Everyone in Nashville seems to be really struggling lately. Deacon has cancer and a selfish sister. Rayna ended her engagement because she’s in love with Deacon, who is now dying. Teddy is being manipulated by Jeff Fordham. Sadie’s ex-husband left her a nice parting gift in the form of a black eye and pending restraining order. Gunnar lost custody of his nephew. But, for once, Juliette is actually happy – it had to happen some time.
You know that expression, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?” Well, Jeff Fordham hath no fury like Rayna James when she’s pissed her husband signed her 15-year-old daughter over to Edgehill Records. Although, the diamond necklace he sent over I would have kept.
I still can’t believe Teddy thought he would get away with sleeping with a prostitute, covering up the incident with said prostitute, covering another little incident where Jeff “accidently” helped Layla try to kill herself, and then signing a record deal for his daughter without consulting his ex-wife, who happens to own a different record company. Men.
Did you guys notice how the filming of this episode was done a little differently than normal? The camera kept repeatedly zooming in and out on people’s faces while they spoke. It was making me nauseous. Especially when Rayna went to confront Teddy about his so-called parenting decisions. It was like standing in the middle of two people arguing trying to figure out which way to turn your head next.
Anyway, Luke seems to still be drinking his pain away, which in Nashville is somewhat of a normal daily activity. “That is the great thing about Nashville, it’s always dark somewhere.” Sure it is, Luke. His night out with Gunnar and Will did lead to a pretty fantastic break-up song called “I can’t help my heart.” When Luke started to tear up, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was crying because he lost Rayna or because he lost the empire they could have built together. I guess we’ll never know.
Deacon is in one of his downward spirals. Not that we haven’t seen this before, but this time I literally just want to hit him and scream, “Hello, you have a daughter! A daughter with a…liver!” At least when Maddie showed up she helped change his mood a little. Well actually a lot- he did end up drinking bee pollen, which apparently tastes horrid. Watching him watching Maddie play guitar made me melt and picture what it will be like when he finally tells her and Rayna about his illness. Based on Maddie’s typical reactions to even the most minor inconveniences to her life, I don’t think it will go well.
Fortunately for Teddy, Rayna is truly the Queen of Country Music and was able to walk in on Jeff’s board meeting (in 6-inch heels no less) and nullify Maddie’s entire contract. Jeff Fordham has finally been knocked off his billion-dollar empire, people. It’s about time.
But, guess where he landed – on Leila’s doorstep, only two days after passing her psych evaluation. This has all the makings of a true romance story, don’t you think?
The entire episode seems to have been a set up for all the big things happening in next week’s episode:
Watch Nashville Wednesdays at 10pm on ABC.