From the beginning of the episode all the way through to the end, Rise packed a punch in “We All Got Our Junk.” The freshman series’ fifth episode was emotional, strong, tough, and exhilarating to watch. Not only did the episode have chemistry-packed scenes between various characters, but it also highlighted the various strong woman that make up the show.
One of the first women to take a stand in “We All Got Our Junk” was Lilette. She has not held back this entire series, so why would she now? After a talking-to from his father following his disastrous house party, Robbie gets it in his head that Lilette might not be on the same page as him in terms of their future.
Robbie ends up meeting Lilette at the diner and also meets her mother, Vanessa. He starts to ask questions. While Robbie’s questions aren’t meant to be malicious, as he was asking Lilette her plans for college and her future, she took it as a dig at her mom. Being the strong female lead she is, Lilette didn’t let her feelings for Robbie stop her from telling him off.
Lilette stood her ground and defended her mother because that’s what she has had to do her entire life. It was nice to see a high school female take pride in her upbringing. Since it is just Lilette and Vanessa who else will she have in her corner if she turns on her mother?
However, her conversation with Robbie leads Lilette to have a more open conversation with Vanessa. While Lilette tells her mom not to let their boss slap her ass anymore or treat her like she’s worthless, Vanessa reminds Lilette that she is doing the best she can. Rise does a fantastic job showing the different dynamics and relationships of each character’s home.
Lilette’s conversation with her mother even sparks a new strength within her. At the end of the episode while the cast is singing Spring Awakening’s “My Junk,” Vanessa stands up for herself after her boss, yet again, touches her inappropriately. Instead of taking it like she has, she knocks the man out in front of her coworkers and leaves.
Tracy is another character who takes charge in this episode. After Lou apologizes for what he says to Andy before their date, Tracy says everything is fine. She looks Lou in the face and tells him she can handle herself and it is her life to live. It’s a good reminder that just because someone is living their life differently than you, it doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Tracy owned her story and her feelings, proving that you can do what you want whenever you want. No one should ever be scared to express their feelings.
One woman who expresses her feelings–and, to be honest, this scene comes out of nowhere and steals the show–is Simon’s mother. After his first few days at his new Catholic school, Simon reveals he wants to go back to Stanton. While his mother has been slowly accepting the fact there is more to Simon than what they grew to believe, she no doubt supports him.
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While Simon’s dad shuts him down for saying he wants to go back, she stands up to her husband and asks why he is so against it. When Simon’s father can’t come up with a good enough answer, he retreats and allows Simon to rejoin his friends.
“We’ve All Got Junk” seriously does a fantastic job showing that women, no matter age, race, or religion, can be unstoppable when they put their mind to it.
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