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I'm Team Mary all the way! She can be witch at times, but if you are her friend, she will have your back no matter what. She is the Dowager Countess all over again. Sure she is highhanded, but she has stepped in to help the servants time and time again. When William's mother was dying, it was Mary who made sure he got to see her. When Carson got sick, Edith complained about the inconvenience while Mary went to visit him and made sure he was being cared for. When Sybil married Tom, Mary (and Matthew) befriended him. When Anna went to jail, Mary put her own reputation on the line to visit her. If I had to choose between working for Edith and working for Mary, I would choose Mary in a heartbeat. She rewards loyalty. This episode again highlighted how much Mary cares. Mrs. Hughes may not be a fan of a wedding at the Abbey, but in all honesty, I think Mary knows Carson better than his bride-to-be does. The Abbey is his shrine. There is nowhere on earth that he would rather hold his reception. Mary's kindness meant the world to him. Of course, he and Mrs. Hughes must both like their reception site, but Mary's offer came from the heart. And Mary did not simply make an appointment for Anna or pay for her visit to the doctor. Instead, she went with her so that she would not have to face the news alone.

Since there seems to be broad agreement on this board that Eddie is not the answer for Jamie, let's help the writers find Jamie's soulmate. The purpose of this forum is to describe the person we would like to see with Jamie. I see Jamie with someone elegant and sensitive, perhaps an artist. There are enough police officers and lawyers in the clan already, so it would be nice to bring a different perspective to the dinner table. What characteristics would you like to see?

Jamie needs someone who shares his world view, and that is just not Eddie. I really am curious about what Jamie wants to do with his life. I understand why he wants to stay on the beat, but he seemed to indicate that was just for now. With his brains, education, and experience, he should be in a leadership role of some type, but I'm not sure what type or if it involves police work. His natural bent is to something more like social work.

Please make Linda Lavin a regular or semi-regular, producers! It was so good to see her again. She looks fabulous. I loved her character. She made the perfect Greek chorus!

I agree. He is by far my favorite character. I just wish they would bring in a decent love interest for him.

At last, some scraps for my Javery loving heart! Baby Kady knows her Mama's voice--Aww . . . . Avery almost wept looking at the pictures of Juliette and the baby. He still loves her!!!!!!! When Juliette and Avery reunite, can Will and Gunnar move in with them? Pretty please? Scarlett, Emily, and Glenn are also more than welcome.

I agree with those who say the writers are rushing things in the romance department. "Friends" had less romantic conflict, and its characters were twice the age of Riley and her friends. It's fine for them to have crushes, and it's fine for them to get dramatic over them. That's what 14-year-olds do. But the writers are writing these characters as if they are choosing a mate. It's all far too serious. I was enjoying the show much more over the summer when the BMW cast was making frequent visits. I want Mr. Feeny and Mr. Turner, Eric and Shawn, Amy and Alan, and Jack and Angela! I want the teenagers to act like teenagers.

If I recall correctly, Avery demanded full custody of the baby, and he was not even open to visitation. It's not uncommon is such cases for one parent to agree to forfeit child support in return for that type of complete control. (Even with Juliette's mental health issues, it is highly unlikely that a court would have awarded him the type of control he wanted. In return for the control, he promised Juliette his silence and also likely forfeited his right to alimony, property, child support, etc.) I think this a case of pride going before the fall. He wrote the agreement, not Juliette. She would likely have cheerfully supported the baby and even helped out Avery. And I think she would still be more than happy to do so. Even in her unbalanced state, she still loved her husband and baby. She just didn't know how to live with them. I haven't given up on Javery by a long shot!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I hope a happy and healthy Hayden is able to return soon. Nashville just isn't the same without her.

I very much enjoyed this season, and, for once, had no issues at all with the final three. Alek had absolutely no dance or entertainment background, and I enjoyed watching him improve every week. He may not be able to move his hips like the pros, but wow did he learn to do lifts. Plus, he seems to be just such an all-around nice guy. It was a pleasure to watch him. The Back Street Boys were not of my era, so I honestly knew little about Nick, but his hard work impressed me, and his talent as a performer shone through. His dances were high energy and fun to watch. He earned my respect last night with his sincere praise of Bindi. As for Bindi, I have to say that even on nights when I could not watch the whole show, I tried to catch her dances. Her joy was infectious. (I do hope that as she matures she learns that it's okay to not be cheery every moment. People will still love her even in her bad moments.) While I'm no dance expert, I actually thought her dance skills were well, well beyond what you would expect from someone with her experience level. Her footwork was amazing. And props to Derek, who has not always been my favorite pro! I thought he did a fabulous job of choreographing dances that highlighted Bindi's skills. And both the costumes and the dances were age appropriate. He was pitch perfect in that regard. And I was beyond pleased by the freestyle dance. It was dance in its purest form.

