotic scene. It’s about lust, repressed sexuality.

When Simon and Jeremy sing they should be really highlighting their love and passion for each other. However, Simon is more scared of his actual feelings to really embrace his character of Hanschen.

For those who don’t know, Hanschen is a no-nonsense, wants what he wants, type of character. Exactly the opposite of what Simon is doing.

That’s not to say Simon needs to be Hanschen. It would just be nice to see him stepping forward a bit more and truly embracing who he is inside. Even just being an authentic performer is enough for me.

On the other hand, it is nice to see that through all his struggles, Simon is helping someone else. He’s showing his mom that life doesn’t have to mean settling for anything less than what is truly desired.

He doesn’t talk directly to her of his emotional struggles, but it’s obvious that through it all she still sees his heart. Mrs. Saunders is the mark of a great mom. She sees her children and wants them to have nothing less than happiness in life.

I was cheering for her when she stuck her neck out for not only Simon but herself. Her husband needs to know that his close-minded behavior isn’t doing anyone any favors; least of all himself.

The lack of father/son bond between Mr. Saunders and Simon really pairs well with Lou and his parental leanings in regards to Maashous. While, Lou is struggling to hold on to his own son, Gordy, he is succeeding in that department with his protege.

It’s funny how that happens sometimes.

Maybe it’s their lack of biological link or the fact that Maashous is knee deep in the same passion project as Lou that makes their bond what it is.

While Lou loves all of his students and worries about all of them. There is something between him and Maashous that is different, more unique.

Maashous: Being in your home isn’t like just a foster home.

Lou: You aren’t just a foster kid.

In a way, they desperately need each other. Maashous is searching for a place to call home and Lou is searching for a boy to call son, at least one that reciprocates that love.

I’d love to see this episode lead the Mazzuchelli family towards fighting to keep Maashous. It’s clear that the boy deserves and belongs in their family. Let’s just hope he can stay.

While all of these stories are compelling and make me really want to see a performance of Spring Awakening again, the most interesting of them all is Lilette’s.

From the beginning, my money has been on Lilette to take life by the horns and make it her own. “The Petition” allows her a moment to do just that. Surprising no one, she takes it.

Watching her finally lay it all on the table for her mom is richly satisfying. After all, Vanessa Suarez needs to wake up and realize she’s the parent, not Lilette.

Lilette wants nothing more than to just be responsible for herself. But underneath it all, she believes that the one thing to get her mom to change is just around the corner. Well, this time she’s found it.

Vanessa needs to realize that her actions with Coach Strickland have very real, adult consequences in regards to her daughter.

She is constantly telling her daughter what to do, how to act, and who to be around. All the while she is lying to her daughter and doing the exact opposite of what she tells her.

While it is satisfying to see Lilette tell Vanessa that she needs to grow up and take responsibility, it is also a little sad. These two characters have been reliant on each other all season. How is this falling out going to affect their relationship?

Just as importantly, will it affect how Lilette portrays Wendala in the show?

I think that Lilette singing Whispering at the end of the episode really gives us an idea of what could come. For everyone, including the parents. The raw emotion you hear and feel in her voice is what has me worried about the relationship with her mom.

Rise has already been known to pack a punch or two per episode. This one has more subtle punches but they are there just the same.

Other Thoughts

• I think that the newfound bond between Gordy and Robbie will become cathartic for the both of them.
• Favorite moment of the whole episode? Robbie taking Lou to meet his mom.
• I don’t like the looks of pitting Wolfe against Lou

What did you think of this episode of Rise? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Rise airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

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