Your recap and discussion post for Nashville Season 2, Episode 18, “Your Wild Life’s Gonna Get You Down.”
Welcome back to Nashville!
Rayna and Manager Bucky are discussing the current state of her single on the charts, where it’s “barely t5 most added” and struggling to make it out of light rotation in key markets. Meanwhile, Jeff Fordham’s pouring big money into making Will’s single happen. Rayna’s got a livestream planned that night with Luke Wheeler that she hopes will help make up for her lack of money (seriously. Lamar’s fortune??). Rayna and Bucky arrive to meet Juliette, Avery, and Scarlett for an introductory powwow. Turns out Scarlett will now be joining Juliette on tour, which restarts in the Pacific Northwest the next day. Scarlett is concerned about scheduling and wants to make sure she can still get her album done. Rayna says that’s what’s great about having a producer who travels. Juliette territorially puts her arms around Avery, and asks what Rayna’s plan is for her. Rayna says their joint performance at the Opry didn’t get the reception ‘Wrong Song’ did, and when Manager Glenn says you can’t judge a song by 1 performance at the Opry, Rayna says it wasn’t about the song. Juliette says she gets it, she ruined the launch of Rayna’s single, and Rayna grits her teeth while saying they’re not going to dwell on it. She tells Juliette to make some noise on her tour dates, win back fans and radio stations one gig at a time. Juliette says she’s spent $500k of her own money promoting these tours dates and isn’t sure how much more noise she can make.
Will and Layla return to the place he shares with Gunnar, and notice a new flat-screen TV and some more goodies there. Gunnar welcomes them back and says he got his 1st royalty check for “Ball & Chain.” Will is scheduled to play the Bridgestone the day after next as part of Luke’s tour. Layla eagerly shows Gunnar her engagement ring, and a surprised Gunnar offers muted congratulations. Will asks Gunnar to be his best man. Jeff Fordham interrupts with a phone call, it appears he’s heard of Will and Layla’s engagement.
Deacon arrives home, where Megan surprises him by actually being there. Turns out she has cleared her schedule for the next 2 days so they can spend some time together. Megan congratulates Deacon on his Nashville Scene cover, which includes a 5 star review and lofty comparisons to country legends. She hopes he doesn’t have a packed schedule over the next few days, and Deacon mentions he’s free except for a guitar lesson with Maddie, who apparently texted him. Hm. Isn’t she grounded? So, pretty much none of the things in this little segment are going to end well.
Speaking of Maddie, she’s in Rayna’s kitchen sneaking a glance at the Youtube video she uploaded when Rayna walks in and reminds her they’re not supposed to use computers in the kitchen. Maddie lies and says she was checking on something for school. Rayna doesn’t seem to buy it and tells her to put the computer away, when Luke surprises them all with a visit. Daphne runs up to hug him while Maddie sulks. Luke is excited to play “Ball & Chain” for the livestream the following day. He greets Maddie, who sullenly brushes him off. Rayna tells the girls to go pack for their week with their dad. Maddie asks if she can’t just stay with Rayna this week, and Rayna says they already discussed this-the answer is no. Maddie slinks off, and Rayna and Luke banter about teenagers. Luke tells Rayna about his son Colt, also a sullen 16 year old. Luke mentions Colt will be in town for the show tomorrow, and Rayna is excited to meet Luke’s kids. Colt’s sister Sage won’t be there because she has a recital at home though. Luke shows Rayna his son’s social media profile which has 20k followers, and jokes Colt is a ham just like his dad. Rayna is eager to let their kids hang out, but wants all that stuff off social media to protect her daughters. Luke agrees.
Avery and Scarlett disembark from Juliette’s private jet, which they took to the Pacific Northwest for Juliette’s show. Scarlett grouses about the 23 hours when she’s not on stage and has to travel, attend industry parties, and do non-music stuff. Avery placates her by telling her he has the perfect piece of music for them to start writing from. Scarlett wonders how he has time when he’s in Juliette’s band. But Avery says he’s on this trip as a producer, not a band member.
