S04.E12: How Does It Feel To Be Free

[Clemgo3165]

This is what I think goes on too.  I could see someone who's never watched the show before thinking Maddie is 17 and Daphne is 11.

Maisy turned 12 in mid-December so I'm pretty sure she was still 11 when this was filmed. Lennon won't be 17 until August, I guess her height and her look make her appear older than she is. She always has looked older to me except during the early parts of the first season.

[airwair]

Clemgo, I was the one questioning why Maddie *had* to write with Cash of all people. I brought up that she writes well with Deacon and until this dumb fear storyline, he was very good at getting deep things out of her that no one else seemed to be able to. I'm sorry that was projected onto you for some reason.

That said, I never said she had to or should write about sex with her father. That would be beyond weird and absurd so I'm not sure where that projection is coming from.

[dmc]

I am not interested in Layla/Avery or really anything Layla is involved in....

I am not interested in Maddie/Colt

I am not interested in Riley/Boulevard either

[airwair]

Afterthought: I think even though Rayna and Teddy weren't stable in their own relationship and the messes they'd made, they naively put on a fantastic front for the girls. They clearly didn't argue in front of them and they hid the complicated and bad baggage so the girls were under the impression they lived in a perfect fantasy land with rainbows and unicorns.

To me, that has potential to be worse than being up front because when it crumbled (first with the divorce and then with the paternity) it completely shell shocked them.

Even so, Maddie has been given a lot of love and support through out everything. While it isn't always the answer she wants to hear (such as "oh sure, sign this contract, get exploited and end up like Britney and Lindsay!") she does have parents who love her and who truly want what is best for her, even if they don't always get that translation 100% right.

As far as Deacon and getting caught goes, he handled that exactly as I would anticipate any dad would in that moment. Coach Taylor didn't yell when he caught Juli and Matt ACTUALLY doing it, but there was clear frustration and all kinds of awkwardness. He wasn't so calm and collected that Juli felt she could rush into his arms and talk about her sex life any time, any place.

Who's to say Deacon didn't go later after everything had calmed down and have a conversation with Colt similar to the one Coach had with Matt? All kinds of things happen off screen on this show. Just because he reacted in the moment doesn't mean the world is ending and he's ruined their relationship forever. That's the joy of parenting--especially when doing it for the first time.

I think with that in mind, there's no indication that every bit of her nonsense can be blamed on her parents. She has the necessary tools and support (despite the drama) to be kind, intelligent and successful when making her choices and choosing her relationships. Instead, she chooses not to listen, bite the hand that feeds her, and those close to her suffer for it.

And sadly, I don't think she cares.

[DeLurker]

Poor Avery's crushed heart is in danger of getting crushed by Layla vs. Juliette. 

 

Why is this show painting so many country music fans as being so homophobic?  Will is due for something good. 

Not a country music fan for the most part and know nothing about Nashville, but isn't there just 1 openly gay country musician (well known at least)?  I thought I read about him coming out in the last year or so.

 

Not that reality is reflected at all in this show, but it brings the drama so I think that is the answer.

 

My brain automatically calls Luke's friend Riff Raff.

[Bwill3133]

I think the fact that Lennon is so much taller than Maisy it makes her appear that much older. Then again she's looked older than she is the last couple of seasons. They are using the girls real life ages but their lives (as Maddie and Daphne) are just so different that it was foolish of Rayna to sign them as a duo. There is the communication problem with them. Maddie wont say anything without an attitude and Rayna doesn't listen or take suggestions. They need to work on that. I like Cash for being someone that Maddie can talk to. 

[airwair]

Not a country music fan for the most part and know nothing about Nashville, but isn't there just 1 openly gay country musician (well known at least)? I thought I read about him coming out in the last year or so.

Not that reality is reflected at all in this show, but it brings the drama so I think that is the answer.

My brain automatically calls Luke's friend Riff Raff.

There are three (that I'm aware of) openly gay country musicians and none of them came out until their careers had already dwindled back to obscurity.

