S03.E10: First To Have A Second Chance

[DeLurker]

 

It's shocking how many women dig that kind of behavior, though. They seem to see men being possessive as proof of how deeply they love.

Next Sadie's ex will be saying "I only smack you around because I love you".

 

Guess they were in fear that the viewers would get too attached to Jeff being half way decent so they 180* him right out the door.  As crappy as I thought the scene with Layla was at least she threw in there the age difference.

[izabella]

I am glad that Teddy finally realized how sad it was for him to turn to an escort because he has no one else to talk to. Make some new friends, dude!

 

I can't believe it took Teddy so long to figure out how pathetic he was acting.  Of all the dumbass storylines on this show, and there have been many (pig blood Peggy!), I have to say this is one of the dumbest.  There is no way, no how, that I will believe the good-looking, single Mayor of Nashville wouldn't have plenty of lovely women interested in him. 

 

I understand he's lonely, but lonely people don't have to pay prostitutes to meet people and develop friendships and find love.  Get involved in your kids' school and meet all the lovely divorced moms who would be happy to meet an eligible bachelor, or married moms who have friends who they could introduce you to.  Get involved in some charity fundraisers and meet people from all walks of life.  Or, hey, pay attention when you're being a Mayor, and meet all kinds of women who work for the school board, state's attorney's office, PR agencies, and major corporations you meet with regularly.  

 

I just really hated this prostitute story line so much.

[rubyred]

I loved how Jeff Fordham implied that he was actually helping out Will by banging Layla and taking care of her 'needs.'

Ha, yeah, and last week folks were thinking that Jeff banging Layla was some indication of a redemption arc. How sleazy and low has this show gotten that we grab for scraps like a completely inappropriate relationship between a powerful weasel and a vulnerable headcase as an indication of character growth? What is this show doing to us, y'all??!!!

 

Anyway I guess they did clear the decks for the endgame couples, so that's...good? The thing is, between the wrapped up storylines no one cared about and the anvils of those to come, I've lost so much faith in the writers. They're going to half-ass it. You know they will.

 

Any positive steps were mitigated by a dumbass one.

1)Teddy realizes he's pathetic, shuts down the girlfriend experience. Yay! But then, Teddy answers the phone when Jeff calls. Boo! (Although it occurred to me that this gives Teddy some reciprocal blackmail fodder.)

2) Gunnar's lawyer tells him to be nice to the grandparents. But of course he pops off. (Which was understandable, because Granny is a bitca, but it's so Gunnar to not be able to keep it together through one freaking dinner. Gunnar you are grown. When are you going to act like it?)

3) Sadie stands up to ex. Yay! Pete then punches her out. Oof. Now this could be something, right? A compelling story about toxic and abusive relationships. But I bet $5 that when the show returns we'll learn that Sadie has not had his ass arrested and is trying to hide her injury. Because womenz can only be sassy, they can't have any actual agency. She's going to feel "embarrassed". She's going to feel embarrassed, I just know it!

 

I don't think Rayna is the destroyer of all men. They are all grown-ass men who made the decision that they wanted to be with her, she's not roofie-ing them or ensorcelling them. All of the relationships are fucked up but both sides have had parts to play in that. Not into the blame game. Well actually no I blame the writers for wasting CB and CE's talents on this dreck.

 

Bright spot: The Barnes-Barkleys! So cute how, when going in for the kiss, JJ looked like he was leaning in from 3 feet away because of HP's round belly.

 

Also there were a few good songs! Is that the end of Terry? No more magical harmonica?

[Clemgo3165]

 

It's shocking how many women dig that kind of behavior, though. They seem to see men being possessive as proof of how deeply they love. Personally, I find it appalling.

 

I dated a guy like that when I was 16. It was flattering for the first 15 minutes, then he started telling me who I could and couldn't talk to, and questioning me when I wasn't home at night. Didn't feel so good then. 

 

All those red flags were up there waving in the breeze with Luke. Can't believe someone who is known as a writer for women would be so fond of a storyline like that. Doesn't help that I'm sitting in rape-central USA right now either.

[crocosmia]

Big surprise, Rayna calls off the wedding. Big surprise, Layla ODs. Big surprise, Gunnar isn't Micha's father. Big surprise, Jeff is a dick. Big surprise, Teddy has put himself in a position to be blackmailed. Big surprise, Deacon is unconscious. Oh, and Will is still gay.

