Nashville – Leap of Faith

By starrymag | January 31, 2017

By: Julie Mante

 

As Juliette (Hayden Panettiere) is doing her physical therapy, she feels what she is doing is not enough. The physical therapist tells her that little by little she will regain strength in her legs. Juliette asks her if she can try using the device which helps a person walk by redistributing his/her weight. The physical therapist tells her the device is too advanced for her current limited ability and tells her to stay put for now.

 

When Will (Chris Carmack) is asleep, Kevin (Kyle Dean Massey) stops by to tell him about places he has looked at. Will is more interested in his sleep. Kevin finds out that Will is tired because he was playing a late gig. When Kevin asks him why he did not tell him about it, Will points out that Kevin does not like the club scene so he thought he was sparing Kevin’s feelings. While Kevin is excited about finding a place, Will is starting to realize that he does not want to take this step after all.

 

As Rayna (Connie Britton) and Bucky (David Alford) try to find a director for The Exes’ music video, she thanks Randall (Jordan Woods-Robinson) for the work he did on The Exes website. After he leaves, Rayna thinks he is afraid of her while Bucky thinks he is just eager to please. Rayna tells Bucky that she going to see The Exes perform at the Bluebird with app developer and billionaire Zach Welles (Cameron Scoggins). Jokingly Bucky says she should ask him if he can loan them money for the music video.

 

Juliette complains to Avery (Jonathan Jackson) about what the physical therapist said. She is even thinking of talking to the medical director so she can use the device. When Avery points she has to get ready to see the shrink, Juliette tells him that she canceled the appointment. She is tired about talking about the crash and she wants to channel all her energy into learning how to walk again. When Juliette asks Avery what is wrong, he says he is fine and goes to check on their daughter. Juliette tries to lift her leg and is in a lot of pain. Because she has a history of abusing alcohol and drugs, she is reluctant in taking her prescribed medication.

 

Back at home, Deacon (Charles Esten) is reading about Zach. When Zach arrives in Nashville, Rayna and Deacon will take him out to dinner and Deacon is not excited about going. Rayna admits that she is hoping she can convince Zach to invest in Highway 65 so she can have enough money to make The Exes’ music video.

 

Will shows up at the apartment, but Kevin is a no show. When Will calls him, Kevin says that he was called into work and he cannot make it. It is no problem because he has already seen the place. He tells Will that he told the management that they were roommates instead of a couple in case they decide not to give them the place because they are gay. Will is not happy about that, but he plays along when Frank (Micah Tootoo) comes to give him a tour. While the place looks amazing Will feels more attracted to Frank than the place, but he keeps things professional.

 

Juliette was able to get the medical director to see things her way so the physical therapist helps her with the walking device. When the physical therapist tells her to try walking, Juliette has flashbacks to the accident and she is overwhelmed and has difficulty breathing. The physical therapist rushes to get her wheelchair. After Juliette is back in her wheelchair, Juliette is surprised that the physical therapist knew she was having flashbacks. The physical therapist reveals that she had an accident as well so she understands what Juliette is going through. Juliette wonders when she is going to feel normal, but the physical therapist has no answers. Also, Juliette thanks her for not saying “I told you so.” The physical therapist assures she will be ready soon.

 

At the Bluebird Cafe, Rayna and Deacon welcome Zach to Nashville. Zach invited Mayor Megan Barry (who guest starred in this episode) to join them. Scarlett (Clare Bowen) and Gunnar (Sam Palladio) of The Exes perform “All of Me.” After their performance, everyone is joking around and having a good time. Scarlett and Gunnar head home. When Zach asks Rayna what she plans to do for The Exes, she tells him that she is trying to find a director for a music video. Zach offers to invest in Highway 65 because he is passionate about country music and he thinks it would be a great opportunity to partner with Rayna on this. Although this is what she wanted, Rayna is surprised. He tells her if she is interested, they should talk more about it later. He says goodnight to the couple.

 

Later that night, Deacon is still suspicious about Zach’s motives about investing in Highway 65. Rayna has more of a positive view on Zach so she is giving him the benefit of the doubt. Rayna asks Deacon if he likes Zach. Deacon says he does not have anything against Zach, but he finds his interest in Rayna weird. Rayna admits that Zach is a little weird, but she likes the idea of having money to spend on The Exes and building her business.

 

When Kevin rings the doorbell at Will’s place, Will whispers to Gunnar to tell Kevin that he is not home. Kevin is frustrated that he has not heard from Will all day so while he is talking to Gunnar he tries texting Will again. Unfortunately for Will, his phone was not on mute so Kevin was able to hear Will’s ringtone and knew that Will was actually home. Will tried to pretend that he came downstairs and greets his frustrated boyfriend. Kevin asks Will if he liked the apartment. Kevin notices Will’s mood and wonders what he did not like about the apartment. Will says it is fine, but he has a headache. Kevin tells him that he will start working on the application. Will is not thrilled.