I won't lie--the bulk of the country fan base come from remote backwoods counties in the Tennessee hills and Alabama. Unfortunately, a major country superstar (I'm looking at my hometown boy Kenny Chesney) coming out of the closet would likely be detrimental to their arena success.

The artists that are currently out primarily play small venues in Nashville, they write songs, and live relatively quiet (albeit successful in their own rights) lives--they aren't selling out stadiums, but they aren't pariahs in Nashville.

What bugs me most about this representation of Will's story is that he is being gay bashed, abused, and treated like the plague IN NASHVILLE. I've said before, Nashville is a pretty progressive city. It has a gay scene that doesn't revolve around stereotypical thumpin bumpin clubs and rainbows. It votes blue in elections.

Unless he travels to Cocke County every day, he wouldn't be subjected to this on the norm as he has been.

Edited March 25, 2016 by airwair

[madam magpie]

How do you know they didn't? For me, the girls seemed happy and well-adjusted, and loved by both parents. That we saw them at the end of their marriage doesn't mean it was full of dysfunction for the entire time. Daphne didn't appear out of nowhere.

Of course Deacon threw Colt out and yelled at Maddie about the key, then he sat in the truck in silence on the way home because he didn't know what to say. Given the situation I don't know any parent that wouldn't have yelled at that abuse of trust. And anyway, I can't figure out why you're bashing me for something I never said, I don't care if Maddie writes with Cash, if that's what it takes to create that song, fine. And I wouldn't expect any teenager to want to write about sex with their parents, and never said that. I do disagree with Cash' insinuation that her parents are keeping her from writing her deepest stuff because we see that they aren't.

What makes me think they didn't is just what I said: We came into the story in the middle and met a family in the verge of collapse due to the enormous and painful secrets the parents had been keeping. Both kids have struggled since, Maddie almost nonstop. The idea that the family appeared happy just doesn't mean anything to me. How families look and what they really are under the surface are very often completely at odds. There was a time when I'd have agreed that Teddy/Rayna made a happy home, but given all the evid nice over the last few seasons, I no longer think that. I think they were probably bubbling with dysfunction for a long time. It just continued (and probably got worse) after they split and Deacon was revealed as Maddie's father.

I do know parents who would and have handled catching their kids having sex (or almost) very differently. Like I said, I don't think Deacon's a monster for how he reacted, but I don't think he was right either. I'm not into shaming or punishing kids about sex, but I'm also very aware that isn't the most common child-rearing approach.

I'm not bashing anyone; I didn't agree. I thought you were saying Maddie should be writing with her father. Maybe that was airwair instead. OK. Maybe I made a mistake. Who cares really? None of this is actually important.

Airwair: The fact that Maddie is loved and appreciated does mean she'll probably be fine in the end, but I don't believe it will just stop the rebellion once a kid has decided to jump into that. She needs to learn how valuable her family is and that often only happens with life experience.

Edited March 25, 2016 by madam magpie

[mjc570]

The Layla/Avery/Juliette plot just sucks, I am not interested at all in it or anything else Layla is involved in. They can also get rid of Maddie & Daphne, Luke, Gunnar, Scarlet, & any new people. I wish somebody on the writing staff would just remember what this show started as & go back to that.

 

 

This a thousand times.  This is why I don't watch the show, just read along sometimes.

[dcalley]

That said, I never said she had to or should write about sex with her father.

Ack, my eyes! How about "write with her father about sex"?

 

From the recap:

 

because she's written sixty-three songs and they're all about Jeff.

Jeff lies

when he cries

 

Jeff likes girls

with names

like Layla.

[Clemgo3165]

What makes me think they didn't is just what I said: We came into the story in the middle and met a family in the verge of collapse due to the enormous and painful secrets the parents had been keeping. Both kids have struggled since, Maddie almost nonstop. The idea that the family appeared happy just doesn't mean anything to me. How families look and what they really are under the surface are very often completely at odds. There was a time when I'd have agreed that Teddy/Rayna made a happy home, but given all the evid nice over the last few seasons, I no longer think that. I think they were probably bubbling with dysfunction for a long time. It just continued (and probably got worse) after they split and Deacon was revealed as Maddie's father.