Yep, all that.   No real surprises, but fun all the same sometimes just watching the inevitable unfold.     I still would have rather had more Juliette and Avery and less of the Micah who's-your-daddy non-surprise and anything to do with Sadie.   Let's get some resolution for the original and ongoing story lines  before bringing in a bunch of new characters who only take up air time between the "real"  scenes. 

 

I loved that Juliette and Avery got hitched, that Avery's stubborn hurt finally melted, and that they had a happy episode-ending.   Now that was a nice surprise.   I thought they would probably get together eventually, but only after a long adventure in co-parenting that would have them bonding as a family.  So the  sudden proposal and wedding was a real "AWWWW" moment for me.   

 

I also think the dropped story lines are bad writing.    Sadie came in with all kinds of foreshadowing for trouble, and it's disappointing to see those little clues go nowhere.  If you're not going to do anything with that wedding dress photo, don't put it in there like a big red flag.   If Sadie isn't going to be the one to split up Luke and Rayna's marriage, then don't have them making goo-goo eyes at each other.      They did the same thing with Peggy and her pig blood miscarriage.    It wasn't till the next season that Teddy finally found out that she wasn't even preggers.   If you wait too long, or even worse, drop it completely, the resolution isn't very satisfying. 

[Sutton]

You know I kind of liked that cr*p writing---Clemgo3165

 

And seriously, both of them were so cavalier about not seeing their fathers. Teddy's the steady in Nashville and Deacon's off the tour now and planning to be home. But they both want to go away because of horses? Who writes this cr*p?

If that's what it took for Rayna to come out of that fog she's been in to realizing that Luke talked to her daughters behind her back into going to boarding school and they were okay with it. I say, I'm good with that cr*ppy writing. Did she finally realize how controlling he is and how not only her life but the girls lives were going to be and just got the courage to cut him loose.

 

A poster wrote "I loved seeing Luke get shot down! Now he gets to hurt just like every other guy on the show." Loved reading those words...

[Ivylady]

This was a pretty "meh" episode for me.  I'm glad Rayna and Luke broke up.  That needed to happen in the season premiere.  It was never a good relationship to start. 

 

Avery and Juliette - I like them, but I think getting married was a bit much.  They've barely gotten back into friends and co-parents, now they're hitched?  That's the one thing I don't like about their relationship.  It's all about extremes. 

 

I just feel for the girls.  Even though Maddie is obnoxious, it must be hard having two self-involved parents. 

 

Good for Teddy realizing how pathetic he is.  Now if only he'd end up in the pool with Layla.  Will should, too.  They either need to pull the trigger on his storyline, or ditch him. 

[Soup333]

I just noticed that the baby onesie that Juliette put over her stomach said Grandma's favorite. Avery's mother cannot wait to snuggle that baby!

 

I think one of the things that bothered Avery so much was that Juliette had finally accepted that they were over AND everybody else was kinda cavalier about them figuring out how to manage co-parenting while remaining friends. I do wish that they would have cut some of the dreck (Micah scenes) so we could have had a teeny bit more, maybe Avery saying something like, "I can't keep pretending I don't love you/can't keep denying I do love you." Something like that. Hell, give me three more seconds so I could see Juliette's tear make it to her chin. Jeez.

 

I was a bit confused with how I'm supposed to interpret the girls actions. Did Maddie and Daphne play up the boarding school thing because they knew Rayna would balk at it and they want the tour to end or because they genuinely want to go to boarding school? I kinda wish we'd been given the scene where they talked about it with Luke and his kids. For that matter, I'd have liked to see how Colt and Maddie are getting along after the kissing debacle. 

 

What exactly does Jeff think Teddy can do for him in this situation? If she's dead, knowing the mayor won't help him. Fifty people saw him at the party with her that night.

 

There is still the possiblity for a Sadie/Luke (Suke? Ladie?) hookup. She could opt to go on tour to get away from her abusive ex and he's probably going to be Wheels Up as soon as possible to get away from Rayna. 

 

I liked Sadie's song. Love Avery producing it. 

[DeLurker]

 

There is still the possiblity for a Sadie/Luke (Suke? Ladie?) hookup.

I want them both gone, but if they go together may I sugges Ludie?

 

 

I do wish that they would have cut some of the dreck (Micah scenes) so we could have had a teeny bit more

I'm thinking it had to do with keeping HPs time commitments to a minimal because girl is seriously pregnant!  I'm telling myself that it was out of consideration for her and not because someone somewhere thinks Layla/Jeff/Sadie/Micah/Grandparents who show up is more compelling that Juliette and Avery.  Because they would be so so wrong.

