Nashville 2.09 Review: The Funny Thing About People

For all those that have yet to watch last night’s episode of Nashville, entitled ‘I’m Tired of Pretending’, now would be a good time to go and do that. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! Proceed ahead at your own discretion.

I really love the drama that this show brings; it’s such great entertainment. And yet, at the same time it is able to balance great family qualities, intriguing relationships, and well-written characters. This series is so beautifully done, and that’s a particularly generous compliment, as it comes from a woman that absolutely cannot stand the sound of country music. Somehow this series is able to manage to make me like it.

This week had somewhat of a conclusion to the Juliette Barnes and Charlie Wentworth storyline. At the beginning I was so happy having him around because of how absolutely adorable he is, but then Juliette sadly had a point when she realized they didn’t bring out the best in each other. Although, I still really loved that barn scene between the two of them from a couple episodes back. Hopefully this isn’t the last we see of Charlie, particularly after the reveal Layla gave to TMZ. I mean, did you not see Charlie’s face as he came to Juliette’s dressing room to tell her it had been a week and that he loved her and wanted to build a life with her? He looked absolutely devoted to his feelings right there, how could anyone not want that beautiful Brit back on their television screen? Honestly, I have one specific note that reads: ‘I love Charlie. Seriously.’ That’s how badly I need this guy on my TV set each week. It’s like my obsession with Charlie and Monroe and just needing Monroe on my TV over on Revolution.

Anyways, there was some well-developed progress regarding the whole Maddie, Teddy, and Deacon situation. I’m definitely looking forward to this the further it progresses, although it was a complete douchebag thing of Teddy to take Deacon out of the showcase. As a longtime hater of his character, I’m kind of hoping the previews of someone getting shot next episode are of Teddy. I really don’t like that character. On the flipside, I am enjoying Deacon and his struggle to see where he could possibly fit in this situation. It will most assuredly be interesting to see how he approaches his relationship with Maddie, and the responsibility he might need to accept going forward. Also, I absolutely adored Maddie and him singing together on stage.

The whole Scarlett and Gunnar situation on tour was graced with the presence of both Avery and Zoey this week. I have to say that I quite enjoyed getting to see the friendship between Scarlett and Zoey on that couch and am a little disappointed the Gunnar and Zoey relationship will likely put a stopper in the two besties friendship. It’s always sad when lifelong friends go their separate ways, particularly when they are as close as these two. I don’t think this is the end of their friendship, but I do think there will be tough roads ahead for them. But I still don’t think the Gunnar, Zoey relationship was the right thing for his character, despite her playing the tension and chemistry between them well.

All in all, this series is such a beautiful mess when it comes to the drama. There is so much chaos in these people’s lives that it just gives the series so many ripe pickings when it comes to stories to tell. There is a perfect amount of ensemble cast on this show, and I’m enjoying almost all of the characters this season. Also, I just have to comment on how much Juliette resembled Britney Spears in that outfit she wore as she performed with Will, and she looked really good in it too. Basically, this series is pretty damn great, despite my hatred of Teddy, and not being completely interested in Rayna’s father’s legal troubles.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“No, I’m pretty sure I meant sadly.” – Zoey corrects Avery, regarding the fact she’s spent most of her free time with him and Gunnar.

“The funny thing about people, they make a lot of mistakes that can hurt the people around them. The thing I’ve learned is it doesn’t mean they don’t love us.” – Rayna shares her wisdom with Maddie, in a beautiful mother-daughter moment.

Okay, so I just have to review American Horror Story: Coven now. Stay tuned.

Nashville 2.04 Review: I'll Always Be Here For You

For all those that have yet to watch last night’s episode of Nashville, entitled ‘You’re No Angel’, I suggest you go and do so now. This is not, and has never been, a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! Proceed at your own discretion.

That was a beautiful episode. Sad at moments, realistic in others, disappointment towards the way characters are acting, and a very wholesome, family feel to the episode. Quite well done, if I say so myself. Perhaps it’s the enchanting cinematography, or the wondrous lighting, or merely the wonderfully fitting music, but this is a very well done drama series.

Raina is just a wonderful mom. No, she doesn’t always know what to do, or do the perfect thing for her children, but she tries her best to put them first and that’s all that we can ask of her. I see bits and pieces of my own mother in her, without the country vibe, and I just love that they’ve written her character so that family is very important to her. When it comes down to the important things, she’s a very good mom.

The Zoey character is something I’m very excited to see more of. The young woman has a beautiful voice, fit perfectly to the acoustics of that church. They didn’t quite mesh well with Scarlett’s in the scene at the bar, but what can you do? I know they’re saying her character is going to struggle more when it comes to a rise to fame and fortune, but I’m looking forward to the journey her character is going to undergo, as long as it’s a journey I get to see.

Not that it came as a shock, but I think the fact that Teddy proposed to Peggy provides a very compelling story moving forward. We know she’s not pregnant anymore, and it’ll be interesting to see how that truth comes about, but I’m looking forward to seeing the drama that this new family dynamic creates. The girls always had Deacon kind of around, so I don’t think it would’ve been much of a change to see Raina with him – though she is currently single – but seeing their father (though not biologically for Maddie) in a new relationship so quickly will be shocking for the kids. But again, that provides for some interesting storylines. Especially since Maddie is so worried that she’s going to be pushed out of this man that raised her’s life, being that she’s not biologically his. I could see Teddy almost forgetting about his two kids in search of a senatorial future, and life with his – no longer – baby mama.

Although Juliette’s depth only shines through towards other characters every so often, the way she was real with Raina in that scene with Maddie on the couch was astonishingly well done. As opposed to last year, I can actually stand her pop star antics, possibly because she’s no longer going head to head with Raina. That storyline got old a little fast, so I’m looking forward to this Juliette. She’s definitely easier to watch when you know more about where she’s coming from, and when she’s trying her hardest to be a legitimate artist, thus making sacrifices for it.

Maddie in this episode, while okay towards the end after meeting up with Juliette, was a tad too whiny earlier in the episode. She was a bit of a pain, complaining and whining constantly at the gala, and how disrespectful she was towards her grandmother at the cemetery. I get that she was angry with her mother, and later on with her dad, it was annoyingly unnecessary for her to take it out on everyone else. Though maybe I’m not one to judge, when I’ve had my moments. She is a teenager anyways. Oh, and about that, is it just me, or does she look about fifteen, not thirteen?

As usual, this was a very warm kind of episode. I loved the progression with the aforementioned characters, and also to see Gunnar and Avery’s scenes together as well. Avery’s a much better character this year. While not my absolute favourite series airing these days, this is a very good, heartwarming show to watch.

My rating: 8 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“I don’t know who I am without it.” – Raina tells her mother’s gravestone, about her fears of having lost her voice.

“This… This sucks!” – Juliette yells, storming off away from Raina who has just told her she won’t be returning to the tour.

All right, ladies and gents, I’m off to watch Revolution now. After that it’s American Horror Story: Coven. Stick around for more reviewing fun.