I do know parents who would and have handled catching their kids having sex (or almost) very differently. Like I said, I don't think Deacon's a monster for how he reacted, but I don't think he was right either. I'm not into shaming or punishing kids about sex, but I'm also very aware that isn't the most common child-rearing approach.

I'm not bashing anyone; I didn't agree. I thought you were saying Maddie should be writing with her father. Maybe that was airwair instead. OK. Maybe I made a mistake. Who cares really? None of this is actually important.

Airwair: The fact that Maddie is loved and appreciated does mean she'll probably be fine in the end, but I don't believe it will just stop the rebellion once a kid has decided to jump into that. She needs to learn how valuable her family is and that often only happens with life experience.

I care because it came across like a hammer being pounded over my head for something I never said.

We'll have to disagree about life with Rayna and Teddy pre-Nashville. They were married 13 years and neither one of us knows the backstory there. My only basis for judgement is that the kids seemed happy, and as Rayna reminded Teddy, they loved each other enough to make Daphne.

I'm glad to know there are people out there who would handle the Colt/Maddie situation more calmly. My own Dad wouldn't have and neither would I in the immediate moment. FWIW I don't think Maddie was shamed or punished for her sexual exploits (and maybe I've forgotten something), but she was punished for lying, skipping school, and taking advantage of the privilege of having a key to Deacon's house. It was a serious breech of trust on her part. Of course he had to tell Rayna about it, that's not something to hide, and Maddie would likely have felt more comfortable asking questions of her Mom wrt to Colt.

In your view of Maddie's family maybe she would be better off apart from them, away from the dysfunction.

[madam magpie]

In your view of Maddie's family maybe she would be better off apart from them, away from the dysfunction.

Are those really the only two options you see? A happy, loving family or so dysfunctional the child should leave? Or are you just being snarky in an effort to imply that my opinion is dumb or something? I really can't tell.

For me, I see many more options and situations, but if you genuinely feel there are just two, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that also.

Edited March 25, 2016 by madam magpie

[Tara Ariano]

In case you missed it, here's the Previously.TV post on the episode!
 

Will Nashville Follow The Wedding Of The Century With The Divorce Of The Millennium?
We joke about Crayla but her plan is actually not that crazy at all. (Evil? Yes. It is evil.)

[Clemgo3165]

Not being snarky, trying to be thoughtful which apparently isn't working today. Not sure what I've done to cause you such distress.

The family is currently not functioning well and if, as you suggest, the dysfunction has been there all along, then maybe the only way for Maddie to grow up is to step away, at least for a while. Just a thought, nothing more, and no, not the only one.

I would never suggest that your opinion was dumb, I'd simply disagree. We're all entitled to express our ideas.

[madam magpie]

Not being snarky, trying to be thoughtful which apparently isn't working today. Not sure what I've done to cause you such distress.

The family is currently not functioning well and if, as you suggest, the dysfunction has been there all along, then maybe the only way for Maddie to grow up is to step away, at least for a while. Just a thought, nothing more, and no, not the only one.

I would never suggest that your opinion was dumb, I'd simply disagree. We're all entitled to express our ideas.

I'm not distressed at all. I thought you were upset.

Like I said, I see many options and would suggest many other things before I thought Maddie needed to step away from her family. She'll be 18 soon enough and can do whatever she wants. I tend to think kids shouldn't be removed from their homes or cut ties with their families unless they're truly being abused. I see that as unhealthy, and I don't consider Maddie as being abused...so no, I wouldn't suggest that.

[Clemgo3165]

This conversation has been very upsetting to me, but I've already said that. Just concerned when you went to me calling you dumb in some backhanded way. You should know by now that I don't think that, I wouldn't engage in a debate if I did.