[Clemgo3165]

 

You know I kind of liked that cr*p writing---Clemgo3165

 

Hey, whatever makes you happy Sutton! We both got the ending we wanted, I just would have liked to have seen it done a bit more elegantly than the old "stepparent wants to send the kids to boarding school" trope. YMMV :)

[Ellaria]

I also think the dropped story lines are bad writing.    Sadie came in with all kinds of foreshadowing for trouble, and it's disappointing to see those little clues go nowhere.  If you're not going to do anything with that wedding dress photo, don't put it in there like a big red flag.   If Sadie isn't going to be the one to split up Luke and Rayna's marriage, then don't have them making goo-goo eyes at each other.      They did the same thing with Peggy and her pig blood miscarriage.    It wasn't till the next season that Teddy finally found out that she wasn't even preggers.   If you wait too long, or even worse, drop it completely, the resolution isn't very satisfying. 

 

And there are so many dropped story lines. In addition to those mentioned above: Teddy watching Lamar die, the Patsy Cline movie, Jeff's desire to sign the girls to his label, Derek Hough, and Brent. What happened to the relationship between Rayna and Juliette? They have barely been onscreen together.

 

I think one of the things that bothered Avery so much was that Juliette had finally accepted that they were over AND everybody else was kinda cavalier about them figuring out how to manage co-parenting while remaining friends. I do wish that they would have cut some of the dreck (Micah scenes) so we could have had a teeny bit more, maybe Avery saying something like, "I can't keep pretending I don't love you/can't keep denying I do love you." Something like that. Hell, give me three more seconds so I could see Juliette's tear make it to her chin. Jeez.

 

I was a bit confused with how I'm supposed to interpret the girls actions. Did Maddie and Daphne play up the boarding school thing because they knew Rayna would balk at it and they want the tour to end or because they genuinely want to go to boarding school? I kinda wish we'd been given the scene where they talked about it with Luke and his kids. For that matter, I'd have liked to see how Colt and Maddie are getting along after the kissing debacle. 

 

What exactly does Jeff think Teddy can do for him in this situation? If she's dead, knowing the mayor won't help him. Fifty people saw him at the party with her that night.

 

Yes to all of this. I love Juliette and Avery together but the progression of their relationship seemed to see-saw from week to week. The boarding school discussion popped up out of nowhere. It would have been much more effective to see the conversation between Luke and the girls rather than a few more scenes of a distraught Rayna.

 

On Jeff calling Teddy...I had no idea who he called until I came into this forum. What is the mayor going to do for him? Tell the police not to investigate him for giving Layla prescription drugs? And, of course, Jeff will blackmail Teddy because Teddy is the recipient of every stupid storyline that they come up with.

 

I'm thinking it had to do with keeping HPs time commitments to a minimal because girl is seriously pregnant!  I'm telling myself that it was out of consideration for her and not because someone somewhere thinks Layla/Jeff/Sadie/Micah/Grandparents who show up is more compelling that Juliette and Avery.  Because they would be so so wrong.

 

Some of these characters - Layla and Micah - are boring, over-used plot devices. Sadie is positioned as Rayna's protege and new BFF for some reason. Honestly, it just seems that they had an opportunity to get Laura Benanti in the show and said "OK, we will worry about a plot later on." I have no idea of what Jeff is other than a one-dimensional villain whose sole purpose is to ruin lives.

[Primetimer]

As Ruke prepares to make it legal, how's everyone doing with the imminent life changes they're facing?

Read the story

[basiltherat]

Don't know about Nashville, but here in Chicago the Mayor sure as hell can do (or not do) whatever he wants for whoever he wants.  It's been that way for over 50 years!

[pattycat]

On location Casting, had a call for the role of a Tiffany's Courier. I'm assuming either Luke sends the courier for the ring, or Rayna arranges for the courier to return the ring to him.

[GaT]

3) Sadie stands up to ex. Yay! Pete then punches her out. Oof. Now this could be something, right? A compelling story about toxic and abusive relationships. But I bet $5 that when the show returns we'll learn that Sadie has not had his ass arrested and is trying to hide her injury. Because womenz can only be sassy, they can't have any actual agency. She's going to feel "embarrassed". She's going to feel embarrassed, I just know it!

