Nashville – Jump Then Fall

By starrymag | January 25, 2018

By: Nicole Dintelman

 

This week on “Nashville” Deacon (Charles Esten) and Jessie (Kaitlin Doubleday) are texting away when Zach (Cameron Scroggins) comes to the office to let Deacon know that he’s moving back to California. Zach wants to pursue a Senate bid. He’s not pulling out his investment in Highway 65, but he is moving. Maddie (Lennon Stella) is watching videos of Jonah (Nic Luken) when he texts her to ask her what she’s doing. Maddie plays coy and asks him who wants to know. Jonah invites her to a club for the following night so she can find out. These two are smitten with each other.

 

Avery (Jonathan Jackson) goes in to wake up Cadence only to discover Juliette (Hayden Panettiere) is already in with her. Juliette wants to go for pancakes. She feels like they need to connect more as a family. She wants Avery also go come to the community Darius (Josh Stamberg) has created. He reluctantly agrees to go. Will texts Gunnar from the other room to ask him if they have peanut butter. Gunnar (Sam Palladio) asks Will (Chris Carmack) if he’s stuck in bed because of Zach’s post. Will says that he can’t see Zach’s posts because he blocked him. Gunnar leaves Will’s room without telling him what the news is.

 

Jessie and Deacon meet for coffee. Okay, we miss Rayna (Connie Britton), but these two are adorable! Jessie went and visited a college and also worked on a song. Deacon asks when he gets to hear the song. She tells him it’s probably a mess. Jessie says that Jake (Myles Moore) asked her where she was the other day and she doesn’t know what to say. Deacon tells her maybe they should wait to say anything to the kids until they find out what they’re doing.

 

Jessie agrees but then tells Deacon that it would have been a good idea. Deacon turns around and Daphne (Maisy Stella) is there with a friend. Deacon makes very awkward conversation with Daphne until she and her friend go sit outside. He tells Jessie they can just do it that way. Jessie says it looks like they are. The next morning Daphne tries to leave without breakfast. Deacon tells her that she can talk to him about anything. He tries to talk to her about the coffee shop but she blows him off.

 

Darius greets Avery when he arrives at the community. Laura (Tara Ochs) is going to go over the schedule with Juliette while Darius shows Avery around. Darius tells Avery that Juliette has come such a long way in a short amount of time. Avery asks him what he means by that. He says that Juliette is more present and more open. Avery says that Juliette is a remarkable person. Darius tells Avery that he’s not trying to be a guru he’s just teaching Juliette coherent philosophy.

 

Avery asks the question we all want to know. What exactly is coherent philosophy? Darius says the ideas behind the movement are perhaps older than civilization. So, he never answers the question. Deacon helps Scarlett (Clare Bowen) move a new table in her house. He tells her that he’s had enough change. He also tells her about he and Jessie running into Daphne. He feels selfish. Scarlett tells him he’s a person that deserves to be loved and he’s anything but selfish.

 

Deacon tells Scarlett that he likes Jessie a lot but when they’re together it feels strange. She’s not Rayna. He wonders if he’s not ready. Scarlett tells him he might not ever feel ready. Maddie heads to meet Jonah at the club. She’s on the list. Maddie heads upstairs to the VIP room and Jonah introduces her to all of his friends. Jonah’s friend tells Maddie that he’s heard a lot about her and it’s a pleasure to meet her finally.

 

Jonah tells Maddie that he loves her voice and wants it on his next album. He’s doing a track the next day and wants her to sing on it. Avery and Juliette don’t speak on the ride home. Juliette asks him to say something. Avery tells her it was interesting. Juliette asks him if he still thinks it’s total crap. Avery says that he doesn’t know what it is. We’re with him! Avery tells Juliette that Darius is one guy that created a philosophy and now he’s controlling everything she thinks.

 

Juliette starts to defend Darius but then tells Avery that he has the right to his own opinion. Juliette says they accept her exactly how she is. When she’s with them she feels like she can accept herself too. Jonah and Maddie sound amazing together when they’re at the studio recording. We can definitely tell why he’s the Bieber of the show. He kind of even sounds like him.

 

Scarlett and Jessie are out shopping together. Scarlett is talking about finding something she can do to help people. Jessie tells her to find something that speaks to her. Something that lights her up. Scarlett asks if she should bring up Deacon. Jessie says no because she doesn’t want Scarlett to be in the middle. Scarlett tells Jessie she already is. Jessie is freaking out about Daphne seeing them out together.

 

Jessie says that Deacon has pulled back. She’s afraid that the girls are going to hate her. Scarlett says that the girls are going to feel what they feel. They didn’t plan to fall for each other but they’re handling it as best as they can. When Maddie and Jonah try to leave the recording studio, there are reporters everywhere. They end up going out the back but are still swarmed by the paparazzi.

 

Will drops by Highway 65 to see Zach. Mark (Billy Armstrong) is helping Zach pack his office. Will asks Zach if he’s really leaving without saying goodbye. Zach tells him that he thought they already said goodbye. Will asks Zach about them staying friends. It was Zach’s idea they stay friends. Zach tells Will that he’s always going to care about him. He also tells him how great he looks. Will says that he just wanted to see Zach one more time for closure. Zach tells him that he’s glad he came by.

 

Will wants to know why they couldn’t make it work. Zach couldn’t forgive him for walking out on him. Jessie decides to call Deacon. He pretends to be busy so he doesn’t have to talk about the Daphne situation. These two are either so cute you want to puke or so awkward you want to poke your eyes out. Maddie and Jonah are at a friends house watching a movie. They’re extremely cute cuddling on the couch.