[smiley13]

I won't lie--the bulk of the country fan base come from remote backwoods counties in the Tennessee hills and Alabama. 

There are country fans all over the United States so I can't agree with this statement at all.

 

Just look at the touring schedules for today's biggest artists.

 

I can't wait to see how Layla's revenge plays out.  Juliette deserves all that she gets and more IMO.  I have no interest in the latest "singer" to turn up.  You would think that Rayna would have learned something from Sadie.

 

Maddie continues to be a brat and can we get rid of this Cash person?  The name alone makes me dislike the character.

[pattycat]

On a lighter note, as casual as Deacon and Rayna seem to be, about locking their bedroom door(maybe it's locked off camera), I wouldn't be surprised if one of the girls walked in, on a mattress mambo!

We know we didn't arrive on a lily pad, floating down the river, but, does anyone want a visual, of their parents?

[Sutton]

Guys remember this is just a TV series. If I remember correctly Rayna had to go back on tour again because Teddy lost their savings and that was in season 1 the start of the series. When the kids asked Teddy are we rich his response if I remember "Yes, but were cash poor" so things weren't that good from the start of the series in the Conrad home. Both Rayna/Teddy were putting on a good front for the girls. The girls didn't know what was happening but at that age they didn't need to know that neither parent was happy for a long time.

 

"Does anyone want a visual, of their parents?" NO, I'm sure that Rayna/Deacon lock their bedroom door, but just like so many things that happen on Nashville it's "Locked Off Camera, Spoken off-camera we never get closure to things that are important we are always left to assume."

 

Horskovitz/Zwick are writers who are going to be writing for Nashville if they get a season 5 and as a poster wrote "These guys wrote Thirtysomething and Once and Again TV series. They know how to tell good stories, can integrate the business side of things with the rest of the show, portray solid committed relationships well, without drama, and aren't so over the top." So maybe we have a chance of getting what Nashville was meant to be instead of what in turned into. Lets HOPE...

[DeLurker]

Maddie continues to be a brat and can we get rid of this Cash person?  The name alone makes me dislike the character.

The name gets me too.  Colt is also not all that popular with me.

[smiley13]

On a lighter note, as casual as Deacon and Rayna seem to be, about locking their bedroom door(maybe it's locked off camera), I wouldn't be surprised if one of the girls walked in, on a mattress mambo!

We know we didn't arrive on a lily pad, floating down the river, but, does anyone want a visual, of their parents?

The girls should know better than to ever barge into a room with a closed door, so I don't get the expectation that Rayna and Deacon should be locking the door.  If a door is closed, they should knock on it and wait to be told to enter.  It's not like they are toddlers.

[mikem]

I'm not sure I understand what the point is of Cash's character.  Her only function is to advise Maddie.  She never says anything about herself.  We know basically nothing about her at all.

 

They clearly showed Vita leaving while Frankie was still counting the till, so I think we are supposed to think that Vita did not take the money.  If they wanted us to even consider that Vita might be guilty, I think they would have shown some lingering shot of her staring at the money or something like that.  Although I wish it was clearer whether Deacon/Rayna/Frankie asked Vita what her felony was or not.  It would be foolish of them to consider having someone be a new Highway 65 artist (and put her in a situation where she is handling money) without knowing her backstory a little bit.

 

For some reason, Riff Bell sounds like a really silly name to me. 

Edited March 26, 2016 by mikem

[pattycat]

The girls should know better than to ever barge into a room with a closed door, so I don't get the expectation that Rayna and Deacon should be locking the door.  If a door is closed, they should knock on it and wait to be told to enter.  It's not like they are toddlers.

I was actually making an attempt at humor. I'd definitely hope that two girls, of their age, would not go barging into their Parent's bedroom, with a closed door.

[TVFAN]

I agree that Maddie needs an attitude readjustment, but in fairness, she and Daphne have had a traumatic few years.  I think the fact that they have both acted out is one of the more realistic aspects of the show.