In Mayor Teddy’s office, Daphne is finishing up homework with her tutor. Teddy loves the scene, but wants to know where Maddie is. Tutor Annie says she is at her friend’s studying for her history test. That wipes the smiles right off Teddy’s face, because, as he informs the tutor, that history test was last Friday. He tells Daphne not to cover for her sister, and asks where Maddie is.
Juliette is surveying her next concert venue with Manager Glenn and PA Emily, where the entire upper level is being curtained off. Juliette’s disappointed with the cutdown of the venue, and says she was hoping some of Rayna’s fans would show up considering the new of Juliette signing with Highway 65. But the only local press mention has a headline asking if the struggle of Rayna’s new single at country radio is Juliette’s fault. Juliette is determined to rock the faces off of anybody who does show up at her concert.
Maddie and Deacon are having some nice father-daughter time talking about the show at the Bridgestone the next day. Deacon encourages Maddie by saying if she keeps playing the way she does, it’s a matter of time before she joins Rayna and Deacon on stage. Maddie says, “Thanks, Dad,” and they’re having a moment when Teddy furiously pounds on Deacon’s door. When Deacon opens the door, Teddy storms in and orders Maddie to get in the car, where her sister’s waiting (so he left a child in the car alone?). Teddy informs Deacon Maddie’s grounded and wasn’t supposed to be there. Deacon says he wasn’t kept in the loop, and the conversation escalates when Teddy tells him there was no need to keep him in the loop about this. Deacon says he doesn’t think part of Maddie’s punishment should be taking away her music. Teddy goes all territorial and tells Deacon music is the problem, and says Maddie won’t be seeing Deacon for lessons or at his concert, for the timebeing.
Rayna and Teddy are discussing Maddie’s latest trangression, and Teddy is still fired up about grounding Maddie. Rayna talks him out of keeping Maddie from tomorrow’s concert at the Bridgestone, because it’s the only chance for Luke’s son Colt to meet the girls. She correctly says Teddy should have consulted her before adding that to Maddie’s punishment and that keeping Maddie from the show would be punishing more than Maddie at this point. Teddy isn’t happy about it but concedes on the concert issue.
After receiving a text from Maddie that she’ll attend the concert after all, Deacon vents to Megan about Teddy’s territoriality. She says he’s threatened by Deacon but obviously doesn’t mention her part in that. She encourages Deacon to focus on the positive, which he agrees to, but not before concluding, “Screw Teddy.” That’s a mood-killer for Megan.
Out in Oregon, Juliette is up on stage performing “Tell That Devil” while surrounded by a bunch of male dancers to a screaming if smallish crowd at her concert. She makes contact with as many fans as she can. Manager Glenn and PA Emily are thrilled with the show. As she comes off the stage, Juliette accepts congratulations from them and asks if Avery ever made it out to see her set. Turns out he is still writing with Scarlett. That kills Juliette’s post-concert buzz fast.
To DOWNLOAD “Tell That Devil,” cowritten by Jill Andrews, Emery Dobyns, & Matthew Mayfield and performed by Hayden Panettiere, click HERE.
Jeff and Will are celebrating Will’s single passing Rayna’s on the chart with a drink, and Will says it looks like he made the right choice signing with Jeff. Jeff probes into Will’s engagement, and seems to be seeing through Will’s “enthusiasm” for marrying Layla.
Scarlett and Avery are working through a song called “Falling,” and very happy about how it’s going. Juliette, who listened in on the last part of their session, sarcastically congratulates them on a song so beautiful they didn’t even notice she was there. When Avery asks how her set went, Juliette leaves it to Manager Glenn to gush. Juliette wonders if Avery and Scarlett are going to come to the afterparty, and they beg off wanting to continue their work on the music. Juliette’s smile says she’s totally OK with this! Except not at all.
Will saunters home with a 6 pack of beer in hand, and a concerned Gunnar is waiting to confront him about dragging Layla into his life of lies. An angry Will lays into Gunnar for not being supportive, and Gunnar retorts that he won’t be Will’s best man, he won’t support this lie, and that Will should move out.
