After the happy matrimony of Rayna and Deacon, the show has to search for more drama and tension in the relationships of the other characters on the show. Let’s start with Avery, who is struggling with continuing to pretend he is married to Juliette and everything’s fine, so he goes to her treatment center to discuss going public with their divorce. When her carer doesn’t let him in because Juliette is apparently in a “delicate emotional state”, he gets angry, but he is still not allowed access.
He goes into the studio with Layla to start recording her second album while the first gets scheduled for release, but while there Luke shows up to find out if Juliette can go back on tour with him. Avery flies off the handle and when Luke leaves, Avery spills the beans to Layla about his disintegrated marriage. She relates to him because of her sham marriage to Will, and they start to bond. Layla tells him that in that situation it feels better to walk away and tell the truth, and so Avery goes to Juliette’s treatment center again to relay the message that she needs to go public with the divorce, or he will. The next day, she releases a statement, and he is left wondering how to feel now that the truth is out. Once again, Layla and Avery bond in the studio, so look for sparks to fly in the coming weeks.
Luke, meanwhile, is struggling with the fallout of the financial crisis he found himself in, finding that it’s damaged his reputation with his fans as a good old country boy. His tour sales are down and he needs an opener, and it quickly becomes apparent Juliette cannot fill the spot. He bumps into an old friend from way back when, a man who quit the music industry years ago to spend time with his family. Luke realizes that is what he lost when he chose music, but he invites his old friend out on the road with him. Riff accepts, but says he wants to bring the whole family with him, once again reminding Luke that is alone, and that Colt won’t return his texts.
The Gunnar/Scarlett candle continues to slowly burn, as Scarlett sees Erin kissing another guy and relays this information to Gunnar. Gunnar confronts Erin about it, and she says she’s happy to be monogamous, but he begins having second thoughts and later breaks up with her, even after she explains that she was seeing another guy because she was scared of getting hurt and being honest about her feelings for Gunnar. He says he realized that he doesn’t love her, and he wants to be with someone he loves.
Meanwhile both Scarlett and Gunnar are concerned about Will, who gets back from Kentucky overjoyed that he was able to perform where no-one knew he was gay and there was no issue. He agrees to play a couple of acoustic songs in the middle of their set that night, but disaster strikes when a homophobic jackass in the audience starts heckling him. The crowd begin to show distaste at the heckler, but he continues, eventually throwing a bottle at Will and breaking his nose. The police arrive and want to prosecute the guy for a hate crime, but Will is required to give a statement, and he decides not to. He doesn’t want to spend endless nights filing reports for hate crimes as he knows this’ll happen again, and instead takes matters into his own hands. Both Scarlett and Gunnar think he’s going to beat up the guy who did it, but instead he gets up to finish the song, shutting the jackass up and making him leave (violence is not the answer kids – go Will!).
Now, just because Rayna and Deacon are now happily married, does not mean they don’t have drama going on in their lives. The Beverly is doing really well and a woman named Vita turns up to do the open mic. The list is filled but she convinces Deacon to let her audition, and he’s blown away. He invites Rayna down to watch her perform that night and Rayna is equally impressed. She invites Vita to take a meeting with Bucky the following week, but she seems unsure and explains that she needs a job. Rayna suggests they can work her out a waitressing job at The Beverly, and Deacon agrees, but Frankie needs convincing. Vita starts to fill out the application form but bolts when she sees the “felony” question. It turns out she’s living in her car and has been arrested a few times in the past, but is a changed woman and has come to Nashville to try and make an honest living. Deacon convinces Frankie to give her a job and she’s very grateful, works really hard and does a good job. However, when Frankie discovers that $500 has been stolen out the till, he calls Deacon and tells him it’s likely to be Vita.
Finally, Maddie is struggling to get through to Colt, who seems to be drifting, and Cash notices that she’s holding back during a writing session. The truth comes tumbling out and Cash consoles her, but advises her to put it in a song. When that’s done, she tells Maddie not to be afraid to stand up for herself, and to tell Colt how she feels. Maddie does so over the phone later that day, and we see Colt smile a little on the other end of the line. Maybe this was the kick-start their relationship needed.
Episode 13 airs next Wednesday, March 30th at 10/9c on ABC. Look out for our recap the following morning!
Originally posted here.
