Nashville 2.10 Review: Following Your Heart

For all those that have yet to watch last night’s episode of Nashville, entitled ‘Tomorrow Never Comes’, now is your last chance to do so before venturing ahead into spoiler territory. This not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

This week’s episode, in my opinion, was very good. The beautiful friendship between Avery and Juliette is so strange in the way that it came about, but it is something that I love so dearly about this series. The very fact that it’s so obvious that they love each other is such a tender thing, particularly after the rough time Juliette’s been having with the always gorgeous Charlie Wentworth. That moment near the end between Juliette and Avery, where she seems to go over to confess something to him (her feelings of love for him, perhaps?), was so sad to watch when it was broken up by Scarlett’s pants-less entrance into the scene. Now, I know Avery thinks he’s in love with Scarlett - who’s being a bit of a whiny brat at the moment - but I really feel like he could have something far more genuine with Juliette, and I really look forward to watching how this all progresses. Although, I can’t fathom that Scarlett wasn’t able to pick up on the tone between Juliette and Avery when the latter had tears in his eyes, but you never know.

In other news, Raina is going ahead with the buyout of her contract and Highway 65, by gambling basically everything on the record she wants to put out. This is definitely something that could revitalize the series and send it down different avenues for more seasons to be built on. I’m just a little worried that they may be setting Raina up to fail, and the queen of country will be dethroned. But, I do look forward to seeing Raina try and grow other artists under her company, and am excited to see what other talent she hopes to sign.

Elsewhere, Will’s hatred of himself and his desire for a man of the same sex came to a head this week. He both slept with the man he has tried so hard to deny feelings for, and seems to have come to the decision that death would be better. I’m thinking that Will will be killed by that train, because it was so close I can’t see how he would make it out alive, unless he had second thoughts in his final moments. This is definitely a subject that is worth telling, and I find myself hoping Will didn’t go through with it, because his character has actually grown on me. With this marking two possible deaths of the winter finale, I’m intrigued to learn what was this series takes this.

All in all, this was a good episode. This definitely appears to be treading soap opera territory, but it’s alright because I am quite enjoying this series. They’ve definitely bumped up their characters progressions, and added a lot of heart to the story, making this season a step up from last. They seem to be getting their act together, writing wise, and making it possible for all of these characters to interact in natural ways. I am really curious to know if Peggy is dead for certain, although I find it a little odd that she would be killed off so soon after their wedding. This character seemed to have a bit more direction to go in, but I guess that’s what death brings. Basically, I feel that this is a rather beautiful series, with masterfully acted characters.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10

Best Lines:

“I’m the face of this festival, and I practically just snuck in through a basement window.” - Juliette gripes.

“We’ll talk about this later, as in never.” - Deacon says to Gunnar.

“I will literally come over there and rip your face off.” - Juliette tells Avery what she’ll do if he responds incorrectly.

Okay, so here’s this one. I’m off to go see Thor: The Dark World. Check back later for reviews of American Horror Story: Coven, Once Upon A Time in Wonderland, The Vampire Diaries, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Crazy Ones.

Nashville 2.10 Review: Following Your Heart

For all those that have yet to watch last night’s episode of Nashville, entitled ‘Tomorrow Never Comes’, now is your last chance to do so before venturing ahead into spoiler territory. This not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

This week’s episode, in my opinion, was very good. The beautiful friendship between Avery and Juliette is so strange in the way that it came about, but it is something that I love so dearly about this series. The very fact that it’s so obvious that they love each other is such a tender thing, particularly after the rough time Juliette’s been having with the always gorgeous Charlie Wentworth. That moment near the end between Juliette and Avery, where she seems to go over to confess something to him (her feelings of love for him, perhaps?), was so sad to watch when it was broken up by Scarlett’s pants-less entrance into the scene. Now, I know Avery thinks he’s in love with Scarlett - who’s being a bit of a whiny brat at the moment - but I really feel like he could have something far more genuine with Juliette, and I really look forward to watching how this all progresses. Although, I can’t fathom that Scarlett wasn’t able to pick up on the tone between Juliette and Avery when the latter had tears in his eyes, but you never know.

In other news, Raina is going ahead with the buyout of her contract and Highway 65, by gambling basically everything on the record she wants to put out. This is definitely something that could revitalize the series and send it down different avenues for more seasons to be built on. I’m just a little worried that they may be setting Raina up to fail, and the queen of country will be dethroned. But, I do look forward to seeing Raina try and grow other artists under her company, and am excited to see what other talent she hopes to sign.

Elsewhere, Will’s hatred of himself and his desire for a man of the same sex came to a head this week. He both slept with the man he has tried so hard to deny feelings for, and seems to have come to the decision that death would be better. I’m thinking that Will will be killed by that train, because it was so close I can’t see how he would make it out alive, unless he had second thoughts in his final moments. This is definitely a subject that is worth telling, and I find myself hoping Will didn’t go through with it, because his character has actually grown on me. With this marking two possible deaths of the winter finale, I’m intrigued to learn what was this series takes this.