 

Let's look at what's happened.  There may (or may not) have been underlying tension in the Rayna/Teddy household, but the girls had structure, security, and love.  Since the Rayna/Teddy break-up, the girls have had three new parental figures, crazy Peggy, driven Luke, and Deacon.  I love Deacon, but he's not the most stable person.  He almost killed Rayna while drunk, almost lost his mind when his sister died, and periodically shows flashes of violence.  

 

The girls have been asked to turn on a dime in terms of accepting someone as family.  Deacon loves Maddie (and Daphne) dearly, and he does have a blood relationship with Maddie, but neither of those things really make him anyone's father.  Parenthood is scaring the monsters away, providing discipline when needed, and patching skinned knees.  Teddy is Maddie and Daphne's "Daddy," and he always will be.  That doesn't mean Deacon will not carve out his own niche with time, but there has been no time at this point.  "Uncle Deacon" was a fun friend of Mom's--he did not have parental responsibilities.  He's going to have to earn the girls' trust.  

 

And I think Rayna, loving Mom that she is, is struggling in her new role, too.  As the family breadwinner, she was on the road, recording, and generally taking care of business much of the time.  Teddy seemed to play the role of house husband.  He was the one who spent more time with the children, and he was the chief disciplinarian.  Now, he's gone, and Rayna has to make calls that she did not have to make in the past.

[thuganomics85]

Man, Jeananne Goodsen sure is taking advantage of The Night Shift hitaus.  First, The Walking Dead, and now Nashville!  And while maybe not as amazing as they hyped her to be, I thought she did have a nice voice, so I kind of want The Night Shift to find a way to get Krista to sing.  Not sure I'm all that invested in the Vita story, especially that list twist.  She is so going to be innocent over the missing money, but Frankie is going to be a dick (or is actually doing it himself), and Deacon will be a moron, she'll still get accused, and it will cause a bunch of stupid drama.

 

Hey, Luke still exists!  He's having problems touring, so he's resort to calling up an old buddy to tour with him.  Because even though he was the victim in the entire thing, apparently fans are more pissed that he is rich, then him being robbed.  I swear, between this and the arc last season when religious nuts got all in Juliette's grill, country fans are like the biggest villain on this show.  It's so weird, because the show does try to be a love letter for country music, but they sure like to dump on fans.

 

The Maddie/Daphne break-up begins with Cash influencing Maddie to start singing about deeper, more mature issues, which basically means, sing about boys and how bad they are.  If this show had been an Empire-like success, there would have been no Cash, and they just would have had Taylor Swift playing herself instead.

 

Gunnar breaks up with Erin, so of course Scarlett's going to give the taxidermist guy a try.  Those two are such idiots.  They truly belong together.

 

At least Will's story ended up pleasantly surprising me.  I really thought it was heading towards Will beating up the homophobe, but then getting arrested for it.

 

Layla's is totally using Avery as a pawn in her game, but Avery probably truly is happy to have the weight lifted off his shoulder.  It's just too bad real life events play a part in this, because it's hard to feel anything with Juliette off the screen.  Had Hayden Paneterrie been here being her normal awesome self, I might have felt bad, but it's hard to feel bad when I don't see her.  I certainly hope Hayden prioritized her health first, but I so can't wait for Juliette to finally be on screen again.

[pattycat]

I agree that Maddie needs an attitude readjustment, but in fairness, she and Daphne have had a traumatic few years.  I think the fact that they have both acted out is one of the more realistic aspects of the show.

 

Let's look at what's happened.  There may (or may not) have been underlying tension in the Rayna/Teddy household, but the girls had structure, security, and love.  Since the Rayna/Teddy break-up, the girls have had three new parental figures, crazy Peggy, driven Luke, and Deacon.  I love Deacon, but he's not the most stable person.  He almost killed Rayna while drunk, almost lost his mind when his sister died..

Deacon did not almost kill Rayna while drunk. Yes, she got in the car with him, because he was drinking. But, it was Rayna driving the car. She could have chosen to just take the keys from him. She could have pulled over to the side of the road, when they were arguing.