 

 

I'm hoping that if they go that route it's not because she's embarrassed, but because she stole the songs from him. He said something about her song sounding a lot like one they wrote together, so if they're going to make me watch this boring story, I hope it has a good twist.

[madam magpie]

3) Sadie stands up to ex. Yay! Pete then punches her out. Oof. Now this could be something, right? A compelling story about toxic and abusive relationships. But I bet $5 that when the show returns we'll learn that Sadie has not had his ass arrested and is trying to hide her injury. Because womenz can only be sassy, they can't have any actual agency. She's going to feel "embarrassed". She's going to feel embarrassed, I just know it!

Except that being embarrassed and scared is incredibly common for women who've been abused or assaulted. If Sadie's just like "I'm calling the cops, loser!" that would feel pretty false to me. What would be better is if she worries about it for a bit and then confides in someone who believes her and encourages her to press charges pronto. Tami Taylor could do it, but she's too busy being gobbled up by Rayna. Maybe Avery?

Edited December 11, 2014 by madam magpie

[slade3]

I wanna smoke what they're smoking in the writers room, from twitter last night:

 

This pretty much sums up how I feel about the show. Plus, I want to get paid what they're getting paid because I can easily toss out bad, unoriginal ideas in a writers' room all day, too!

 

Weird episode. I thought they didn't give Ryan enough time to come to this huge decision to call off the wedding. Deacon's cancer diagnosis seemed random and rushed. Micah's devastation over learning he isn't Micah's dad seemed disingenuous only because they bonded way too quickly (no matter how much time the characters keep saying has passed). I also thought Avery and Juliette deserved more time to lead up to marriage. I agree way too much air time for Micah, his grandparents and Sadie and her ex.

 

Is Layla gone? If so, Jeff isn't long for this show either. Will saw Jeff give her those pills, so unless Teddy is willing to threaten Will, he would be taking a big risk covering for Jeff. This show is either cleaning some serious house, or they plan to create another pointless story line about Teddy and corruption.

 

The only good thing, as others pointed out, is we can now get back to our focus on the main characters from season 1.

 

I miss Tandy.

[kittygirl]

Hello everyone. I have been posting on the shopping channel wing of this playground. But after last night's Nashville I wanted to browse here to read others reactions. And you all, or y'all, as we say in Alabama, did not disappoint.

It's pretty bad when a show has me saying...Oh I hope she drowns....I'm really fairly nice. But this Layla,Will,Jeff crap has to go!!!! Only thing better is if Jeff dies too. Like Will but writers need to man up, so to speak, and let Will tell the truth. I get it's supposed to be a gut wrenching decision for him. If it's a storyline then tell it, go for it. Too many potential lines already screwed up...somebody better get it together in writer's room or there will be no show to write for next year.

Hope to be a regular poster and wish I had made it to the party sooner. It's a great party. Just glad it's not at Jeff's house.

[rubyred]

Loved the recap, but question -- why would it have been better to go through with the wedding then annul? Isn't it better that they didn't get enmeshed legally? I mean sure the wedding cancellation might be humiliating on the day but wouldn't an annulment three days later seem even more flaky and, worse, calculated?

 

ETA one other question. So did Kylie's parents already have legal guardianship or did they gin that up in Texas before heading to Nashville? Or had Kylie basically kidnapped her own kid before going to TN? BTW I love how Granny blames Gunnar for global warming but not herself for raising an irresponsible twit who probably didn't even know herself if Gunnar or Jason was Micah's daddy.

Edited December 12, 2014 by rubyred

[marceline]

Goodness what clusterfuck of melodrama.

 

Is "Evil Grandparents take kid away from single parent" considered a trope? I remember a similar story on ER with John Stamos. But the thing that really appalled me was when Gunnar said that nobody had heard from Kylie and she'd changed her number. What?!! She abandoned her child and has disappeared off the face of the Earth. Call the fucking cops! 

 

Scarlett is only tolerable when she's with Deacon but does this mean that her storyline managing Terry is over. If so, that leaves us with no black people at all. I assumed that Terry was supposed to replace Zoe the way that Zoe replaced Coleman.

 

Then there's Will and Layla. Dear Lawd, the actress' attempt to play drunk made me wonder if she's ever actually been drunk. If she hasn't, that's fine. More power to her but perhaps she should hang out with some real drunk people before she has to do that again. Instead of getting her idea of drunk acting from Valley of the Dolls and repeats of The Andy Griffith Show. Don't even get me started on Will. That's going to have to be a separate post because there's too many levels of fuckery there to be dealt with.

