February 17, 2017 9:57 AM ByRachel Weingarten Parade @rachelcw More by Rachel <\/p>\n
Still need to catch up on last weeks episode? Heres the previousNashville recap. <\/p>\n
Here be spoilers and some of them will be in all caps. <\/p>\n
Nashville, what were you thinking? The season started with the aftermath of a plane crash and now you have another major character ostensibly fighting for her life after a car crash? And you, Miss Connie Britton, with an inscrutable sphinxlike expression on your face last week when I asked you about the rumors about Rayna possibly leaving the show after the mid-season. You knew! You knew that our girl would escape the stalker only tookay, lets back up and recap first and then we can all get back to fussing and fretting (and possibly fuming, depending on what happens in the coming weeks). <\/p>\n
The Breakfast Club: <\/p>\n
Things are mostly copacetic as the episode opens with our darling Daphne whipping up pancakes and bacon for the family. Of course, Maddie comes in (storms in?) demanding something else to eat and announces that the security guards are back, leaving Daphne feeling betrayed that no one warned her. Apparently, Creepy Carl AKA The Stalker posted bail and is standing outside their home. Is this legal? they all wonder. Apparently, the restraining order requires him to stay 300 feet away from Rayna and company at all times hence his positioning himself 317 feet away from the house. Needless to say, Deacon is less than pleased and threatens to go all Wolverine to protect his family, but the security guards talk him down. By the next morning, Carl is gone, but Raynas had a sleepless night. And next week are the CMT Awards says Rayna in a rather meta moment. <\/p>\n
Are You There God? Its Me, Daphne. <\/p>\n
Still on the home front, Daphne has a tummy ache. Later on, we find out shes gotten her first period. Theres some uncomfortable moments between Daphne and Maddie (who is the worst big sister in the history of big sisters), Daphne and Rayna (who wins Adorable Mother of the Year) and Rayna and Deacon who wonders if they should throw Daph a period party. No. Just, no. Rayna settles for a familiar robins egg blue box from Tiffany with a moon gift for Daphne. I dont know about you, but after Game of Thrones Cersei being obsessed with Sansas flowering and poor Daphnes very public period storyline, Im well past very awkward TV puberty. <\/p>\n
Sister Act: <\/p>\n
Juliettes at church learning about Isaiah and his or our quest for inner peace, which apparently, Juliette is discovering during time spent with the choir. So much so that she tells Hallie she wants to do a gospel album with her and the choir, and asks if Hallie can arrange for them to speak. <\/p>\n
Juliette and Hallie go to the church a bit later on to discuss the potential album. Theres a frisson of excitement initially, but then the questions get tougher and a bit snarkier. Were all taught a valuable lesson about the way different faiths perceive the importance of their music and Juliette is schooled in the history of gospel. Juliette is a star after all (she calls her music her art, so we know shes serious) and gets a little bit witchy with the congregation. Hallie gives her a sad, sad disappointed face. <\/p>\n
The next day though, Juliette humbly apologizes to the group and bares her soul a bit. We hear once again that shes been a sinner and God works in mysterious ways and some other thoughts that feel a bit like platitudes, but seem to win over the crowd. Theyre moved by her words and agree to move ahead with the album as partners and equals. Expect a future scene in an upcoming episode comprised of a happy\/clappy\/singing\/hand-wringing montage followed by a beatific looking Juliette and choir on an album cover. <\/p>\n
Apparently, Juliettes come to Jesus moments have also inspired her to view Averys music more critically. Juliettes not loving his new song, and thinks it sounds too much like his old songs. The girl has a point, but one wonders if shes being overly critical in wake of her own musical spiritual enlightenment. <\/p>\n
Much Ado About Something: <\/p>\n
That Damien. Hes a real nogoodnik. Remember when he said he was leaving town and then texted Scarlett that he didnt leave town? Well, the two meet for lunch. I think theyre supposed to be all yearn-y, but I wasnt feeling it. Apparently, Scarlett was though, since she tells Damien shes all confused. Damien thinks they should remedy that by eating lunch and getting to know each other and then hell go back to his HOTEL ROOM. Okay, he didnt present it that way, but (with apologies to Chekhov*) all know that if theres a hotel room mentioned at the beginning of a scene its going to be put to use at some point. Then Scarlett and Deacon hang out and chew the fat about relationshipsjust your average chit chat. That inspires Scar to head over to Gunnars to, oh, I dont know, DUMP HIM. She gives him a pretty lukewarm speech about how she isnt sure about her feelings and that she feels something right now for Damien. And, oh, she also doesnt feel anything for Gunnar (ouch) and that scares her and shes not going to let her fears stop her anymore. Gunnars not having it and basically tells her to go ahead and have sex with Damien since thats what shes planning. <\/p>\n