All in all, this was a good episode. This definitely appears to be treading soap opera territory, but it’s alright because I am quite enjoying this series. They’ve definitely bumped up their characters progressions, and added a lot of heart to the story, making this season a step up from last. They seem to be getting their act together, writing wise, and making it possible for all of these characters to interact in natural ways. I am really curious to know if Peggy is dead for certain, although I find it a little odd that she would be killed off so soon after their wedding. This character seemed to have a bit more direction to go in, but I guess that’s what death brings. Basically, I feel that this is a rather beautiful series, with masterfully acted characters.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10

Best Lines:

“I’m the face of this festival, and I practically just snuck in through a basement window.” - Juliette gripes.

“We’ll talk about this later, as in never.” - Deacon says to Gunnar.

“I will literally come over there and rip your face off.” - Juliette tells Avery what she’ll do if he responds incorrectly.

Okay, so here’s this one. I’m off to go see Thor: The Dark World. Check back later for reviews of American Horror Story: Coven, Once Upon A Time in Wonderland, The Vampire Diaries, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Crazy Ones.

Nashville 2.08 Review: Get Tough Or Move On

For all those that have yet to watch last night’s episode of Nashville, entitled ‘Hanky Panky Woman’, now would be a good time to go and do that. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

As always, this series brought it this week. This series is easily the most consistently good show on television. I really feel like I’m invested in these people’s lives, that I’m in it with them, and that inclusion is beyond brilliant writing and acting. This season is definitely building on how good last year was and just making it even better. I actually enjoy watching this every week and am sad that I now have to wait two weeks for a new episode.

We learned a lot about the characters this week. Jeff toyed with Scarlett before her very first stadium performance and it ended up kind of crushing her, but then she seemed to make a comeback the next night. Problem is, it seems like she’s not too happy with all that performing and fame bring, so basically she’s just going to fake it. She did really well performing the second night, I’m not sure why she wouldn’t think she’s good enough, but insecurities do that to a person.

While Raina and Luke heated things up in their relationship, both physical and musical, including an amazing duet, which I’m going to say Gunnar and Scarlett did better, her troubles with Jeff hit its climax. Basically the man sequestered her masters only for her to go out and do a duet partially in hopes that it would help him get his quarterly so that she might get her masters back. Definitely some brilliant back and forth between them tonight. Also, does anyone else agree with me that Jeff has a thing for Raina beyond a work relationship?

Elsewhere, Juliette’s relationship with both Charlie and his wife got mixed up. Olivia basically made it appear as though Charlie had told her and thought it would be a good idea if they hooked up too. I was not at all surprised by Juliette’s reaction, and was quite proud of her speech to the couple spurred on by advice from Avery – who we all know she has feelings for in some capacity. And then Charlie shows up at the end and says he’s falling in love with Juliette. Major (girl) squeal moment right there. I kind of adore Charlie, so I’m hoping something persists between the two because I’d be utterly disappointed if he stopped showing up on my television every week.

All in all, this week was a quality episode. Raina looked amazing, particularly her hair when she sang that duet with Luke. Scarlett also looked fantastic with her make-up both nights and her hair with the pink tips. Deacon looked like his character was going to move forward with a life away from the guitar but still consisting of music. And everyone else had some nice, quality progression for each of their individual storylines. Also, nice throw back to the first time Scarlett and Gunnar practiced poolside together. It really made me miss them performing together. This series really is a nice, homegrown, drama-filled, heartwarming, character production.

My rating: 8 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“In case you haven’t noticed, there’s no one I can’t say ‘screw you’ to.” – Juliette explains to her manager.

“Well, you ain’t dead yet.” Scarlett says to Deacon, after he tells her that he’s screwed up every solo career chance he’s had.

Alright, I’m off to watch the last new Revolution episode of the year before it goes on its winter hiatus, and God knows how long that’s going to be. Afterwards, I’ll be checking out American Horror Story: Coven, so stay tuned.

Nashville 2.07 Review: Doing What's Right For Those You Love

Anyone that has yet to watch last night’s episode of Nashville, entitled ‘She’s Got You’, I suggest that you go do that before reading ahead, or exit the screen now. For this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

WHAT? Okay, no, really, WHAT? Olivia is gay? Or at least bi? I am so flabbergasted right now; I did not expect that at all. I’m so very… I don’t even know what to say to that. All the power to her, if she is, but she is still married, even if her husband is cheating on her, with the same woman she wants to sleep with. I can’t even recall Juliette ever being into women before, so I’m certainly intrigued to see how that exchange goes next week. I have a feeling Olivia may blackmail her if Juliette doesn’t go along with it, but that’s not something that goes over well with Juliette.

Now that I’m through with that extreme shocker, I have to say that I’m really liking the progression of the stories in this series. It feels very natural for a lot of them. Raina moving forward with Luke and her family, putting Maddie first when it comes to Deacon so that the two of them can have a relationship. Also, Juliette and Charlie’s relationship, how she really doesn’t want anything from him, she wants to be able to get places on her own, but at the same time she uses certain things to her advantage. In that way, she’s surprisingly smart; making it look like she got Santa fired and rehired, just to show him she was the one with the power. While I don’t expect their thing to last, I kind of wish it could between Charlie and Juliette because they fit so well together.