At the Bridgestone, Rayna, Maddie, and Daphne arrive to meet Luke and Colt. Colt is a bunch of sullen teenage too cool for school hiphop cliches. Luke and Rayna have work to do, so they leave the kids to their own devices.
Deacon and Megan arrive at the venue, and a member of the road crew offers to take “Mr. Clayburne’s” guitar in. Deacon good-natured banters with the guy before Megan notices he has autograph seekers, which forces Deacon to take the roadie up on his offer. As Deacon’s signing, Rayna comes over and congratulates Deacon on his album, telling Megan nobody deserves his success more. Rayna apologizes to Deacon about the dustup with Teddy, and warns him as Megan watches that Teddy’s going to pick up the girls right after Rayna’s set.
A tearful Layla approaches Will in his dressing room and tells him her parents are furious about this sudden engagement have threatened never to speak to her again if she goes through with the wedding. She thinks Will should at least meet her parents before they move forward. Will asks Layla to stop talking about what other people want and to tell him what she wants, because what he wants is her. He says they could get married that night, after the show, with no fuss, just the 2 of them. That cheers Layla up, and she gratefully thanks Will for always knowing what to do. How is it that this savvy, smart woman who got into Harvard is suddenly a lost puppy?
Maddie and Daphne find Colt still working on his “sick beats” and he brushes off Deacon and his dad’s music as the music of “old men.” He says he likes good music, like Skrillx, EDM, rap, anything with a beat. Very convincing. Maddie and Daphne break out into a hand clap-supported version of “Joy Parade,” and Colt thinks it’s “actually kind of dope.” This sounds like teenage dialogue written by clueless adults, to be honest. He starts fiddling with his beat board (clueless adult here, I don’t know what he’s working with).
To DOWNLOAD “Joy Parade,” written by Jill Andrews and Josh Leo and performed by Lennon & Maisy, click HERE.
Rayna talks with a guy about the 20 cameras set up to capture every angle of her set for the Livestream, and she’s tending to her phone with Jeff Fordham shows up for some gloating and trash talking about her single’s underperformance, while Rayna retorts with talk about how he bought Will’s airplay and how independence is worth not having to listen to him talk. She shuts a dressing doom door in Fordham’s face.
Juliette walks in on Avery and Scarlett, who are just finishing up a new track. Juliette wants to talk about the live show and Scarlett is eager to include the new song “Falling” in her set. Juliette shoots the idea down, saying she needs more energy, not another ballad. She talks about how there wasn’t a single press review of either of their sets from the previous night’s show, and Juliette thinks the whole show needs more spark. Scarlett tries to argue that even with Juliette’s energetic show last night, the press didn’t care. Juliettte pulls rank and orders Scarlett to do as she says and bring more energy to their next show, which is in Seattle. Juliette walks out, Avery tells Scarlett he’ll talk to her, and Scarlett pops pills after he leaves.
Avery tries to talk to Juliette in her dressing room, and she does a hilarious imitation of doe-eyed “squirrely” Scarlett. Juliette tells him that while he’s off in his producer bubble, she’s trying to resuscitate her career. Avery says this is only her 2nd night out and she’s doing amazing, but Juliette says she’s not Scarlett and doesn’t need her hand held. She just needs all this to work.
Backstage at the Bridgestone, Colt is playing his mix of Maddie and Daphne’s performance of “Joy Parade.” When Luke and Rayna walk in, they love the sound. Daphne reveals the video already has 400 views, much to Maddie’s chagrin (because it outs that Colt posted the video online). Apparently Colt didn’t think posting the video on his homepage counted as social media. Luke steps in to order Colt to take the video down, and Maddie and Rayna argue about why Rayna can do a livestream but Maddie can’t.
We’re back in Seattle now, where Juliette and Avery are watching Scarlett ramble about her roots as Juliette waits for Scarlett to pick up the pace. Scarlett announces that Juliette wants her to make some noise, but Scarlett says she’s more of a whisperer, and swaps out her usual opener “Lookin For A Place To Shine” for her new ballad “Falling.” The crowd seems into it.