Okay, heres a momentary aside. The chemistry between Damien and Scarlett is so tepid, that I really did think she needed some time for herself. Maybe she wasnt having a Chaka Khan moment, but I really didnt think that the next scene would have her and Damien post-sexy time. Ill back up for a moment. <\/p>\n
The next thing we know, Scarlett is in a bathrobe, looking pensively out the window. I honestly thought this would be the moment shed turn to Damien and say something like This is a mistake. I cant. I need time for myself. You know, basically what she just said to Gunnar. Instead, Damien walks out clad in a towel wheeling out a room service cart with waffles and champagne and other fancy foods to replenish their strength after their earlier exertions. Scarlett says she should leave. They both talk about how much fun it was. They mutually decide to have more fun. So, is this when we wave boy, bye to Gunnar and try on Darlett or Scarmien for size? <\/p>\n
A Star is Born: <\/p>\n
Maddie went to Claytons gig on her own, and man, is she good. Rayna and her entourage show up. Both mother and daughter are bopping their heads along to the music, so we know its good. And while Highway 65 might not have its next big thing, Ray Ray offers to maybe mentor and advise Clay on his music and career, but he has to promise to take care of Maddie. Awww. Cute. Do we sense a CMT spinoff a la The Voice sometime soon? Or maybe NashvilLa La Land? <\/p>\n
All By Myself: <\/p>\n
Rayna leaves to go to work. Her security guy does a short once over of the space and then heads out to sit in the car. So, wheres the around the clock security cameras? Why isnt someone stationed IN the office? Because you know whats coming. A STALKER IS COMING and hes been hiding out in the broom closet all night. Hes got a great big knife and comes up on Rayna while her eyes are closed and shes listening to some music (with all the lights in the office off, because you know, its not creepy enough). <\/p>\n
Poor Rayna. She tries to escape and stalker guy tries to calm her down, saying he doesnt even know why he brought a knife and that its not sharp. No, but its HUGE and SCARY. Rayna then quickly shifts into calm mode and tries to talk the stalker talk. The woman should moonlight as a hostage negotiator, shes that calm. So apparently, his name is really Wayne and he was abused as a child. He and Rayna bond over dysfunctional families; his father abused him, but Raynas dad murdered her mother when she was only 12, and shes not a psychopath, so she totally wins this round. Also, she channels her pain into music while he channels his pain into stalking, so Raynas really in the lead here. Related\/unrelated, did every single character on Nashville go through tremendous childhood trauma? <\/p>\n
Anyway, while Raynas talking, shes secretly dialing 911. Wayne the Stalker hears and tries to grab her as she runs to the door. The police department calls Rs security guy and suddenly everyone rushes into H65 simultaneously. Guns are raised and so is the knifeto Raynas neck. Rayna looks terrified but keeps telling Wayne not to give in to the bad part of himself and just when I thought that it would drag out into a cliffhanger episode, Wayne apologizes and.lets her go. I kind of thought there would be a bit more to it. Wayne stabbing himself or trying to commit death by police, but it ends there. <\/p>\n
OR DOES IT? <\/p>\n
The police think Rayna should go to the hospital, but she just wants to go home. Safely tucked into the back of a police car Rayna calls Deacon and through her tears tells him something awful has happened, but shes okay. He says Come home, baby. And I got all melty, until we see from our peripheral vision (which cant really be peripheral vision if were facing the screen, but I was a bit traumatized, so be gentle with me) a car is speeding straight at Rayna and directly into the passenger side and BOOM. Glass shatters and Rayna is thrown forward. <\/p>\n
Nashville, I kind of hate you right now. With the rumor mill running overtime with hints that Connie Britton wont be returning to the show, is it even possible that Rayna will die? Or will she come back with a new face and played by Elizabeth Banks or Julie Bowen? <\/p>\n
In the meantime, I think we should all be lighting incense or candles and baking casseroles to bring to Deacon. The man will need a lot of comforting in the tough weeks ahead. <\/p>\n
So what did you think about this episode? Any theories about what might happen to Rayna? Any thoughts on Damien and Scarlett and who Gunnar might end up with next? <\/p>\n
*Chekhovs Gun is a plot device shared by playwright and short story writer Anton Chekhov in a letter to a fellow playwright. He wrote One must never place a loaded rifle on the stage if it isnt going to go off. Its wrong to make promises you dont mean to keep. In other words, if theres a gun on stage in scene one, youd better use it at some point in the story. In the case of this episode, Damiens hotel room was announced, so we knew it would probably see some action. <\/p>\n
Catch up on the first four seasons of Nashville on Hulu and watch new episodes on CMT, Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET. <\/p>\n
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Follow this link: <\/p>\n
Nashville Season 5 Episode 8 Recap: Stand Beside Me - Parade<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" February 17, 2017 9:57 AM ByRachel Weingarten Parade @rachelcw More by Rachel Still need to catch up on last weeks episode? Heres the previousNashville recap Continue reading