Nashville Season 4 Episode 1 Review: “Can’t Let Go”

An appropriately titled episode, since I’m grabbing on tight to all of the drama and music from the fourth season premiere of Nashville. When last we left the country music scene, Avery left Juliette with their daughter in tow, Will came out, Layla was still naïve, Scarlett and Gunnar dared to tempt fate, and Deacon and Beverly were fighting for their lives.

First let’s breathe a sigh of relief that Deacon is alive. Unfortunately, Beverly suffered an aneurysm during surgery and has been in a medically induced coma ever since. Deacon has been feeling an enormous amount of guilt for his sister’s situation since it was a voluntary surgery for him. Luckily by episode’s end, Beverly begins to show signs of improvement. So Deacon may not have to worry about his sister any longer, but it looks like he has made a pint-sized enemy in a now fatherless Daphne. Yikes!

Juliette is basking in the glow of her success with the premiere of her new movie and album. Rayna is sick of the drama Juliette is causing, and so is happy to let Juliette go to Luke’s label if that is what she wants. That is, until Juliette calls Rayna in the midst of a breakdown. This alarms Rayna enough that she hops on a plane to check on her old frenemy. Never have I believed more in the power of a stylist, who, along with Steven Tyler guest starring as himself, paint Juliette as the picture of happiness and success. Rayna sees right through all of that, but is unable to get through to her irrational friend. Even worse, Juliette’s hateful comments towards Rayna cut deeper than expected, and Rayna begins to realize that her label’s public perception actually does need a reboot.

Avery meanwhile has been in limbo raising his daughter at his parents’ place, only seeing his wife on television. Since it appears Juliette does not want to be with her family anymore, Avery’s parents suggest he and baby Cadence move back in permanently. Avery is tempted, but ultimately decides that he shouldn’t run away from Nashville and his own life, whether or not that still includes his lost wife. Avery’s move back means moving in with Gunnar and Will. I suppose we can preview caption part of next week’s episode “Three Men and a Baby.”

With Beverly in the hospital, Scarlett has been sticking close to home, as in her with her new boyfriend. Upon seeing Gunnar for the first time since their almost kiss, the tension is palpable, and I don’t mean the hate kind. The music pulls them in, and Scarlett and Gunnar briefly give into their passion before Scarlett pulls away. One step forward, two steps back, ugh.

If Will thought things would get better after coming out, he was mistaken. Don’t get me wrong, I’m the first to applaud Will finally being true to himself. What he did took an enormous amount of courage and self-love, especially in a community that is less than kind to LGBT people. It’s no wonder he put himself in exile. Even Gunnar finally convinces Will to rejoin the world with Kevin, the world proves to be cold. Will isn’t wrong in the powerful speech he gives to Kevin, laying out how lost he feels no longer having a place in which to belong.

I must unfortunately mention that Layla and Jeff are going strong, sort of. Truly the only difference in their relationship from this season and last is that Jeff has gotten better at feigning sincerity and compassion. Juliette may be at her cruelest right now, but that doesn’t mean her sharp assessment of Layla’s naivety is off base. This is one storyline I’m begging to end quickly.

What storylines are you most looking forward to this season?

[Photo credit: Mark Levine/ABC]