I also don't think he almost lost his mind, when Beverly died. Of course he struggled with grief. His Sister died, saving his life. Who wouldn't struggle with guilt and grief, facing that.

[Soup333]

No, Deacon didn't almost kill Rayna when they got in that accident. It was an accident. And she was driving. Would have been nice if Rayna would have reminded Maddie of that when she went on about it, but Rayna seems...I don't know. I don't fault her for not being on the pulse of things right at that moment because she was getting ready to marry the love of her life. But there are times when I find it hard to understand what - I'm not sure I can even explain this clearly.

 

Rayna specifically asked Avery how he was doing at the wedding and expressed concern about Juliette. She probed Vita to share more about herself and went out of her way to find her. She flew across the country to check on Juliette at the beginning of the season. None of those people are her responsibility but at this point I expect this from Rayna. She mothers. She tries to fix things. That's why I find it hard to believe that she hasn't seen anything different about Daphne before the wedding. Maddie regularly has an attitude with her parents on any given day so not picking up on what's going on with that child is more forgivable. Why is Rayna just now sitting down and having a conversation with Daphne about this after Tandy points it out to her? I find it hard to believe that she wouldn't have already anticipated that this adjustment would be difficult for Daphne?

 

I guess my whole point is that Rayna seems disconnected from them at times. When she's focusing on her business, her relationships at home suffer. We've seen this over and over again since the beginning of the series. 

 

Am I forgetting something? The hiatus was long as hell. Are there scenes of her comforting Daphne that I've forgotten?

[Clanstarling]

WHY ARE WE ADDING MORE CHARACTERS TO THIS SHOW? My lord. We just keep adding more. This new Vita girl and now Luke's old country music buddy.

Said the very same thing to the hubs when Vita appeared on screen.

 

 

I don't think Colt is being such a twerp that he deserves a Taylor Swift style song lashing. I think he and Maddie have grown apart as he wants structure and she wants to be an insufferable diva. It happens. Welcome to the big leagues, sweetheart. (Am I the only one hoping Deacon was just down the hall when she started yelling at him about ignoring her since they had sex? That reaction could've been humorous.)

As much as I don't like Maddie (and that's VERY much), I actually liked that she called and spoke her mind. Too many girls (and women alike) are reluctant to speak out and demand what they need. So for that alone, I liked this bit.

I haven't listened to country regularly for a long time, but has the crowd really changed enough that Luke having a tax issue would drive his fans away? That just doesn't seem like the country fan base to me. When it was Willie Nelson (yes, a long time ago), they just loved him more. I'm not terribly invested in Luke, but I think the actor does a great job.

I was pleasantly surprised when Will's "revenge" was to do his thing up on stage. Can Will FINALLY have some happiness for a little while? Also, how is throwing a beer bottle (heavy enough to be deadly) at someone's head a "drunk and disorderly" instead of assault?

[Bort]

Also, how is throwing a beer bottle (heavy enough to be deadly) at someone's head a "drunk and disorderly" instead of assault?

For that matter, why did Will not giving a statement make the cops unable to charge the drunk dipshit with hate crime assault (or whatever felonious charge they were going for)? There was a whole bar full of witnesses, they didn't need Will to make that stick.

[smiley13]

I haven't listened to country regularly for a long time, but has the crowd really changed enough that Luke having a tax issue would drive his fans away? That just doesn't seem like the country fan base to me. When it was Willie Nelson (yes, a long time ago), they just loved him more. I'm not terribly invested in Luke, but I think the actor does a great job.

I think that part is ridiculous.  His fans would not turn on him for trusting the wrong business administrators.  Luke did nothing wrong and rectified the wrongdoing of others as soon as he knew about it.

[FortKnox]

Is it wrong that when Will got hit in the face with the beer bottle I just laughed out loud for a couple of minutes and then I wished I had that dude's throwing arm and aim?

So, that says something about me or the writing.

