What I’m Watching: Nashville

Nashville: Season 1, Episode 11 “You Win Again” (B)

This episode was heavily sensational, but it’s hard not to be drawn in by the utter soapy quality of this show. Rayna and Juliette sharing a plane and trading insults makes for devilishly enjoyable entertainment, made more serious and hurtful due to Rayna’s marriage problems and Juliette’s mother issues. Teddy, to his credit, seems to be really trying, but Rayna doesn’t want to have anything to do with a guy who has proven himself more reliable and faithful to her than the guitarist she still idolizes as her partner. After nearly spiraling out of control, Deacon achieved a stunning moment of revenge when Rayna asked, dumbfounded, if her manager had hired Deacon without telling her, only to discover that he was there for Juliette and not for her. That’s just going to make things on the tour crazier, which makes everything more fun for those of us watching at home. It was pathetic to see Avery embarrass himself with his introduction to Juliette, and I thought that he was going to be the victim of a car accident, but I suppose that seeing everyone who used to care about him happy without him is a far more bitter fate. Let’s hope that Gunnar doesn’t get caught up with any legal trouble, especially since he got his guitar back and his brother should now be out of his life for good. This show is now at what should be its first season halfway point, and I’m eager to see where it’s headed next.