What I’m Watching: Nashville

Nashville: Season 1, Episode 19 “Why Don’t You Love Me” (B-)

I’d like to start by addressing one of the most ultimately irrelevant storylines on this show, which is Coleman and his increasingly tangential relation to the greater Nashville universe. After being approached by Tandy in an effort to get him to whip Teddy into shape, he decided that resigning one mere month after being appointed to his prestigious position was the appropriate power play. One would think that he could use a steady paycheck, but apparently making absurd life decisions for no reason is much more productive. It’s astonishing that Avery and Gunnar are pretty much switching roles, as the formerly cruel and selfish Avery doesn’t take the opportunity to bed a country superstar after stepping in as her lead guitarist during her show, and Gunnar can’t be bothered to pay any attention to Scarlett while simultaneously pushing a clueless Will away. It doesn’t seem that Scarlett and Gunnar are going to make it, and I can only hope that she doesn’t continue to subject herself to mistreatment. Though Teddy is concerned about Maddie’s paternity being revealed, he did a great job of trying to get back in his daughter’s good graces, while Rayna is reveling in playing house with an infatuated Deacon. After an extraordinarily self-destructive and embarrassing episode, Juliette is going to hit rock bottom thanks to whatever miserable scheme Dante has in store for her. I don’t think things could get any worse, and I’m curious to see what surprises the final two episodes of this show will bring as the show heads for an uncertain fate with a second season renewal still pending.