Edited December 12, 2014 by marceline

[Sutton]

Clemgo3165 - sometimes I wonder if these writers know how to write elegantly and if these are the same writers that we had in Season 1, because that was an almost perfect season (IMO).

 

Connie did her job well by looking troubled driving away, but then the look of relief on her face was like a ton of bricks had just fallen off of her shoulders, is a very talented Connie with great facial expressions that said I feel free to take control of my life again.

[pattycat]

I think it would have been terrible to go thru with the Wedding, and then get a quick annulment.

That's making a mockery of the institution, and, even if You felt that way (which, I don't think either of them do), what a message to send to the kids!

No way would it be better to get legally entangled. That's Luke's image consciousness speaking. And, he probably thought, once they were legally married, Rayna would have been more reluctant to end things, quickly.

By the way, in the preview, was that Luke with the gun?

[DeLurker]

Oh hell. We're in for a heapin' helping of manpain when show comes back.

[Ellaria]

Is Layla gone? If so, Jeff isn't long for this show either. Will saw Jeff give her those pills, so unless Teddy is willing to threaten Will, he would be taking a big risk covering for Jeff. This show is either cleaning some serious house, or they plan to create another pointless story line about Teddy and corruption.

 

The only good thing, as others pointed out, is we can now get back to our focus on the main characters from season 1.

 

I miss Tandy.

 

I'm hoping for some much-needed cast culling after the break. Micah and the Evil Grandparents are most likely gone. I think we've lost Layla (she is this season's version of Pig Blood Peggy). Luke will get a few scenes where he acts like a complete asshole and then will finally disappear. Teddy's "hooker with a heart of gold" is probably gone along with Terry and Zoe.

 

I think that Jeff - unfortunately - is here to stay. Will isn't going anywhere...at least not before is he officially outed. I also think that we are stuck with Sadie and her violent ex-husband.

[MusicCityFan]

Just not feeling or believing all of Rayna's angst and sudden truths when all of the things that were happening to her were of her own making. I hope we get a break from Rayna's storyline for awhile. Know she's the star but honestly think she's one of the least interesting main characters at this point (am in the minority am sure).

 

Annoyed that we didn't get longer Javery scenes... couldn't we at least have heard him tell her that he loved her? Am assuming that they are staggering a lot of HP scenes across episodes so that we don't miss Juliette in any episodes once HP has her baby? Am thinking that's the only reason (and how pregnant she is) that we are not seeing more of Juliette.

 

Am also probably in the minority, but just wasn't feeling the Gunnar/Scarlett embrace/moment. Love them and feel the chemistry when they sing together, but that is usually about the only time for me.

 

Love all things Deacon, but seriously, show- major illness? So many other things they could have explored with him.

 

Layla looks pretty dead. Am totally ok with the trade of Sadie for both Layla and Zoey. Though would have preferred they ship Layla off to NY or LA. Enjoyed the song with Sadie and Avery and the fact that it was a scene where they were actually showing people making music. No doubt Avery is going to have some producer issues to deal with regarding Sadie and the rights to her songs and the abusive ex.

 

Will Glenn want Avery to sign a retroactive prenup? Or is there such a thing? Missed Glenn and Emily.

 

Show, please keep Juliette and Avery happy for the rest of the season-- Nashville will likely get a fourth year so you've got plenty to time to break them up again.

[Zmanda]

I saw them filming this episode a few weeks back here in Memphis!

They were filming at The Arcade(it's a diner downtown). I guess they cut that footage, or were using it as storage and craft services.

My husband and I were downtown for dinner and drive right past!

Pretty good episode. I love that Avery and Juliette got married. Not looking forward to Deacon cancer storyline.

[axlmadonna]

"Javery can have their tiny baby together."

Is this the Standard Accepted Portmanteau? Because I kinda like "Julery" better.

[Sutton]

Pattycat  --  Can't believe Luke said that --

 

Go thru with the Wedding, and then a quick annulment.

Your comment was right on --

 

That's Luke's image consciousness speaking. And, he probably thought, once they were legally married, Rayna would have been more reluctant to end things, quickly.

That's because Luke figured he won the big prize, Rayna from Deacon and hell once they were married he wouldn't agree to an annulment so fast, but trying to change her mind by wearing her down, as we all know how possessive he can be.

