Nashville - Recap: Why Don't You Love Me?
Credit: ABC
Recap and review of Nashville - Season 1 Episode 19 - Why Don't You Love Me:
More than most episodes of Nashville, "Why Don't You Love Me" presents a more thorough, interconnected narrative. This isn't to say that the series never does this, but simply that the frequency with which it does this is far less than it should be. This is a genuinely solid episode that remains compelling all the way through, as opposed to last week's episode, which was only truly compelling for its last fifteen minutes or so. It helps that this installment centers on how the relationships have changed between these characters over the course of the season. It's not exactly a novel approach, but it works all the same, thanks to some strong acting work across the board (for the most part), and a tight script that keeps the story moving. The finale is fast approaching, and it finally feels like the show is building to something huge. Whether that's a betrayal, a showdown, a breakup or even a death, it's doubtlessly something with long-term implications for the series, which ABC has yet to officially renew for a second season. Though the show has a loyal core audience, I could imagine things going haywire if the fandom doesn't like where the story is going. That said, I'm glad that the show is being given the chance to tell that story, whatever it might be, as Nashville can be really gripping television when it wants to be.
Credit: ABC
The episode follows up on last week's hookup between Rayna (Connie Britton) and Deacon (Charles Esten), as Maddie (Lennon Stella) interrupts her mother's morning-afterglow to inform her that she's just been nominated for a CMA for Female Vocalist of the Year...in the same category with Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere). Juliette receives the news from her assistant, while in the midst of telling her handlers that she has no intention of pursuing charges against Dante, arguing that she's had enough bad press already. Though the nomination is a thrill for Rayna, she already has four CMA Awards. However, Juliette's mantle remains bare, so she launches an aggressive, expensive campaign to score the win. Her misery over Dante, coupled with her CMA ambitions, drives her to drink excessively in the day leading up to the CMA nominees party, at which she'll be performing. Her drinking worries the people in her sphere, particularly her mother, Jolene (Sylvia Jefferies), who tries to look out for her daughter to no avail.
Credit: ABC
Juliette hits her nadir when she learns that Dante has just racked up a $17,000 charge for a diamond ring for his accomplice, compelling her to get completely smashed. Her drunkenness has the unfortunate effect of causing her to belittle Deacon while he's trying to have a serious talk with Rayna. Fed up, Deacon quits on the spot, resulting in Avery (Jonathan Jackson) stepping up and taking over as lead guitarist for Juliette's performance. Yet things continue to spiral out of control, as a drunken Juliette makes a move on Avery after the performance, and he rejects her by suggesting that it's probably not the best idea in her condition. A depressed Juliette stumbles into her house, aided by her bodyguard. When Jolene tucks her in and tries to nurse her back to sobriety, Juliette tries to push her mother away. But in the resulting argument, Juliette receives a phone call. It's Dante. And he, presumably, has a sex tape. So much for "no more bad press."
Credit: ABC
Yet Rayna is also having a crisis of her own. Teddy (Eric Close) is planning to take Maddie to a father-daughter dance, yet Maddie isn't exactly receptive to the whole idea, having sided with her mother in the divorce. When Teddy learns that Rayna is potentially seeing Deacon, he flips out, as he explains that "You can't be in a relationship with him without the truth coming out." He says that Rayna telling Deacon "the truth" would be in violation of the agreement they made when Maddie was born. Though the never say what "the truth" is, it's fairly obvious that the secret involves Deacon being Maddie's biological father (a plot point that's been not-at-all-subtly hinted at all season -- and don't get me wrong, I found the obviousness of the alleged twist to be refreshing, as most shows would try to drag Maddie's parentage out as some huge mystery). Rayna is torn between being with Deacon while hiding the truth, or breaking things off with Deacon before they even have the chance to start again. It's a heartbreaking dilemma, as it's evident just how badly they both want this relationship.
Credit: ABC
For Deacon's part, he's ignored Coleman's (Robert Wisdom) advice to stay with Stacy. Coleman, who has a brief subplot this week in which he resigns as Teddy's Deputy Mayor in lieu of joining with Tandy (Judith Hoag) in her anti-Teddy initiative, compares Rayna's effect on Deacon to a drug. Though Deacon takes offense to that comparison, it's easy to see, at some level, that Coleman is right. Deacon's break-up with Stacy is uncomfortably awkward for just this reason, as he tries to rationalize his feelings for Rayna with his fondness for Stacy, but ultimately failing because what he feels for Rayna is so hard to explain. But Stacy doesn't really want to hear it anyway. She storms out of his house, and when he suggests that maybe his dog would be better off living with her, she's all too happy to oblige him, in order to get the dog out from under the roof of such an uncaring guy. Of course, Deacon does care, but he's so overcome by his feelings for Rayna that it blocks everything else out. When Rayna is noncommittal about continuing their relationship (since she can't be with him without telling him the truth, yet she promised Teddy that Deacon would never know), Deacon refuses to let her go. He approaches her in her car and says that he doesn't care what the secret is. She can tell him everything or nothing at all, just as long as they can be together. They kiss, and things appear to be back on, though the secret continues to hang over their head. The secret of Maddie's parentage is delayed for another week, though I expect she'll learn sooner rather than later. And after Teddy made so much progress getting her to open up at that dance. (I go back-and-forth on whether I actually like Teddy or not)
Credit: ABC
Meanwhile, Scarlett (Clare Bowen) is concerned about Gunnar (Sam Palladio), who's subtly becoming more of a jerk as the season rolls on. He's still freaked out about Will (Chris Carmack) kissing him last week, though he hasn't told Scarlett just yet. However, that doesn't stop him from getting mad at her for what he perceives as her attempt to try to offer up Will as a substitute for his late brother, Jason. (Wait, what? Get a grip, Gunnar. Sheesh) Gunnar's identity crisis extends to his music career as well, as he records the demo of Jason's song without actually telling the producer that the song isn't his. Hey, Jason is dead -- who's going to know? Except Gunnar has a book full of Jason's old writings, and when the producer appears impressed at the badass life Gunnar has led, he's inspired to claim Jason's life experiences as his own. And like that, Gunnar has gone from a relatively meek kid to a rebel badass. If Gunnar is going to pretend to be something he's not, he could at least stand to take a few lessons from Will, who serves as Scarlett's date to the CMA party when Gunnar can't take her. Will plays his usual ladies' man role, even getting Scarlett to introduce him to Rayna and set up a demo tape submission. Yet no sooner does Scarlett come home to rave about the awesome time she had at the CMA party than she realizes, upon hearing Gunnar's demo and finding the notebook, that Gunnar has stolen Jason's song. I'm sure this will probably be a perfectly fine storyline and all, but I really wish those two would just get back to writing together already, as their partnership often led to some of the best musical moments on the show. But for now, I guess we're stuck with Rebel Gunnar. Blech.
Credit: ABC
"Why Don't You Love Me" is as solid as Nashville gets, and this kind of even-handed storytelling best recommends the series for a second season.