I think the whole situation is so very sad and highlights the problems inherent in attempting to maintain a polygamous relationship. Mari has been alone--far more alone than she would be if she were single. Every time Kody added a wife, her time with him further diminished. I cannot imagine what it would be like to come home alone night after night while your mate, the person who is supposed to be your best friend, is off with someone else. It's true that she could spend more time with the children, get a job, and a do a thousand other things, but none of those things would provide her with the type of companionship that you would expect from a a mate. If you are single and you want that type of companionship, you can date, but that's not an option for a woman in a plural marriage. Apparently love can only be multiplied so far.

If the powers that be want Eddie to continue to be Jamie's partner that's fine, but he needs a love interest with whom he has some chemistry! Eddie is just not his type. He needs someone with brains and class. He also needs someone who shares his value system.

Note to Kody and Janelle: Respect is something that must be earned.

I think Rowan and Sabrina are both fine young actresses. But much to my surprise, I've come to the conclusion that the adult Rowan may go farther than the adult Sabrina. Sabrina is playing a conventional role and doing a lovely job of it. Rowan's character is much more complex. On some occasions, Riley is beyond spacey, but on others, such as when she took on the evil vintage clothing store clerk and when she discussed her passion for the Knicks with Lucas, Riley is sharper and more articulate than any of the other characters. She very much reminds me of Eric. She plays both over the top and subtle well. For instance, she has done a very nice of job of subtly conveying Riley's mixed feelings about giving up Lucas. Rowan has been forced to stretch in ways that Sabrina has not. I could see her enjoying the type of success that Ann Hathaway has had.

Had the snarky woman on the investigatory committee not continued to snark after Jamie was clearly proven to be innocent, I would have been in favor of a romance between the two. There were sparks there, and she could definitely shake up the Sunday dinners. Frank and the gang need someone to tell them they are not above the law.

I have always had a soft spot for Teddy, and I think his absence is part of what's throwing both girls off. His issues with crazy wives and hookers aside, he was the stable parent, and he was the one who laid down rules and administered punishments. Rayna tries, but she's all over the place. In the same episode, Maddie gets grounded and then gets to meet her favorite singer. (That's not what being grounded is all about.) While I adore Deacon, he has yet to grasp he is someone's father, which means he has responsibilities. He needs to pull up his big boy panties and stop moping about Beverley. His child needs him.

Poor Hayden. I can't imagine how hard playing Juliette has been for her this year. She's been hitting the ball out of the park portraying someone descending to rock bottom, and that would have to take an emotional toll even if you were in a good place yourself. I pray her treatment is working and she will be home with her family soon.

Anyone else think the furor over the Juliette/Maddie song was a bit much? It's been so rare to see Juliette having fun these days that it was a nice change of pace, and she was hardly leading Maddie astray. Maddie bought the much commented upon dress on Rayna's watch, not Juliette's. I just didn't get why Luke got so upset.

So Meri has been told she may have cancer, and Kody doesn't even go to the doctor's office with her? What was more important? Was he locked in the bathroom looking for new ways to cover his balding head? If I were Meri, Christine, and Janelle, I would leave him and take the TLC cameras with me! People would love to watch those three trying to make new lives, but no one would care about Kody and his one wife.

Jamie must be adopted. He is completely lacking the neanderthal gene that seems so prevalent in the rest of the family. Having a Jamie-centered episode was such a nice change of pace. And I enjoy Erin and the informant whenever he makes a visit. Please writers, bring in a love interest for Jamie who fits his personality, value system, and lifestyle.

I don't think Steve and Catherine are over at all. Whatever her new mission is has something to do with him. Why else would her superior ask if Steve bought her cover story? I don't think she's leaving for her career. I think she's doing something related to protecting him. My prediction is that as soon as he and a new girlfriend appear to be happy, Catherine will return.