[Artsda]

 

Just not feeling or believing all of Rayna's angst and sudden truths when all of the things that were happening to her were of her own making. I hope we get a break from Rayna's storyline for awhile. Know she's the star but honestly think she's one of the least interesting main characters at this point (am in the minority am sure).

I totally agree. Her character has become awful.

[gryphon]

The only time Scarlett doesn't annoy me is when she's with Deacon. Probably because his awesomeness just cancels out her annoyingness.  

 

Still smiling about Avery's proposal and Juliette's yes.  HP rules.  

 

I also call bull on the whole boarding school thing.  I really didn't believe the girls would be so positive towards the idea.  

And Layla....sigh.  Her drunken acting was staggeringly bad. 

[MisterS]

All in all I liked this episode as long but I ignored the boring parts.

I just don't care about Will anymore - his coming out (or lack of it) is never ending. He just needs to do it!

Gunnar and his nephew - whatever...

Is Layla really dead?

I miss Juliet. Now she and Avery are married will they be allowed to be happy? I somehow doubt it.

Charles Esten did a great job with the duck scene. You could really see that it was a moment that took Deacon back to childhood. But that minibar situation was ridiculous for a recovering alcoholic.

Not surprised that Rayna left dumping Luke until the last minute (a) because it's sooooo soapy and (b) lately she has been written almost entirely without self-awareness or empathy. She should have ditched him in episode 1 and saved us all a lot of tedium. That being said, I'm glad she has finally been made to acknowledge that her life is a mess which she has created. I am prepared to forgive her, depending on what she does next. And I love Connie Britton when she has actual acting to do.

Probably Deacon will push Rayna away when she begs for forgiveness in the next episode. I kind of wish that the reason for this would be that he was finally showing some strength of character i.e. because she's been so horrible, and not because he has a potentially terminal disease. I can't imagine Deacon being killed off, and sorry if another poster has already said this, but aren't the survival rates for liver cancer, if that's what he's got, really low? I wonder how they will pull that one off. Also he looks the picture of health. Though I may be being picky here.

For me there have always been awful elements to Nashville, including in season 1, but there were also parts that were really compelling that kept me watching. Lately the former have outweighed the latter. Now that they are (I hope) culling the massive cast list maybe it will swing back the other way.

I love R and D in scenes together as they transcend some of the lacklustre material they have to work with...as does Juliet, with Avery or without. I am looking forward to more of that.

So I'm still in.

Edited December 12, 2014 by MisterS

[TWP]

No more Ruke --squeeeee.

Javery --even more squee, although I concur about the lack of time, but yeah, it's probably maternity-related.

I got everything I could want out of this episode.

After tonight, I am officially a fan of this show.

[snowblossom2]

When did Kylie get Hispanic parents? I don't remember her looking remotely like she was Hispanic. Totally saw Michah not being Gunnar's and he probably should thank his lucky stars to be out of the daddy business.

How stupid is Will, amazed he could get it up. Poor Layla, she didn't deserve the treatment she got doubt she actually dies though. But maybe she can get the strength to get out of the farce of her life,

Luke and Reyna, well at least she figured it all out before the fact. I kind of felt bad for Luke, he does love her but I can see him being a total control freak and making her life hell. I was thinking that it was probably a good thing she didn't give him the ring back then as it would have ended up in the field.

Deacon is dying maybe, well that's an interesting twist.

Glad Avery realized that he could make it work with Juliette, they deserve a happy ending.

Worried Sadie is gonna end up dead.

The actress who plays Kylie is iirc Hispanic so it makes sense her parents are. Skin color is variable, even with families. Additionally what's stereotypically seen as looking Hispanic in the US is not true to how people from Latin America actually look. Blond hair is common. There is a lot of variation in skin color, hair color etc etc

[damnman]

I agree that a lot of this stuff was telegraphed but, to me anyway, it seems like the writers were reading this board and getting rid of/fixing all the people that we've been discussing here.  

 

Read back in the previous posts and did we not say Zoey is boring get rid of her? Done (but my gawd is that woman beautiful!).  

 

Micah's not Gunner's and the story line is stupid? Done. (although bitchy grandma even had me hoping that Gunner WAS Micah's father - geez!).

 

We've been asking for Rayna to wake up from whatever crap she's been smoking/drinking and come to the realization of who is the common denominator in her failed relationships (her) - Done.

 

Layla was just a miserable mess that we hoped would be off the show - appears to be done.

 

Deacon hasn't been feeling well for months, now at least we know there really is something wrong, although I hate the route they took.

