S04.E17: Baby Come Home

[Kathemy]

1 hour ago, Soup333 said:

Truth. But one thing Layla has always been consistent about is the progression of her career. She wants Juliette level success and she's proven herself willing to do almost anything to get it. 

 

Truth, and I don't think that's a coincidence at all...

[madam magpie]

Rayna and Deacon really need to let Maddie go. I know she won't, but I wish Rayna would show up in court and say, "No need for a hearing. Where do I sign to unload this loser? I have another kid who actually wants and needs my attention, and I need to focus on her."

 

No idea what Cash's angle is, but clearly she's nuts.

[Clemgo3165]

Other than that she didn't get what she wanted when SHE was 16, and maybe that her Dad went back to drinking because Deacon was able to make a success of the bar when he couldn't, even with the stupid name. I'm not really seeing much in the way of motivation. Of course I'm only skimming scenes right now so that might be a contributing factor ;)

And I agree with you MM, if Maddie wants to go, by all means turn her loose. Let her make a go of it herself and see how she does. Oh, and change the locks on the house.

[Tara Ariano]

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

Nashville Fields An Emancipation Proclamation

But for some reason, Rayna and Deacon don't want to let their bratty daughter go.

[seacliffsal]

I actually would like to see Maddie emancipated and then realize that the only reason people treat her well is due to her parents.  I can see how her ego would be out of control as she has sung at the Opry, and has had many other advantages that would be unrealistic for anyone who was not the daughter of someone revered in the industry.  I'd also like to see her eyes opened to whatever it is that Cash is doing and what it really is like when others are controlling her (i.e. Cash, record executives, etc.).  

Scarlett really lost me this episode when she acted like she was Maddie, i.e. being all pouty and non-communicative.

And Layla can go any time...

[Kathemy]

Of course Scarlett was pouty and non-communicative. In case you had forgotten, Gunnar slept with her best friend after they broke up, so you might forgive her for being a bit "sensitive" about stuff like that, and I also think deep down they both kinda knew their romantic affair was on the ups.

At least she blurted it out and immediately realized when she was wrong.

[thuganomics85]

I'm frankly shocked that it took this long for the show to do a "Stuck in an elevator" scenario.  Not surprised it ended up being the "they drink and fall back in love with each other" variation, although I probably would have gotten a kick out of the "stuck with a pregnant" one, it it ended up with Gunnar having to deliver a baby.  I can just see his face.  But instead they sing their awesome song from the pilot and rekindle the flame.  I just hope it actually goes somewhere, and the show doesn't find a stupid reason to break them up again.

I'm also surprised that freaking Maddie actually seemed concern about Daphne and how this stupid emancipation thing was effecting her.  It's a low bar, but Maddie has been so self-absorbed, that I really thought she didn't give a shit about Daphne anymore.  At least she came in to sing with her, but they are clearly going to keep dragging this dumb thing out.  I still don't see Maddie having much of a case, but this is Nashville, so who knows?

I knew Rayna's "promise" to Cash would end up being used against, but considering how crazy and over-the-top Cash is, I could even see her exaggerating that exchange.  She was probably all "Your mom was awful!  She threatened me!  Cussed me out!  Pull out a knife!"  And Maddie just eating it all up.  Cash is the fucking worse.  At least Jessy Scharm will hopefully get some good future serial killer roles, because she is nailing this, if I'm suppose to believe Cash is a psychopath stalker.

Speaking of cliches, I totally couldn't believe they pulled that "Avery knocks on the door, they show Juliette go to her, but twist!  It was just Emily, and Avery is at Layla's instead!" scene.  Really, show?  Avery is so going to regret this.  I can totally get why he doesn't want to be with Juliette anymore, but Layla just seems to be more trouble.  He really just needs to try dating a non-famous person, who he currently isn't also working with.

Things continue to surprisingly go smoothly for Will, and Luke continues not to suck.  I hope this doesn't mean things are going to go south.

I was surprised over how much I enjoyed Teddy's return.  A lot of his storylines were so dumb in the past, but I guess I kind of missed him.  Or maybe I just missed the time I found this show to be more entertaining then I did now.

[Lillybee]

I was surprised that Maddie didn't wear one of her going dancing at the club dresses to sing with Daphne.

[kismet]

First time really hanging out on the Nashville forum... but I had to join the conversation about Maddie's emancipation. Personally I think it is bringing down the show, but I get it a story like this is DRAMA. And frankly, I love Rayna/Deacon together so I'm glad if they are throwing them mandatory DRAMA it is not about their relationship or some random young upstart trying to sleep with either of them. So I guess I can be happy that they have moved beyond this for this season.

I do think the emancipation storyline would be better if there was a lot more substance or at least better acting through it. I enjoy the Maddie actress when she sings, but when she acts (esp with the teenager angst) its like either watching paint dry or being forced to watch bad home video with your eyes manually held open. I don't know if its the writing, the acting or the combination. I really enjoyed her acting during the Deacon reveal of both his paternity and his illness, but she has gone off the rails this season. I definitely want the emancipation to got through because perhaps she can be emancipated from the show a little bit. I also think it will give her a well needed and healthy dose of humility & reality when Cash finally reveals whatever her masterplan is and it is not Maddie's happiness.

Fav part of the Maddie plot was the return of Teddy, especially when he got all pissy and tried to take the moral high ground when he found out Cash was connected to Deacon. I was like really buddy, you're in jail for one of multiple crimes you could be in there for. I really think if you're wearing orange in a Jail visitation room, perhaps you should keep your moral superiority to yourself.

Love Gunnar & Scarlett reuniting ~ it's about TIME!! And that song just amazing placement, the only reason I can forgive the cliche almost half kiss when he was reaching for his guitar.