Deacon’s struggle with singing without a guitar, something that is more natural to him was extremely well done. I loved seeing him try to dance with the mike rather than what he’s used to, but he hadn’t gotten the natural thing down quite well. I also loved the fact that the first bar he sang in had turned into a comedy club, so he basically had to man up, especially for Maddie’s sake. It was also a really strange relationship between him and Avery this week, but strange in a good way. I definitely like the way they’re going with this character, redeeming him in the way they’re choosing to do.

There were a lot of great moments to this week’s episode. While I’m still not on the bandwagon of Zoey and Gunnar, I did like seeing the way he maneuvered the rights to his song in order to get a break. Definitely going to be awkward having him and Charlotte on the same tour bus, but interesting all the same. Loved seeing Raina shooting a gun to distract herself from her ex-husband’s wedding. Also Maddie’s fears about being replaced were realistic and nicely done, and nicely resolved, for now. I’m still very intrigued by what way they’re going to go with this Peggy thing.

All in all, this is a very good series to be watching. It’s a nice, easy, very grounded soap that I love watching every week. No, I’m not constantly excited by what’s going on, but I love the fact that it’s not completely out there with the drama, and how very homegrown, down to earth it really is. That definitely makes this a much watch in my books, because there isn’t a lot of that on television these days.

My rating: 8 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“I don’t want to talk about this morning. Ever.” – Deacon states rushedly to Avery.

“Son of a bitch.” – Juliette mutters to her manager about Santa staging a walk out on her part of the concert.

“He always liked me, right?” – Maddie asks her mom, referring to Deacon.

All right, I’m off to watch Revolution now. After that it’ll be American Horror Story: Coven. Stay tuned.

Nashville 2.05 Review: The Voice is Back

All those that have yet to watch last night’s episode of Nashville, entitled ‘Don’t Open That Door’, then I suggest you do so immediately. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! Proceed at your own discretion.

I don’t know what it is about this series, but there’s such a heartwarming, dramatic feel to it. Perhaps it’s that it’s actually filmed in Nashville, that the music is beautiful, the acting superb, and the lighting to the episodes is just always so perfectly spot on. All of that wraps up together to make this series if not an A, at the very least an A- series to be watching.

Some of my absolute favourite moments from this episode definitely began with Scarlett’s ranting as she got home and Deacon smiling about it. The audience singing along to Raina’s song was just so spectacularly moving; it was like they were all boosting her up and giving her the faith she needed to make this comeback. I absolutely adored that song Scarlett and Deacon sang near the end of the episode, it reminded me of a song from A Walk to Remember, so beautiful, so upliftingly beautiful. And the fact that Deacon could at the very least play the piano along to that song was wonderful. Also, I’m not sure why, but when Avery and Gunnar popped up on screen singing together, I just burst out into laughter. Not laughing at them, per se, more laughing at how ridiculous that was thrown in there. But I do agree it sounded better with Zoey’s voice in it.

Teddy I just have to come out and say I don’t like at all, even less so than Lamar at this point and he possibly had a hand in his wife’s death. He’s so full of himself, after such little time in power, and so very misogynistic in my opinion. It’s hard to believe he was married to a woman as strongly female as Raina. And I know that it wasn’t him that turned Lamar in, but I kind of think he deserves to be taken down a peg for just plain insolence. But maybe that’s just because I don’t like him.

This episode, Raina’s given hope in thinking she’ll be able to take her current record and her record company out of Edgehill, but then her father is arrested and his assets frozen. I desperately want her to be able to strike out on her own, but sadly how can she possibly get twenty million dollars elsewhere so quickly? This just all came at the most inopportune moment for her, and I feel terrible for her.

Then there’s what Zoey and Gunnar did, more despicable in relation to Zoey being that she’s Scarlett’s best friend and she just broke the girl code. I saw the chemistry between them, but I honestly thought Gunnar was still in love with Scarlett; he moved on awfully fast for that to have been true. And Avery was picking up on those looks between them and just smiling because now he can have Scarlett back. I do think Avery has improved, but I’d prefer him to be in a meaningful relationship with Juliette, rather than back with Scarlett, but I suppose he needs to get her out of his system first. Again, though, I’m thinking it’s going to be bad when Scarlett finds out what the two of them did. If Gunnar had been thinking, he’d know sleeping with the best friend would take you out of the good graces of the ex pretty permanently. But then I suppose this is somewhat of a soap opera.

Basically what I’m saying is, while there are ups and downs to this series, it’s definitely a beautiful piece to be watching. The progression of characters stories is wonderfully done. Keeping an open mind each week definitely helps me to love this series more.

My rating: 8 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“I really think it’s time for Jeff Fordham to meet the Wyatt side of Raina James.” – Raina remarks.

“Some of it tolerable.” – Raina tells her sister; referencing the time she’s spent with Juliette.

Alright, folks, I’m off to watch Revolution. Then it’s American Horror Story: Coven and smooth sailing from there. Stick around.

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.