 

We were all hoping that Avery and Juliette would have their happy ending - Done (although I think behind the scene's his mother had a lot to do with his decision, he was on the phone with her discussing his relationship or lack thereof when he suddenly decided to ask Juliette to marry him). I was applauding when he asked her to marry him and I gave a standing ovation when the actual marriage was taking place, the hubby was looking at me like I was insane lol.

 

Will really needs to come out but I honestly don't think the writers have any clue how to write a good "coming out" story that isn't riddled with cliche. It is an absolutely heart wrenching decision to come out (one of my BF's is gay and it wasn't easy for him and he isn't a celebrity).

 

I've hated Luke with the blaze of 1,000 suns from the first time he came on and I hope he turns good and vengeful just to allow me to yell at the tv that I was right about him all along!

 

Overall I enjoyed this totally soapy episode!

[Sandman]

Even though Jeff is a big fat jerk and I know that his primacy concern with Will is not losing such a huge money maker, I feel like a teeny tiny part of Jeff doesn't want Will outed because he knows it would be terrible for Will on a personal level. Look, I said TEENY TINY.

 

I lost so much sympathy for Will when he decided that Jeff's non-relationship with Layla was cutting into her time for her beardly duties. Ucch. They're both giant economy-size bags of dicks.

 

I know Rayna's relationship choices are as stupid as they are short-sighted, but does this show seriously expect me to feel sympathy for Luke? Because no way does that happen.

 

Oh, Gunnar! Just sing pretty songs. I don't know why Gunnar's non-paternity story had to be both so short-lived and so predictable. It's like they doubled down on the dumb. (Or maybe the writers just admitted to themselves it wasn't working, and bailed. Kind of like Rayna...)

[Readalot]

A relative just died a few days ago from

Deacon's exact diagnosis. From what I understand it will be a miracle if the diagnosis sticks and Deacon survives.

[Clemgo3165]

I'm wondering if he doesn't have a different form of cancer. They never really did say which kind of cancer, and they would need more tests than just blood work to determine that. He'll be pig-headed and not go see a doctor, probably until he wakes up and realizes he'd be leaving his daughter without her bio-Dad if he doesn't seek treatment. 

 

I'm sorry to hear about your relative Readalot. Hope you're holding up OK.

[Stella MD]

I think that's why they left themselves an out with the "may have cancer" hedging. There'll be concern for cancer just long enough to impact his relationship with Rayna.

 

The whole Micah storyline is just so false to me. No way is a ten-year old going to feel more attached to some random dude he met a few months ago over the grandparents he's known all his life (I know Kylie implied that she left town, but it was obvious as soon as the grandparents drove up that Micah knows them and has a relationship with them). Come on, show.

[Clemgo3165]

 

I think that's why they left themselves an out with the "may have cancer" hedging. There'll be concern for cancer just long enough to impact his relationship with Rayna.

 

With that white blood cell count, I'm pretty sure he does have cancer, just not sure it's liver cancer.

[Sandman]

I'm sure he has Plot Cancer; the white cell count may be alarming, but the cure is rediscovered love, and the survival rate is high. Plus the recovery time should only be till May (Sweeps). Sorry to hear of your relative, Readalot.

[Clemgo3165]

LOL, Sandman!

[BBDi]

I think that's why they left themselves an out with the "may have cancer" hedging. There'll be concern for cancer just long enough to impact his relationship with Rayna.

 

 

Yeah. I believe they said prob has cirrhosis, may have cancer. I don't think they can know for sure about the cirrhosis without doing a liver biopsy, but I might be wrong. So I say cirrhosis and he probably needs a transplant or will down the road, but not cancer. No way would they kill off Deacon unless Charles Esten wants off the show.

 

As far as Rayna, yes, she is quite an asshole at this point, but she did attempt to take responsibility for her actions, realize their effects on others, and not blame other people for the mistakes she made. I don't think the show expects us to feel sorry for Luke per se. I think the writers have tried (and mostly failed) to have him be awful enough that it's clear that he's all wrong for Rayna but not so awful that you wouldn't believe that she would be with him in the first place.

[backhometome]

Loved the Javery wedding. Though I would have liked more build up to it. But I guess with Hayden they had to cut down on their screen time.

 

I hate cancer stories on television. Rarely does it ever get the respect it deserves. 

 

I wish Layla/Micha/Luke would all exit stage left. 