[NorthstarATL]

For that matter, why did Will not giving a statement make the cops unable to charge the drunk dipshit with hate crime assault (or whatever felonious charge they were going for)? There was a whole bar full of witnesses, they didn't need Will to make that stick.

Bingo. The CLUB could have pressed charges at least. And the guy would never have been allowed back in. Will pressing charges might have mattered if it had happened on the street, but not in the venue shown.

  I remarked to my partner that as soon as Vita left work we'd be getting a storyline about money missing from the club, with her as the prime suspect. I was shocked that it occurred so soon! (I don't pay that much attention to the employees, but do the waitresses make their own drinks? Otherwise it's the bartender that has access to the till. Waitstaff makes its own change in most places.

[smiley13]

I do not give a hoot about Vita/Vida (??)  so make her a thief and send her off to Sadie Stone exile.  And thankfully that Erin girl has been sent there too.

[Sandman]

Horskovitz/Zwick are writers who are going to be writing for Nashville if they get a season 5 and as a poster wrote "These guys wrote Thirtysomething and Once and Again TV series. They know how to tell good stories, can integrate the business side of things with the rest of the show, portray solid committed relationships well, without drama, and aren't so over the top." So maybe we have a chance of getting what Nashville was meant to be instead of what in turned into. Lets HOPE...

"Hope" as in Steadman? Heh. Nice!

[SlovakPrincess]

Man, this show is dreary.   The only part I enjoy these days is the friendship between Scarlett / Gunnar / Avery / Will, and how they all stick up for each other.

[Ursula Parrott]

Avery's manpain is giving me a pain. It's probably just another example of how the writers short-circuit a more natural progression of emotions, but Lordy can that character whine relentlessly. Answering some questions about your wife at a party causes him to hyperventilate in a heap in the corner?

Grow up, Avery, and while you're at it, shave, until you can produce an actual goatee.

Edited March 29, 2016 by Ursula Parrott

[vibeology]

As much as I don't like Maddie (and that's VERY much), I actually liked that she called and spoke her mind. Too many girls (and women alike) are reluctant to speak out and demand what they need. So for that alone, I liked this bit.

 

I really agree with this. I'm probably one of the few Colt fans in the world. I like that he wanted to do what was right in the face of his father worrying more about the label/brand. I like that when things got really bad with Luke (and Luke nearly hit him) he got himself out of that situation. I like that he checked with Maddie before they slept together. I like that he's embracing the discipline of his grandfather's home and is willing to put the work in. But I think he's been a pretty awful boyfriend these past few episodes. He hasn't really talked to Maddie about his home life and his more serious issues. He's moved away suddenly and isn't as present in her life. She doesn't know what he's got going on and he is never around to talk, never wants to spend time with her and is clearly holding something back from her. She's right to say that she needs more. I think calling him up and telling him where she's at emotionally was the most mature thing she's done in a long time.

[Sutton]

I think the reason Colt is staying away from Maddie is because of what he knows about what happened to Jeff and that Juliette was responsible. I have to give the kid credit of wanting the truth to come out but if and when it does things are going to go down hill fast. Remember, Maddie wants so much to be like Juliette wonder how that's going to turn out when she finds out, because of Juliette's out of control life style someone who tried to save her died. Right now Maddie just wants what she wants doesn't care about anyone right now it will be very interesting if Cole tells her what he saw and how she reacts to it. I never liked Colt thought he was just another Country Music Rich Kid but going on tour with Luke kinda gave him a wake up call on what kind of a life he wants to live. Seeing people, and that includes his father do whatever it takes, who would do anything for fame by lying on what really happened to Jeff, afraid their fans would desert them. It will be very interesting to see in the next couple of episodes if he tells Maddie on why he's not calling her.

[airwair]

I like Colt a lot more than I like Maddie currently.

He's going through some pretty damaging anguish and is dealing with it by working and giving himself structure. While she may not know all of the reasons behind his newfound habit of choosing work over her, her response to him talking about things he seems to genuinely enjoy now is "sounds lame."