Consider me rooting for a Juliette & Avery reunion, but it is too soon. Juliette caused some major major damage and although she is doing better, it's still too soon for Avery to forgive & forget about it, and the amount of trust he is showing her seems appropriate. That being said, WTF was he thinking about when he decided to sleep with Layla, that just has big mistake all over it for all parties. I actually felt really sympathetic to Layla for most of the season, the Nashville writers worked their magic and took an despicable character and redeemed her ~ However, they are moving back towards dangerous territory of making her just another hateable character. Could they please find a way to write her again, that doesn't make me wish she was off the show permanently?

[deSchenke]

I hope Maddie is cross-examined to the nth degree.

"Have you ever been hit?  Has either parent threatened to hit you?"

"Have you ever gone hungry?  Have you ever been without a pair of shoes to wear?"

"Have you ever earned money of your own?  Was it squandered away by your parents?"

"Have you been denied to sing in public?"

I'd love to hear the judge tell her "go home little girl" and come back when she really has something to bother the courts with.

[Kathemy]

Yup, and none of that will happen, because Reasons ;)

[Guest]

I have three older sisters, none of whom are near as heinous as Maddie, and I had zero problem with any of them leaving home.  It was more like, "Sweet!  I'll take that bedroom and dresser!  And I'll come visit you in your new place!  Could you maybe move somewhere farther & funner, like LA?"  

What a great idea-- In-divorce Avery runs to in-mourning Layla.  They're all idiots and deserve each other.  

[Beth64]

19 hours ago, thuganomics85 said:

 

I knew Rayna's "promise" to Cash would end up being used against, but considering how crazy and over-the-top Cash is, I could even see her exaggerating that exchange.  She was probably all "Your mom was awful!  She threatened me!  Cussed me out!  Pull out a knife!"  And Maddie just eating it all up.  Cash is the fucking worse.  At least Jessy Scharm will hopefully get some good future serial killer roles, because she is nailing this, if I'm suppose to believe Cash is a psychopath stalker.

 

It was so ridiculous for the writers to have Rayna make that promise. Just another plot device to prolong and complicate the emancipation request. 

[iggysaurus]

Juliette still doesn't care all that much about Cadence, despite her claims to the contrary.  She likes Cadence more than she used to, but it still seems like her main goal is to get Avery back, and Cadence is secondary to that.  That's what struck me when she was pleading with Avery to give her another chance, and Cadence started crying, and Juliette didn't seem majorly affected by hearing her child cry from the other room. She just accepted that as her cue to leave, and her teary eyes as she left were about not succeeding in winning Avery back (yet), rather than about not being able to go to her crying child. And her angst afterward (all the retyping of texts) showed that her focus was on the relationship, not wishing she could be with her baby. And she seemed disappointed when the doorbell rang and it was her daughter (with Emily) rather than it being Avery. 

But I mostly put that down to this show being unrealistic and soapy. Kids are always more of an afterthought compared to romantic relationships on this type of show.

[izabella]

I'm hoping Maddie gets some kind of reality handed to her soon, whether it is realizing that Cash is using her, or she gets smacked by the emancipation judge.  Either way, make it happen soon because I can't stand watching this.

I'm really, really hoping that Luke's PR and support of Will helps to make something good happen for Will.  He is certainly due, although if I were him and had some talent, I'd be heading for LA and honing my skills in a music genre that isn't full of homophobic fans who ditch you for being gay.  Maybe Luke's matter-of-fact appeal to the non-homophobic fans will help.

[smiley13]

Maddie will totally get her comeuppance when she finds out that Cash is just using her (for whatever reason).  I still think it is revenge on Deacon for something that she thinks he did to her Father.

 

And ITA with the poster above who said that Juliette seems more concerned with Avery than with her daughter.

[Sandman]

I think Juliette is genuinely bonding with Cadence, or beginning to, and the fact that she didn't immediately look like she was going to run into Cadence's room when Cadence was crying looked to me like the realization that she didn't have the right to do that. I don't think she's necessarily more invested in her daughter than in Avery, but that's part of the reason she's still in therapy, isn't it?

[aradia22]

It's silly but I do enjoy when Will and/or Gunnar get some comedic moments.

Ew to that Avery/Layla kiss. Good job, Cadence, for breaking it up.

This nonsense lawyer realizes Maddie's not being abused, right? Having her not talk to Daphne seems like something the writers cooked up. Not advice from a real lawyer.

When Avery and Layla were talking about their supposed chemistry in that coffee shop I noticed how much they look like they could play siblings. And also how they both kind of look like Alexis Bledel to me.

LOL, trapped in an elevator. Are they getting their plotlines from the big book of TV writing cliches?

Avery's being ridiculous. There isn't a good reason to keep Juliette from Cadence except his own feelings which is not good parenting. I don't care if she signed away custody. You can't be upset every time she wants to see her child.

[aradia22]

Quote

Juliette still doesn't care all that much about Cadence, despite her claims to the contrary.

Admittedly, I'm biased but I get the feeling this might be the fault of different writers. There's someone who writes great Avery/Juliette and Juliette/Cadence and just generally great Juliette being kind and thoughtful and empathetic scenes. And then there's someone who keeps hitting the reset button to scheming and tantrums and terrible decisions. I no longer accept that all as part of the same character. If the writers can pick and choose what they want to acknowledge, then so can I.

[aradia22]

By the way, why is Kenneth (the guy whose name you can't remember either) a thing? He's a bit like a Jeff but completely ineffective. He's this big sourpuss but he can't actually stop anyone from doing anything so again... why is he a character?