[Julie23]

I'm way too old for squee-ing, but darn it if that proposal from Avery didn't make me squee and clap. (thankfully, I was alone in the room at the time).

I'm glad Rayna is rid of Luke, but the way it happened and the reason just didn't ring true. I expected something more dramatic, but "he talked to the girls about boarding school!" seems a little flimsy to cancel a wedding.

I'm all for Micah leaving but why make the grandmother such a bitch? I'm sure Gunnar would have felt a little better about his son/nephew if he knew he was loved and taken care of by nice people.

Jeff: still and asshole. Whew! Just in time, I almost started liking him last week!

Will: still gay and in the closet. Come on out, please!

Deacon - jeez, can this guy EVER get a break? Loved him and Scarlett singing though.

Layla - started feeling sorry for her at the end, but girl had no backbone!

[izabella]

I'm all for Micah leaving but why make the grandmother such a bitch? I'm sure Gunnar would have felt a little better about his son/nephew if he knew he was loved and taken care of by nice people.

 

I remember thinking grandma was a bitch, too, but now I'm reconsidering whether she was or not.  I can understand the grandparents being upset that their irresponsible daughter had left her child with a strange man, or at least, a near-stranger to Micah.  A man who actually isn't set up to be a dad since he has zero child care, a career that requires him to go on tour some of the time, and, duh, hasn't been proven to even be Micah's father.

 

Maybe they were bitchy about it, but as legal guardians, I don't think they were wrong.

[Sutton]

BBDi -- Charles Esten loves what he is doing on the show, and Yes, the only way they will kill off Deacon is if he wants off the show, but listening to Chip talk about Deacon he loves the character of Deacon. A poster said that when they sign for a series they usually sign a contract for 7 years. WOW, that's a long time but if the show is successful the actors are rewarded very well.

[gryphon]

 

I expected something more dramatic, but "he talked to the girls about boarding school!" seems a little flimsy to cancel a wedding.

I agree it was pretty flimsy, but I think it's pretty true to Rayna and her coming to a realization that her life is a mess--her relationship with her girls has always been pretty important to her and for her to finally realize that she didn't have as much influence over her girls right now as Luke--or just the case that they were so easily influenced by Luke and his kids/boarding school--Probably the straw.  She took way too long to get there, though. 

Edited December 12, 2014 by gryphon

[madam magpie]

I think it was also the kids basically saying to her, "What's the point of being home? No one's here anyway" coupled with the easy entitlement of "Whatever...Luke will fly us wherever we want to go in his jet" that stopped Rayna dead. They were so flip about it all, and had just settled into this new lifestyle and ethical ideology. I think it made Rayna see clearly that she was losing the battle of raising them to care about what she found important because she'd lost the battle herself. They saw absolutely nothing strange about any of it.

I totally agree, though, that it took her way too long to get there--maybe not way too long if this were real life, but WAY too long in terms of story.

[Haleth]

I think the only surprise about the Ruke breakup was that Rayna didn't find out Luke was messing around with Sadie. Guess those lingering looks were a red herring. So now will fans be mad at Rayna for hurting Luke? Will it hurt her career?

[rubyred]

I don't know if it's been a writing thing or an acting choice but I've always felt like they've hedged their bets with Luke. Like, they didn't know how they were going to break up Ruke so they set up the Sadie/Luke interactions. Hell when Deacon first went on tour with him and hooked up with Pam I was sure by Luke's reaction that he was pissed about that too, and expected to find out that Pam had either been one of his jump-offs or that Luke had sent Pam to Deacon to distract him from Rayna. Always hedging their bets....

 

With Will I've given up hope they're ever going to do anything interesting with that storyline. It's like without a real-life precedent they don't even know how to approach outing a male country singer and they don't seem to have the cojones to just go for it, hello folks this is a fictional story what's holding you back? Their own lack of imagination. Anyway if Layla dies I doubt Will will end up on the train tracks again, because one tragic death in a marriage is enough.

 

It would be nice to think the writers are reading the boards and adjusting accordingly but given the timing of shooting I doubt that's the case. I guess they could course-correct in the later episodes but I hope it's not too little too late. It's amazing how little forethought some of the story and casting decisions have come across. For instance, getting rid of Tandy also meant we lost a sounding board so that we'd know what the fuck was going on in Rayna's head all these months.

 

I am curious to see the fallout from the wedding debacle; it could be some good soapy fun. Here's hoping the show gets back on course. Like others have said, it has never been perfect but it has come damn close at times.