Cut to Maddie and Colt watching Rayna singing her single “This Time” at the Bridgestone, grousing about their parents. Maddie reveals that her biological father is not Teddy but Deacon. This is going to go well! Meanwhile, Megan, Daphne, and Deacon are enjoying Rayna’s set. Maddie joins them, and she tells Deacon his set was awesome. Deacon says he’ll be doing a couple more songs during Luke’s set and Maddie says she wouldn’t miss it. He gently asks her to tell him the next time she’s grounded, and she agrees, saying she was just looking to spend more time with him. Deacon assures her they can do that, beyond just guitar lessons. More father-daughter bonding as Rayna finishes her set and Teddy appears in the background. He walks up and tells the girls it’s time to go. Maddie says Deacon still has a couple of songs to go but Teddy puts his foot down, saying that wasn’t the agreement he had with her mother. Daphne says she’s not grounded and wants to stay. Deacon tries to argue, and Teddy is having none of it while Rayna walks up and tries to diffuse the situation. Luke eyes the situation as he prepares to take the stage. Rayna tells Teddy she’ll take the girls to him right after the show, and an unsatisfied Teddy says he’s staying backstage until the show is over. Rayna spots Luke and goes over for a little boyfriend-girlfriend time, but Luke tells her Colt showed him the video Maddie Clayburne posted online. Luke knows! He’s hurt, unhappy, and a little bitter Rayna didn’t tell him about Maddie’s real father. But there’s no time for Rayna to explain, as Luke bounds up on stage to start his set.
When we return to the show, Luke is pumping up his opening acts to his fans, introducing both Will and Deacon on stage while Layla and an awkwardly dancing Megan watch from the sidestage. They’re going to turn this next number into a “Three wheeler.” Give the writers credit: they’ve captured some of Luke Bryan’s corny appeal by having Luke Wheeler work corny puns like this (and corny dance moves) and present them as huge crowd pleasers. The three ami-bros perform “It’s On Tonight.” Gunnar’s also watching sidestage, and Jeff walks up to comment that it sounds like another Luke Wheeler hit. Gunnar says thanks, and reveals he cowrote it with Luke. Jeff says his instincts about Gunnar were right, but then, his instincts are rarely wrong. He just can’t help himself, can he? Jeff asks Gunnar if Will is gay because while he’s no homophobe, he can’t invest in “some heartthrob who’s going to get arrested in some bathroom.” Wow. But that’s the kind of talk I’d expect from an oily record label exec. Gunnar covers for his friend saying he lives with the guy and he catches more tail than a rabbit-hunter. Nice line.
To DOWNLOAD “It’s On Tonight,” written by Brett Beavers, Dustin Lynch, and David Lee Murphy and performed by Chris Carmack, Will Chase, and Charles Esten, click HERE.
BONUS: Check out video of Broken Bow act and co writer Dustin Lynch performing “It’s On Tonight”:
A tearful Rayna confronts Maddie about the video. Rayna says she’s trying to protect Maddie because people can be cruel, that her true paternity is *her* truth, not for everybody to know. Maddie accuses Rayna of just wanting to protect herself so the world doesn’t know she has an “illegitimate daughter,” and there’s some great work from Connie Britton here when she tells Maddie to never say that and to not even think it. Rayna tells Maddie that she is wanted, that Teddy, Deacon, and Rayna all love her and all they want to do is protect her. That gets to Maddie, who tearfully agrees to take the video down. Meanwhile, Luke, Will, and Deacon finish their song, and though Luke gives no sign to the public that he has an issue with Deacon, he lets Deacon know it was all for show, because of what Deacon didn’t say.