Unpopular opinion time. Rayna and Deacon have mad chemistry, but I have always thought they were much better suited to be friends than husband and wife. "Nashville" started at the end of Teddy and Rayna's marriage, but by all accounts, they were happy for well over a decade. (Daphne did not simply appear out of thin air.) Everything Rayna said tonight was true. Teddy may not have been perfect, but he was a rock for her during the years she was building her career. And he genuinely loved Maddie as his own. Even now, he is going to jail rather than take the easy route of turning state's evidence against Tandy, and he made that choice for Rayna and the girls. Someone on the board mentioned last week that Deacon=Juliette and Rayna=Avery. We are seeing Juliette at her worst, and many people are calling for Avery to dump her. Deacon created every bit as much chaos in Rayna's life. We just never saw it because it occurred before the series began. Teddy may not have been Rayna's grand passion, but she did love him. There are a million different kinds of romantic love. Teddy brought her peace, home, and security. It's still an open question as to whether Deacon will be able to do the same.

Frank's blatant favoritism towards Danny just flat out bugs me. Had Erin or Jamie screwed up the way Danny did, they would have had an earful from Frank. Danny is not a good police officer. The simple fact is that in real life, if he were even still on the force, he would spend more time on administrative suspension than in the field. I can understand why he went in to save the victim even if doing so breached protocol. But letting the killer get the drop on him was about as stupid as stupid gets. I mean seriously. He should have been the one surprising the killer, not vice-versa. He walked in the door with a gun. He should never have been in the position of wrestling with the killer. I was glad that at least Henry pointed out that Frank has no problems taking actions that hurt Erin. Why should Frank assume that if Erin is appointed to the bench it's all about him? Maybe she's good at her job? Maybe people like her for reasons other than her status as Frank's daughter? His comments to her were hurtful. (And since he himself is a political appointee more than a bit hypocritical.) I know some people are the board don't care for her, but I've always felt sorry for her. She's often a voice crying in the wilderness in terms of expressing any respect at all for civil rights. And then there's Jamie. He has been highly effective as a police officer and for the most part respects the rules. But he cannot receive a promotion because it might make Frank look bad. Wouldn't Frank have been climbing through the ranks when Henry was commissioner? (Again, hypocritical much?)

I have to preface this by saying that Juliette always has been and still is my favorite character. I am in the camp that believes that they are ultimately going to discover that she is suffering from postpartum depression to the point of being psychotic. I think Juliette's illness coupled with a childhood filled with neglect and even sexual abuse has sent her totally over the edge. She is so terrified of hurting Avery and the baby that all she can think to do is push them away. The drunken call to Rayna was a real cry for help. The tears on Kelly and Michael were real. She wanted Avery and the baby home more than anything, but the sound of the baby crying during her song just signaled to her that the life she would give the baby on the road would be awful, and her inability to even change a diaper further convinced her of total inability to parent. The stone cold Juliette is not the real Juliette. She's clearly self-medicating like crazy to keep up the facade and dull the pain. People sometimes want to equate postpartum depression with just being a little down. I am not a medical expert, but when I was child a friend of our family who had recently given birth came to our house in a full-blown psychotic state. I was quickly ushered by my parents to the backyard until they could get her the medical help she needed, but I have never forgotten how completely delusional she was. Juliette is going to fall and fall hard, and Hayden is just the actress to pull all of this off. I've been a fan since she won a Daytime Emmy for her work on Guiding Light as Lizzie Spaulding who battled childhood leukemia. I am looking forward to seeing if the writers have the skills to make this storyline as powerful as it has the potential to be.

I think Erin's point was that Frank needs to stop acting as if he IS the law in NYC. They did have enough evidence for a warrant, and they could literally have gotten one in the time it took her to visit his office. So, the question she was posing was "Why not get a warrant?" Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and that's what Frank seems to desire. By the same token, it should not have been his decision and his alone to determine whether the community was informed about the foiled attack. He did not simply withhold information or refuse to comment. He actively lied to the citizens of the community. The Danny apple certainly does not fall too far from the Frank tree. He has exactly the same attitude. Erin and Jamie must take after their mother.

I think the whole situation is incredibly sad. If one of their goals in making the show was to make plural marriage look good, they have utterly failed. I cannot imagine what it would do to my self esteem to have the person who loved me essentially say I wasn't enough. It's no wonder if Meri was easy prey for a catfisher. What are these women supposed to do while their "husband" is off with someone else? The feelings of loneliness and rejection must be beyond words. I would pay cash money to see Kody's reaction if one of them decided to bring in a new young husband and have a child with him.