He witnessed someone die, it was covered up, and dad threw him overboard for the sake of his brand. Now Maddie disparages his hobbies and work ethic and she's shocked and dismayed when he pulls away?

My sympathy for him is going pretty deep.

[DeLurker]

He witnessed someone die, it was covered up, and dad threw him overboard for the sake of his brand. Now Maddie disparages his hobbies and work ethic and she's shocked and dismayed when he pulls away?

 

Does she know all this?  I can't remember since it was off for so long...

[airwair]

Does she know all this? I can't remember since it was off for so long...

She doesn't, but I find that respect works well both ways. If she wants him to call her and hang out with her and whatever else, "that sounds lame" and then calling and yelling at him isn't exactly the path I'd recommend.

[Auntie Anxiety]

When I heard the name Vita, I couldn't stop thinking of pickled herring.

[vibeology]

I really like the Maddie/Colt conflict and I think its probably one of the better relationship conflicts the show has written. I totally get where Colt is coming from and I've probably been one of his biggest fans this season but when you look at events from Maddie's point of view, I can see where she's coming from too. It's Maddie so the brattiness breaks through a little, but lets be real, most teens would tease someone who is eager to do their chores.

 

She and Colt have sex and soon after she's sent home. They go a while barely able to talk and when Colt finally comes back to town he moves farther away from her and is barely available to talk or hang out. She's pretty open with him in trying to talk about her feeling about her parents getting married, her record deal and other stuff but he never has time for her and even seems eager to get out of her company to hang out at the farm. He is the only person she's ever had sex with and as soon as they do, he starts ghosting her. She doesn't know why and Colt isn't opening up to her so I can see why she thinks he's been a bad boyfriend and is insecure that now that they've had sex, he's moving on.

[Lillybee]

Can show please drop the teen/tween angst and concentrate on the adults?

[RedheadZombie]

This is on Rayna, she never should have forced them to be a duo when Daphne's a child and then you have a older teen. This was never going to work out well for Daphne, and Rayna knew it's not what Maddie wanted either. 

 

I bet that Michael Jackson's and Donny Osmond's older brothers weren't crazy about being stuck in a group with their baby brother either. Maddie is simply a brat who until recently, had three parents running around appeasing and petting her every time she did something wrong. She's crazy entitled, and with little to back it up. I think the Stella sisters are amazingly talented, and they are now celebrities. And both of them are eons more humble than Maddie.

But even before Maddie got the other record offer, she was demanding that Rayna sign her. I wished Rayna would have said - Little girl, you are not all that. You have talent, but a music career will not be handed to you because of who you are.

I love the sisters performing together - they just sparkle with each other - and for that reason, I wanted them signed together. And I'm betting that's why the show did this. But I would love, if like Donny and Michael, Dapne eclipses her and becomes the bigger star.

[Sutton]

RED - If we get a season 5 I would love to see "Like Donny and Michael, Daphne eclipses her and becomes the bigger star" but we're in a holding pattern waiting to see if Nashville gets a #5. With the two new writers which they have said were on board that would be a twist right out of left field. Good thought send them that idea.

[smartymarty]

I didn't see the Layla-Avery story as an evil plot. Just a crush of Layla on Avery.

Didn't understand Frankie and Deacon not doing a background check. They would have just received a report of her prior arrests -- it didn't mean they couldn't hire her. (For example, if she'd only had some DWIs, but now was sober, they'd probably be sympathetic and hire her. If she'd embezzled, then no.)

Also, pretty convenient for Will that the heckler went back to the bar the next night.

[Miles]

I know I'm a little late for this, but I have to comment on this episode. Did these writers grow up on Venus? How can they not even have a passing familiarity with the law?

Cops don't need the victims statement if there is a room full of witnesses. Even if they did and couldn't charge the guy with a hate crime, it still would have been assault with a deadly weapon and not just drunken disorderly.

This has to have been the most bullshit writing I've seen all year and I've seen a lot of bullshit writing.