In the same way Shonda Rhimes used shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal to matter-of-factly show give us diverse worlds that simply reflect reality — it’s not like anyone said it was wild that white Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), Asian Cristina Yang (Chandra Wilson), and Black Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) were ambitious Seattle doctors — Rise tries to make the same case for rural Pennsylvania. Lilette simply is someone who lives in this shrinking, MAGA-touting town with her mother, Vanessa Suarez (Shirley Rumierk). Considering how little movement Stanton seems to experience, it looks like her mom has always been there. Vanessa certainly sounds weary of the tiny burg in the way that only someone trapped there for decades can be when she complains about her fellow residents.