Nashville is a show that I’ve liked from the start, even if every episode hasn’t been a slam dunk. I think this week’s episode, “You Win Again”, was a great example of how the series has slowly developed the characters, built up their back stories and complicated their relationships.
The worlds of the characters have begun to blur. Deacon’s on tour with Rayna and Juliette, playing for Juliette and mad at Rayna. I like where his breakdown, related to a negative and untrue magazine article, has put him. He’s hurt and vulnerable, and it’s interesting to have that mixed in with the rivalry of Rayna and Juliette.
Juliette has been softened, thanks to the scenes with her mom this week. It feels like she’s growing up a little and I think the character needs that. I also like that some balance has been restored by making Rayna a bit of the bad guy for a while. She ignored Juliette on stage and was quick to accept all the praise for the hit song they wrote together. I think the show works better when it’s not such an obvious young brat vs. respected legend feud.
What Rayna’s character needs soon is a divorce. This season has peeled back their relationship a layer at a time to reveal why they should no longer be together. I think Rayna’s storyline will be more interesting if she’s going through a public divorce, rather than what’s happening now.
I like the idea of Scarlett and Gunnar joining Avery’s old band, but I’m only interested in Avery as a character in the context of him failing and having to watch his old girlfriend and friends succeed. Right now I’m not sure if the show means for us to pity him or not, but I certainly don’t.
I still like the show even though as you said every episode is not a slam dunk. What I like:
-I agree that Rayna’s character development is better now. Her husbands scandal with the girl from Father of the Bride has done a lot for the character.
-I like the possibilities that Deacon being on the tour can do for both Juliette and Rayna and how that magazine article has brought out his real emotions and his anger toward Rayna.
What I don’t like:
-Scarlett, her aw-shucks-me bit is worn past thin. She’s a limp noodle. Her singing voice grates on my nerves. She’s just trying too hard to make it look effortless.
-Avery. I just don’t care one iota about him. He has no redeeming quality which would make him an interesting douche.
-Gunnar’s brother: This has to be a whole storyline now? Gunnar’s brother as fugitive, dragging Gunnar in? As if he wasn’t busy enough being Scarlett’s handmaiden.
Seriously, their whole storyline could just go away, it doesn’t have any impact on the show, it’s completely separate. You’d think that Rayna or Juliette might want some of their songs which would tie them together, but now it is playing off nearly like two separate shows.