There are no easy answers in Rise, but there's a lot of heart and a good deal of food for thought.

This series is clearly Katims' turn to dream: of a world where the arts inspire the same kind of roaring passion as sports, with self-actualization replacing concussions.

Like that of the New Directions on Glee, Stanton High School's drama department is made up of much diversity and various backgrounds. But watching their differences come together onscreen for one cause is truly magical.

The story and its adult protagonist in particular are still finding their footing, but strong performances from its soon-to-be-stars make Rise worth the ride. When the younger members of the cast are allowed to take center stage, the show sings, too.

Rise is up there as one of the best new shows, and that's down to the first class acting, relatable characters and an exciting subject matter. If you thought about overlooking this show, you should give it a shot. You will not be disappointed.

Tender, lovely series is "Friday Night Lights" onstage.

When Rise finds its stride and lets its kids hit their high notes, it can be breathtaking. But the show has one huge anchor of a problem that keeps it from truly taking off. Rise's supposedly inspirational teacher is a patronizing nightmare.

I still feel like I bought tickets to a Broadway show I really, really wanted to see and I didn't get my money's worth. That being said, I couldn't stop watching. So there's definitely something here. I'm just waiting for [it] to rise to its potential.

It's powerful stuff, a testament to what great theater can do. And, I suppose, what decent TV can sometimes do, too.

Despite its flaws, Rise does a commendable job of evoking that feeling and many of the other complications that accompany the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

It is predictable, sometimes down to individual lines; the title itself gives the arc away. But predictability is part of what makes musical theater tick; it delivers the thrill the crowd comes for, dramatic tension leading to inspirational release.

When Rise works best, it's invariably placing these kids at the center; when it stumbles, it's nearly always because the series chooses to tell us how inspired they should be, rather than showing us what happens when they're inspired.

... it's heartfelt from start to finish while also offering an overall feel-good respite from television's ongoing obsessions with "true crime"...

Rise deserves praise for reminding us how difficult it is to put on a show, unlike Glee's tuneful fantasias.

In a sense, the show itself is a rumination on whether a song would be enough to bridge any number of American divides. Part of the appeal of Rise is that it sure would be nice to think so.