Juliette confronts Scarlett in her dressing room, where Scarlett makes needles Juliette about how she’s so threatened by Scarlett’s past with Avery she dragged her out on tour to keep an eye on the 2 of them. Juliette tells her to watch herself, and Scarlett says Juliette would be doing her a favor by firing her, because she hates this life. Juliette tells her she should be grateful. Scarlett retorts that she’s grateful for the moments with the crowd and the music but then goes into the litany of personal and professional things that have gone wrong for her. Somehow, the rant makes Juliette understand her, and she tells Scarlett she’s out of luck, because Juliette won’t fire her. Juliette tells Scarlett that sensitivity and raw nerve are what will make her great. This is a fun moment on the show. Juliette tells Scarlett to stick around for the afterparty and they’ll continue their discussion on how they’re really going to take the tour to the next level. Scarlett says she’s not much for afterparties, but Juliette teases that she is now.
Megan is happily roaming backstage, but passing by Teddy quickly wipes the smile off her face. A verbal argument ensues, and Deacon overhears enough of it to know that Megan cheated with Teddy. He’s angry at first, but doesn’t punch when Teddy encourages him to. Well, it all hit the fan today, didn’t it?
Will and Layla are at the altar, dressed in everyday wear. Gunnar shows up and asks for a word with Will. Will sheepishly goes to talk to him and tells him this better not be an objection. Gunnar tells Will that Jeff asked him about the rumors about Will. Will’s face falls as he asks Gunnar what he told Jeff. Gunnar says he told Jeff the truth, and just as Will thinks he has lost his career, Gunnar explains the truth is that Will believes with all his heart that marrying Layla is the right thing to do. Will’s face lights up with gratitude, and he promises Gunnar he will be a good and decent husband to Layla. Gunnar somberly says it’s not him Will needs to swear that to. Will runs back to the altar with all the pep back in his step.
Backstage in his dressing room, Luke and Rayna are finally having a conversation about Rayna not having told Luke about Maddie’s paternity. Luke says he thought they trusted each other. Rayna doesn’t have an excuse except that it never seemed like a good time. The conversation morphs into a discussion about teenagers, with Luke telling Rayna their kids want to define themselves to the public on their own terms. Rayna doesn’t want Maddie to have to figure out her own terms in public like that. Luke asks if Rayna’s figured out her terms, especially with Deacon, and says it’s hard to believe there’s nothing between Deacon and her. Rayna says there is, a daughter and a dark, tumultuous past. But, she tells Luke, Luke is her present, and she hopes her future. Luke has a pretty evolved response to that, saying he thinks he can get past this, but he needs a minute, and Rayna needs a few more to figure all this stuff out with her family, however she defines that.
Juliete and Scarlett toast to making beautiful music together with some shots. Avery asks Scarlett if she wants a ride back to the hotel with Juliette and him, but Scarlett is going to stick around at the afterparty. Juliette approves, and hilariously advises Scarlett not to do anything Juliette would. As she and Avery walk out, Juliette asks Avery if Scarlett is high as well as drunk. Avery doesn’t think so, since Scarlett’s never done drugs (because that means she’d never do drugs, right?). Juliette says there was something about Scarlett that reminded her of her mother. Perceptive one sometimes, that Juliette. Juliette tells Avery Scarlett had wanted her to fire her, and Avery says she’s vulnerable. Juliette confesses she’s vulnerable too. Avery asks her to trust him, and she says she does, and that’s what terrifies her. He has her heart, and could destroy her. Avery reassures her that he would never do that, but we all know it may happen anyway, however unintentionally.
Meanwhile back in Nashville, a newly married Will and Layla celebrate for the cameras with dips, kisses, and jokes. Gunnar smiles, but he’s understandably still somber.
Rayna is trying to reach Deacon by phone. He’s not picking up because he’s angrily packing up at his home while Megan tries to talk to him. They’re over, obviously, and Deacon wants to know why Megan is still there. A tearful Megan accepts that they’re over but she wants him not to throw away everything else he’s got because of her betrayal. She’s obviously fearful he’ll fall off the wagon again, and she grabs that Nashville Scene magazine and reminds Deacon that is who he is – he is his music, and he is father to his daughter Maddie. Deacon sarcastically congratulates her on a winning closer, and as he walks out, tells Megan he’s no longer in need of saving. As much as I dislike how the writers sabotaged Megan’s character, that last scene was very good and a worthy ending of a relationship that was obviously never their end game. And there we have it for this week. Come back next week, won’t you?
