Nashville Review: In Need of a Reset

Most of the time getting back to basics is a good thing. Going back to your old ways can remind you of simpler of times, of your passion, of where you need to be going towards, but it can also remind you of your mistakes. We got a little bit of both on this week’s Nashville.

The Exes have their final listening party for their completed album at Highway 65. Was there ever any doubt that their album would receive high praise? Rayna chooses a track to release as a single, but it’s mostly Scarlett’s voice on that particular track. Gunnar insists he’s fine with it, but Scarlett doesn’t feel that it’s right given that Gunnar is the one who pushed her to develop her music in the first place. So they go back to their manager and ask that both of their names be quoted equally on all of the publishing before the release of their album. These two are a true duo all the way.

Layla is still going full steam ahead with her plans for Avery. She might have some competition from a new mom Avery meets at the park. They get along very well and she invites Avery to come over that night for dinner. Layla is not happy about how well Avery is getting along with his new friend. Thankfully Glenn talks some sense into her, telling her not to turn into Juliette. Avery also realizes he’s not entirely ready to move on if he spends all of his time talking about Juliette, even if it’s just complaining about her.

Will decides to entertain an offer from a gay-friendly record label. They are really only interested in marketing Will as a gay artist, not a country artist who just happens to be gay. No mainstream country label will go near him, so Will doesn’t feel he has any other choice if he really wants to get back onstage. That is, until he meets a local barista who gives him the idea to release his music independently and record it on his own. He may not get the same support he would with a label, but this way Will could release the music he wants to make on his own terms.

Colt reunites with Maddie only to realize she’s not the same girl she used to be. She’s hanging out with Cash all the time dreaming of being a star, and Colt has been working on his grandfather’s farm getting back to basics. During their first night out together in weeks, Cash performs the song Maddie wrote about Colt, and lightbulbs start blinking in his head. Maddie may be trying to be older than she is, but she and Colt really have grown apart. They go their separate ways, with Maddie leaning on Cash (much to Daphne’s misery), and Colt making the life-changing decision to join the Army. Now that last part I did not see coming at all! Luke has been fine letting Colt live with his grandfather, but I’m not so sure he’s going to feel the same about letting his son join the army without his knowledge.

Luke’s idea to bring Riff out on tour was business brilliance. Tickets immediately sold out, and Deacon books Riff at the Beverly as a warm-up. Unfortunately, Luke is horrified when he realizes that Riff is extremely rusty. Luke has a choice to make-he can either cover for Riff and bail him out of the tour, or force Riff to continue to with the tour and lip sync. Luke and Riff decide their friendship is what’s most important, so Riff asks Luke’s band to help him get back to the artist he was. With some help Riff turns out a great performance at The Beverly.

Rayna struggles with the idea that Vita stole from the The Beverly. Vita insists that she didn’t steal the money. Deacon and Rayna are inclined to believe her, but Frankie still thinks she is lying. Rayna and Deacon want to get to the heart of who Vita is. They see something special in her, and are willing to give her a chance. Unfortunately she is the one who took the money from The Beverly to help her sister out of a jam. Deacon apologizes to Frankie for doubting him. Between Deacon not trusting him regarding Vita, and Deacon getting most of the credit for the success of Riff’s performance night at the Beverly, Frankie relapses back into the bottle.

Despite Vita asking for another chance after admitting to taking the money, Rayna can’t go out on a limb for someone she doesn’t trust. After taking the night to reconsider, she goes in search of Vita to try to help her, only to find the car Vita was living in the site of a crime scene, with no Vita in sight.

Now for the big question: how will the storylines already in motion be thrown into chaos when Nashville’s ultimate diva Juliette Barnes returns next week?