MisterS

I would say lazy, with a significant disregard for the intelligence of the audience. Of course, no one HAS to do anything and no TV writing team HAS to be good. But the dropping of plot points and characterisation on Nashville (in every season) has contributed to it being far less than the sum of its parts. It could have been amazing.

Re Deacon, I know what you are saying, and I’d forgotten about Juliette’s flashbacks this season, much as I’ve forgotten much of season 6 to be honest. I prefer to remember the season 1 version of Jolene, where it was said that she was abusive at times, but it wasn’t clear that it was anywhere near the level that Deacon’s abuse at the hands of his father has consistently been referenced. But anyway, I think that moving him into the family home will allow the story to unfold, and it’s the only story I give a damn about now. Totally agree about Teddy. He was coming out of jail in three months so where is he now? This isn’t a plot point I can easily let go of, because Teddy would have been around for his daughters if he was able to. It should have been addressed on screen in one way or another, even if the actor didn’t want to come back or they couldn’t afford him/didn’t want a Teddy related plot (which in my opinion would have been far more interesting than Scarlett and horseman or anything involving Alannah or Juliette being in a cult).

Deacon is the best and better without Jessie. I hope Charles Esten can get a job in a better show moving on from this as he’s too good not to act. Although I had to laugh when he was sitting in his office looking busy. Highway 65! Is it still a working label with actual acts? No one seems to be recording any music. I’m in until the bitter end but Nashville doesn’t work without Rayna and with a very part time Juliet. Although it still could be better if the writers didn’t do so much of this kind of retcon. Teddy’s not dead and where is Tandy? Why are so many plot points dropped? Plus why is Scarlett always on her own? Do all the other cast members hate Clare Bowen? Does she hate all of them?

Although, was Deacon’s look at Maddie at the end essentially “Be careful what you wish for”?

I fast forwarded through everything except the Deacon storyline as that’s the only one about a character who has been around longer than 12 episodes. But I don’t believe that Deacon would move his violent and abusive father whose behaviour traumatised and emotionally damaged him for life into his house within a day of him turning up after 30 absent years. Just no. But nothing about his show is believable. And at least Deacon and dad can act. Again, why all the silo stories and people NO ONE CARES about? I miss Rayna.

Is Hayden Panettiere on the way out? They give her very little to do apart from phone Avery plus the song theft non-story. Is she ill or has she fallen out with the producers? Maybe she has agreed to minimal scenes pending departure? It looks like she has a big ding dong with Deacon next week. This has become the Deacon show, which I don't mind, but I liked him best with Rayna and I think Chip Esten was at his best with Connie Britton. While I don't mind Deacon having a new squeeze, and it seems real to me that he would eventually meet someone else, it's not believable that he would develop an intense friendship with a random woman within a few months. But this is telly. Though I don't think I will be invested or watching for much longer.

I find it hard to care about Scarlett's sadness because nothing about her baby and relationship drama has engaged me. I think it might be because Clare Bowen isn't that great an actress? Or the storyline about her and Gunnar has been worked to death, or both? I liked both characters in season 1, but everything was better in season 1. Although the PBS type exposition of miscarriage was a little clunky but good - especially the acknowledgement that a late miscarriage means you have to go through labour. I am ok with Deacon having a new relationship - he is sexy and this is TV after all - and I like Jessie (although they are bickering too much too soon for a new friendship), but I wish she was older. She is 20 years younger for sure. I like the fact that Deacon's women (Rayna and placeholders) have been closer to his age. And I will never care as much about Deacon with someone else as much as I did about Deacon and Rayna. I want to stick with Nashville but finding it hard to be bothered about anything that's happening, even to Juliette. Re the song issue, so what? Zzzzzzzz...

I'd be ok with this. In real life it would be far too soon, probably, but in order for Nashville to move on and utilise one of its best assets it needs to happen.

Personally I feel that, for a recovering alcoholic, Deacon is dealing with the loss of the person who was his entire life a little too well. Actually even for a non-alcoholic he's adjusted strangely quickly to life without Rayna. I just don't see that as being the way he would be following Rayna's sudden and traumatic death, even if he is focusing on being a good parent. I would prefer that they didn't let him drink again but it would be realistic to have him wrestle with a few of the old demons. Plus saintly dad Deacon is a little bit dull. I wonder if the stair climbing scene is an indication that he is going to have to deal more with his own grief/loneliness/loss rather than spend the rest of this season being everyone else's shoulder to cry on. Maybe he will flip out at some point? Overall I think the writing and storylines have massively improved since season 4 (Scarlett & Gunnar snoozefest excepted) but it's still less of a show without Connie Britton. I'm still watching to see if I can get used to it and accept it as a different kind of - but fairly decent - show.

Yes me. It's gross and also unbelievable. I don't know why they want to break S&G up after four years of back and forth but they should have done it differently. Also I agree that shagging someone who has been abusive to you is in no way empowering, it's still abusive. Overall I'm not sure where this season is going but I fear it's more Maddie and less or dead Rayna which I'm not interested in especially not another half season with Deacon crying all the time. I think Nashville has run out of ideas & it's time for it to end maybe?

Connie Britton would probably have a lot of options - far from phoney for me, although in Nashville it's not like she's had decent material to work with. But what about The People vs OJ Simpson? She was mesmerising in that and showed her versatility. Lionsgate have said that all of the cast are under long term deals and I'm choosing to take that at face value. I wouldn't be interested in Nashville without CB and HP. I also thought CB appeared happy that Nashville had been dropped but it has been terrible recently. With the new showrunners she's likely to have better stuff to do, so here's hoping she's on board for another season. But if so I don't think it will be because no one else will give her an acting job. She's a great TV actress.

I can't imagine Connie Britton hanging around. She seems relieved of a burden. I just feel sorry that Nashville didn't give her decent stuff to do. But the show wouldn't work without her.

This is the worst. What's wrong with these writers? I hope they don't go there.

Yup. This episode was completely dull. Deacon and Rayna were the best thing, but their scenes were edited to make room for the remaining snoozefest. More time was given to Luke arguing with his ex father in law than Rayna arguing with Deacon. WHY? No one cares. Why does Nashville self-destruct like this? Based on this drivel no one at ABC will be questioning the decision to cancel.

She's right about that. I'd love to hear what she said behind the scenes.