 

Jonah’s friends find a post on the internet of Jonah and Maddie running from the studio. She’s already been labeled his new love. Jonah gets upset and goes to the kitchen. Maddie follows him and apologizes. Maddie tells him she didn’t think it was a huge deal. It’s not like she’s his girlfriend or anything. Everyone knows he dates supermodels and actresses anyway. Jonah tells Maddie that he doesn’t care what people think about him. He just hates the distractions when he’s trying to get to know a really cool girl.

 

The community is having a BBQ. Juliette seems to just be taking everything in. She begins to sing. Everyone stops to listen. Darius asks her later what would happen if no one praised her for her voice. Would she still sing? He asks her why all of her fame and success isn’t enough. Juliette says she’s greedy. He tells her that she can access her inner self by putting in the work. Juliette says she doesn’t know if she would sing if no one told her she was good.

 

Will is lifting at the gym to blow off steam. He gains the attention of an admirer. They talk about how much they can lift. The guy asks Will for some pointers and ends up back at Will’s house. Gunnar walks in on them. Will introduces him to Dave. The guy corrects him. His name is Dan (Ian Gregg). He doesn’t even know the guy’s name! However, Will can’t seal the deal. He’s having a little trouble.

 

Maddie is upset about what is on the internet about her and Jonah. She tells Deacon that there are already websites saying that she’s not good enough for Jonah. Deacon says it’s just the price of being famous. She’ll just have to get used to it. Deacon tells her that he doesn’t want her to get hurt. Maddie says that it’s like that anytime you fall for someone. You know you might get hurt.

 

Daphne comes in and Deacon tells both her and Maddie that he needs to clear the air. He and Jessie have feelings about each other. Daphne tells him it’s okay. Deacon knows that she’s not being totally honest. Daphne says that she can’t believe he didn’t tell them about it. Deacon is honest and says that he didn’t want to throw it at them if there was nothing to it. Daphne and Maddie tell Deacon that they just want him to be happy.

 

Will goes to the doctor about his problems in the bedroom. He tries to explain to the doctor what his issue is. He tells her he couldn’t stand at attention. She asks him if he’s on any medication. Will says no. The doctor asks about other drugs and Will asks if she can give him Viagra. She’s going to run some tests.

 

Maddie heads to the studio to meet Jonah but he’s running late. She ends up hanging out with his friend, Twig (Dylan Arnold) while she waits for him. He tells Maddie that he’s known Jonah since 8th grade. He was a dork in middle school and Jonah took him under his wing so to speak. Maddie asks Twig if it was weird when Jonah became famous. Twig says it’s so weird it’s ridiculous.

 

Deacon is strumming on his guitar and decides to call Jessie. He asks her out to dinner. Jessie is taken by surprise. Jessie tells Deacon that she doesn’t want to come between him and the girls. Jessie says it’s better they just stop before they start. She’s about to cry and it’s clear that Deacon knows. He tries to say more but she says she has to go.

 

Maddie and Twig are playing Rock-Em Sock-EM Robots when Jonah shows up. He tries to kiss Maddie hello but she pulls away. She tells him that she’s not sure she can do this with him. She doesn’t like people being all up in their business. Maddie tells Jonah that she’s had people talk about her before and she doesn’t think she can do it again. Jonah says it isn’t fun for him either. He doesn’t want to be the guy who complains about how hard it is to be famous. He tells Maddie he wants to get to know her without anyone watching. He’s going to find a way to make it happen.

 

Juliette arrives at home to tell Avery about her day. She wants to make a change. Confront her problems on a deep level. She tells Avery she’s really been trying. Avery says that he sees how hard she’s been working. He doesn’t like that Juliette is putting all of her trust in Darius. She’s living her life by his words. Juliette is upset because she thinks Avery hasn’t given it a chance. He wants to support her. We can see a change in Juliette. We’re still not sure it’s a good one. Avery tells Juliette to do what she wants.

 

The next morning, Juliette gets up early to head to the building site with her new cult. Will heads back to the doctor for his tests results. The doctor tells him that he has abnormal hormone levels. He tells her that he’s taking human growth hormones. He was also taking steroids but he stopped. She tells him they’re still in his system and he has to stop. Will says he gets it, but does he really?

 

Deacon makes a surprise visit to Jessie’s. Deacon tells Jessie that he felt awkward about what happened on the phone. He says that Daphne’s fine, he’s the one that’s freaking out. He’s walking around with a piece of himself gone. He doesn’t want to wreck things with Jessie but he doesn’t know what to do. Jessie says that she will wreck it. If he’s not ready that’s fine. He just has to tell her. Deacon tells her that when she hung up on him he felt like the floor fell out from under him. He tries to keep talking but Jessie shuts him up by kissing him.

 

Maddie is putting on lipstick to head out for her date with Jonah. She hears Daphne crying in her room and tries to find out what’s wrong. Daphne asks Maddie how she’s okay with Deacon dating Jessie. Maddie says she’s not but she doesn’t want Deacon to be lonely anymore. Daphne says that she wants him to be happy but she hates Jessie. It really feels like their mom is gone now that Deacon is dating.

 

Daphne does what any musician does when they’re going through something. She gets her guitar and gets to writing. She sings a beautiful song about being lost and needing found. Zach heads for California with Mark, while Will is shooting steroids into his hip. So much for listening to the doctor. Gunnar catches him and he lies saying it’s human growth hormone. He kicks Gunnar out of the bathroom and continues what he’s doing.

 

Jonah takes Maddie to play Bingo. He says it’s the last person anyone will look for them. Scarlett sees a commercial about a place that provides equine therapy for teens dealing with trauma. We have a feeling this is where Scarlett is going to find happiness. Jessie and Deacon end up laughing and holding hands walking down the streets of Nashville. Juliette is at peace with her staple gun at the building site, while Avery is home with their child. We have a feeling that things are going to get worse for our favorite musical couple before they get better.