SkimIt
If there’s a more adorable cast on television than the country cuties of ABC’s Nashville, I haven’t seen them. This week’s episode, titled The Whole Story, served to recap events from the show’s debut last fall. Hayden Panettiere and Connie Britton looked beautiful in lush lighting and fabulous hair, and the drama was summed up in one succinct hour. It also served as an advertisement for the show’s soundtrack as the catchy tunes introduced the clips.
Nashville starring Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere airs on ABC Wednesdays at 10:00 pm on ABC.
Rayna v. Juliette
So, the main thrust of the show pits a Taylor Swift-type new country ingenue, Juliette Barnes (Panettiere), against an old-school, classic country Reba McEntire-type, Rayna Jaymes (Britton). The divas share the same music label, but Rayna looked down on the more popular Juliette as a pop tart with no real street cred. And of course, there are men. Juliette snagged Rayna’s music (and former bed) partner, Deacon, and they made music in and out of the bedroom, infuriating Rayna. However, when both ladies attended Deacon’s performance at The Bluebird Cafe, Deacon chose Rayna to join him on stage, thrilling the crowd.
Juliette’s life wasn’t all rosy, though, as the stress from encounters with her drug addict mother, Jolene, pushed her to pull a Winona Ryder and shoplift for relief. The press found out, and her tour sponsors backed out. Deacon helped get Jolene into rehab.
The Story I Don’t Like
The one story that doesn’t really work on this show is the whole political mess with Rayna’s whimpy husband, Teddy, and her manipulative father. Rayna only started dating Teddy because she couldn’t handle the alcoholic antics of Deacon, but it’s clear that she wishes she could be with him now that he is recovered. Her husband, meanwhile, is controlled by her tyrannical father and forced to run for office. Rayna, in turn, was forced to sing at a fundraiser for Teddy and mingle with Peggy, Teddy’s ex.
Teddy never cheated on Rayna, but he and Peggy had engaged in some shady accounting that came out during the campaign. He also forced her to let Deacon go. Teddy framed his opponent for a drug relapse, and Peggy overdosed, nearly dying. Rayna drank all night and wrote a song with a rocker, but her label refused to work with the renegade.
Cutest People Ever
Gunnar and Scarlett developed a writing partnership, much to her boyfriend Avery’s dismay. He couldn’t handle watching them succeed as a team and the couple split. Avery hooked up with a creepy cougar manager and nabbed a deal of his own, while Gunnar’s budding fling with Hayley hit the skids. Gunnar confessed his feelings for Scarlett, who was overwhelmed. Avery was dismayed when his new producer told him to ditch the rest of his band.
Juliette fell for a churchy Tebow-type football player Sean (who also happens to play guitar and sing). Though his family objects to her wild ways and his mother warned her away, Juliette was smitten and eventually proposed!
Diva Drama
The music label coerced Rayna and Juliette into singing together at its anniversary party, and the women fought until Deacon played his and Juliette’s song for the senior diva. The ladies were able to come together and write a new song, and the performance was a success. However, both ladies were left with jaws dropped as the label then announced that if the ladies wanted to tour, they would have to do it as a team. Deacon announced to Rayna that he was offered a tour with some famous friends.
Tune in next week to see how the women react to the threat of a combo tour!
