What I’m Watching: Nashville

Nashville: Season 1, Episode 14 “Dear Brother” (B-)

Everything is getting a bit out of control on this show, and only certain aspects of it remain fully coherent. Juliette’s spur-of-the-moment decision to plan Deacon a surprise party after learning it was his birthday while she knew that he wouldn’t want it was questionable, if somewhat in line with the way she lives her life, and it really ended up being so much more about her than about him. That said, Rayna did manage to come in and steal the show, something that was doubly damaging to Juliette, who had to deal with her mom’s relapse at the same time. I don’t trust Jay Hernandez’s sponsor Dante not because of any reason related to this show, but because his character Paul Wells on “Last Resort” was sent in as an enemy spy, a certain sign that my excessive TV watching has caused me great confusion. To her credit, Rayna is handling her separation well, and it’s good, though highly inconsistent with everything we’ve seen thus far, to see her sister step up to the plate to help in her time of need. Teddy appointing Coleman to be his deputy mayor is audacious but respectable, whereas giving Peggy a position is just plain stupid, and Lamar is sure to come after him to get revenge for his betrayal. The death of Gunnar’s brother is ultimately incidental, but at least Scarlett and Gunnar have finally gotten together, and Avery couldn’t even get inside to see them play. It’s about time, and hopefully it can only lead to good places.