DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

ALEX STRACHAN

MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

GARY EDGERTON

TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
 
 
 
Post-Rayna Life as ‘Nashville’ Returns
June 1, 2017  | By David Hinckley  | 29 comments
 

Every character on the CMT series Nashville desperately misses Connie Britton’s Rayna Jaymes (top).

As viewers, we feel the same.

Nashville returns Thursday at 9 p.m. ET for the second half of its first CMT season, and it remains an open question how the show is going to fill that void.

CMT is pretty sure it can since it has renewed Nashville for a new 16-episode season in 2018.

For us viewers, though, the episodes after Rayna’s death felt like the show was scrambling to get back on its feet.

Nashville has always been an ensemble drama, which helps, but Rayna was always a kind of first among equals, and her shocking death has definitely rearranged all the furniture.  

At this point, several of the show’s main plotlines continue to revolve around what Rayna left behind, for her record label and for her family and friends.

At the same time, the producers clearly have wisely begun setting up the post-Rayna world. F’rinstance, her daughter Maddie (Lennon Stella, left) is starting her own singing career and trying to work things out with a potentially serious boyfriend, Clayton (Joseph David-Jones).

The problem since Rayna died is that too much is feeling redundant, and without Rayna around we’re not sure where it’s all headed.

Deacon Claybourne (Charles Esten), the best male character on the show when he isn’t being bogged down in excruciatingly long periods of drinking and depression, has already run through a familiar cycle where he acts like a selfish jerk and then snaps out of it.

Scarlett (Clare Bowen) is hip-deep in what feels like her 200th “should we or shouldn’t we?” with Gunnar (Sam Palladio), this time compounded by the fact she’s pregnant, and she’s not sure who’s the baby Daddy. Hint but no spoiler: We learn more about that on Thursday.

Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) is back in the business, working with Maddie, and she’s regained her old schizophrenia: kind-hearted and decent one day, an irritable diva the next

We also see on Thursday how Juliette’s fans and the music world react to the gospel album she recorded with the choir at the church of the woman who helped Juliette survive her accident.

Will Lexington (Chris Carmack, right) is still having boyfriend angst, and steady Avery (Jonathan Jackson) is trying to help the people around him hold the pieces together.

While Maddie seems fairly stable at the moment, her younger sister Daphne (Maisy Stella) is moving into another tween rebellion crisis, feeling unappreciated and generally out of sorts.

Handling the drama of young girls was never Deacon’s wheelhouse even when Rayna was around, so there’s lots of potential for him to get really impulsive and stupid.

It’s not that Nashville has suddenly become a soap. It was a soap all along – a big, unapologetic soap with music, in the same vein as Fox’s Empire.

It’s just that a prime-time soap, in particular, needs to be headed somewhere, if only vaguely, toward some sort of peace of mind for characters we’ve come to like.

What keeps soaps interesting is that they keep throwing obstacles in those pathways and we watch the characters overcome them. Or not.

Nashville still plays that card in its post-Rayna era. But she was the tentpole, the one around whom the others moved. It’s going to take a while to give the show a new center.

 
 
 
 
 
Leave a Comment: (No HTML, 1000 chars max)
 
 Name (required)
 
 Email (required) (will not be published)
 
SDLTD
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 2  | Go to page: 
29 Comments
 
 
We can inspect any floor area and test that it meets Australian Standards for safety.
Oct 26, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
The rich tourism offerings of these two capitals are further enriched by daily special events. Yet, the sheer number of these events can make it difficult to decide which are the most appealing or best suited to our individual interests.
Oct 14, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Your blog offers such engaging material, and I especially love the spirited discussions. The volume of comments is a clear sign that others share my admiration. Keep up the fantastic work!
Oct 1, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Premium Kei Truck Steering Wheel from Oiwa Garage offers a blend of style.
Sep 29, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
These two capitals boast impressive tourist attractions, complemented by daily special events that add to their charm. However, with so many events to choose from, selecting the most relevant or appealing ones can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Sep 13, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
This blog offers a wealth of intriguing content, especially in the comment sections. The high number of responses to your posts suggests I'm not alone in my admiration. Keep up the fantastic work!
Aug 3, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
This blog is packed with captivating material, and the comments section is a testament to that. The active engagement on your posts indicates that many others are as impressed as I am. Keep doing what you do best!
Aug 3, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Your blog is full of compelling content, and the discussion areas are particularly lively. The sheer number of comments shows that I’m not alone in appreciating what you do. Keep up the wonderful work!
Jul 31, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Thank you for your post. I sincerely thank you for your post. If you are interested in purchasing our products, you can contact us through this website
Jul 27, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
"I'm blown away. I don't think I've met anyone as knowledgeable about this subject as you are. You have an impressive depth of understanding and intelligence."
Jul 27, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Thanks for your post. I’ve been thinking about writing a very comparable post over the last couple of weeks.
Jul 21, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely return.
Jul 21, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely return.
Jul 21, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
This post is so well researched and well written. I learned so much from it,
Jul 21, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
I am extremely delighted in for this web journal. Its a useful subject
Jul 21, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
The most successful marketers know that it's all about telling stories, and one of the ways to tell these stories is through branded content.
Jul 21, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
You'll discover the one that best suits your company needs. Here at Estool, you may save even more money thanks to our large range of alternatives and lowest pricing.
Jun 6, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
We Cutting Tools Co. Ltd specializes in developing and manufacturing high-quality machining inserts. We have a full capacity machining insert sales, research, and production. We also produce cemented carbide cutting inserts, grooving inserts, customized inserts, and cermet inserts.
May 31, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Because the inserts avoid defects caused by high temperatures in welding and sharpening, the geometric parameters of the tool are completely guaranteed by the insert and the insert holder, which makes the cutting performance stable, thereby increasing the tool life., welcome to our website to learn more about carbide inserts:https://www.estoolcarbide.com
Mar 7, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Being a reliable supplier, Estool has the widest range of machining inserts available at affordable prices. We only offer first-class machining inserts to all our customers. Plus, our machining insert is capable of doing numbers of machining equipment and grind productivity to a halt., welcome to our website to learn more about carbide inserts:https://www.estoolcarbide.com
Feb 28, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 2  | Go to page: