Monday on TV: Very good "When We Rise" starts a bit slowly; and don't get 'Taken'

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"When We Rise" (8 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4) turns out to be a very good miniseries. But — be warned — the first two-hour installment is mostly laying the groundwork.

In Part 1 the major characters — actors portraying Cleve Jones, Ken Jones, Roma Guy and Diane — struggle with being gay in the early 1970s, and all of them end up in San Francisco. And, at that time, the city was not the haven it would eventually become.

"When We Rise" will bring a tears to your eyes along the way … but it doesn't really catch fire until Part 2. And that airs Wednesday. (Part 3 is Thursday; the finale if Friday.)

• Also tonight, it's the premiere of "Taken" (9 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5). In this prequel to the movie trilogy, Bryan Mills (Clive Standen) wants revenge for the murder of his sister — and he's recruited by a secret U.S. intelligence agency.

It's pretty unexciting stuff.

Sometimes titles just make it too easy for critics. In this case, let me just say — don't get "Taken" by this show.

Elsewhere on TV ...

• "The Bachelor" (7 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): Nick heads to Finland with the final three women.

• "The Voice" (7 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): Blind auditions begin.

• "24: Legacy" (7 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13): Carter and Grimes try to make a deal with the leader of a smuggling ring to find out where the terrorists are.

• "Supergirl" (7 p.m., CW/Ch. 30): Jeremiah Danvers is rescued from Cadmus, but things go awry when a suspicious Mon-El questions Jeremiah about his sudden return.

• "Man with a Plan" (7:30 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): Adam's parents make an unannounced visit and reveal surprising plans.

• "Superior Donuts" (8 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): Fawz wants to convert the apartment building where Franco and Sweatpants live into luxury condos.

• "Africa's Great Civilizations" (8 p.m., PBS/Ch. 7): The origins of man and early human societies; the creation of cultural and scientific achievements in Africa; the rise of Christianity and Islam.

• "APB" (8 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13): Brandt's attempt to catch criminals selling armor-piercing bullets on the black market goes awry.

• "Jane the Virgin" (8 p.m., CW/Ch. 30): Petra convinces Jane to help with a preschool fundraiser; Rafael's girlfriend suggests moving in together; Rogelio is sued after quitting his reality show.

• "2 Broke Girls" (8:30 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): Max heads to Rhode Island to track down her birth father.

• "Scorpion" (9 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): The team must move Happy's friend and and the sterile bubble she lives in after a severe storm leaves the structure surrounded by dangerous debris.

• "ShadowHunters" (9 p.m., Freeform): Iris activates her blood oath.

• "Beyond (10 and 11 p.m., Freeform): Shoemacher tries to keep Frost on track to reach the Realm. (Season finale)

• "Bates Motel" (11 p.m., A&E): Norman's date doesn't go as planned.

• "Humans" (11 p.m., AMC): Athena's tragic secret is revealed; Niska's consciousness assessments begin.