 

Rayna meets Zach for lunch. While munching on ribs, the two talk business. Zach’s pitch: He gives a certain amount of money every year so Rayna can pay the bills and expand her label. Zach will own 20% of the company. Finally, Zach and his team have the right to be consulted on any plans that Rayna and Bucky have. However, Rayna and Bucky are in charge of the daily decision making. If Rayna or Bucky are not happy with the arrangement, they can end the partnership because Zach only wants to be in business with people who want to be in business with him.

 

As Juliette is trying to use the toilet, she fails. As she struggles to get up, Avery rushes in to help her. Juliette tells him that she does not need his help. Avery goes to get her some medicine and Juliette says she is fine. Avery says that he knows she is not taking the pills. Juliette does not want to rely on the pills to get through the pain. She’s used pills in the past to dull her pain and it has led to nothing but trouble. Avery disagrees. He knows that Juliette cannot get better if she is constantly in pain. Juliette tells him to stop trying to help her and accuses of him of only helping her because he feels obliged. Finally, Avery explodes. He says that he wants to help her, but she is pushing him away like she always does because she feels uncomfortable relying on anyone but herself – like she has been doing since the day they met. Frustrated, he walks out of the bedroom.

 

When Kevin checks the apartment listing, he realizes that someone else got it. He is disappointed and double checks if Will sent the application to the office. Will tries to say that it was not that great anyway, but Kevin is bummed. As Kevin renews his apartment search, Will continues to be hide his lack of enthusiasm for finding a place from Kevin.

 

The next day, Emily (Kourtney Hansen) drives Juliette to the church. Juliette tells Emily that she does not want help getting inside the church. Besides a woman praying, Juliette is alone. Pastor Lewis (James Moses Black) comes out of his office to let her know that he is available if she wants to talk. Juliette admits to the pastor that she does not know how to pray. He says that there is no right or wrong way. All she has to do is talk to God. After the pastor leaves, she starts to pray and asks God why he allowed her to survive and not the others. She feels lost and she asks him for help.

 

As Rayna is going through her mail she sees a yellow envelope with her name on it. When she opens it, she finds a handwritten letter that has many pages and rose pedals. As she starts to read, it is clear that she has an obsessive fan that believes that he is in love with her. As she reads, her cell phone rings and the call is unknown. It’s Zach. He tells her that Damien George (Christian Coulson) is available to do The Exes’ music video. He is a big Hollywood director and Rayna does not think he will be interested in doing a music video. Zach says that Damian owes him a favor so it is a done deal. Rayna tells him to slow down because she still has not decided working with him. He apologizes for his eagerness and says that he is not trying to pressure her. While she is on the phone with Zach, Deacon notices the letter and the rose pedals so he starts reading.

 

Rayna and Deacon show the letter to Bucky. It has been many years since Rayna had a lovesick fan. Bucky thinks the guy is harmless, but suggests Rayna upgrade her home security system. Bucky asks her if she has made a decision about working with Zach. Rayna is worried that this deal is too good to be true. Deacon encourages to do it. Rayna still feels cautious, but relieved that her lawyer will be looking at Zach’s contract. Later at Highway 65, Damien George is telling The Exes, Rayna and Zach the plans he has for the music video.

 

At the bar, Will is hanging out with Avery. He knew that he was attracted to Frank and would be tempted to cheat so he intentionally did not mail the application. Avery tells him that he has FOMO, which is the “fear of missing out.” Will finds himself attracted to all these guys so it makes him feel that he is missing out on something while he is with Kevin. Avery thinks that Will is overreacting. As long as he does not cheat, he is okay. Will thinks that he has to continue to be strong and once he and Kevin find a place together, things will get better. Avery is quick to warn him that living together does not mean happily ever after. He says that Will needs to figure out what he wants more, Kevin or being single.

 

When Avery comes back, he finds Juliette watching TV. When she turns it off, they both start talking at the same time, but Juliette says that Avery can talk first. He apologizes for yelling at her the other day and she admits that he was right. She needs him, but she has a hard time admitting it to him and herself. She worries that eventually Avery will feel like she is a burden, but Avery is quick to assure her that he will never feel that way. When Avery tells her that he knows that things have been hard for her, she points out that he has it worse because he is responsible for taking care of her and their daughter. Again he repeats to her that he wants to take care her and he kisses her. When Juliette wants the kissing to lead to more, Avery worries she will not be strong enough yet she says that she is. When Avery pulls away, Juliette feels rejected and Avery tries to explain that he is not rejecting her because he is not attracted to her or does not love her but he is afraid. It brings up all the awful events of their past. Juliette says she is sorry and that she never wanted to hurt him. While he loves her so much, it is going to take time for him to be ready for the physical part of their relationship.

 

Rayna’s lawyer Sheila (Joanie Stewart) looks over Zach’s contract and feels like the deal is a good one. Will stops by to Kevin’s to invite him to see one of Will’s shows. He’s carrying flowers, but Kevin does not look pleased. When Will asks Kevin why he is upset, he shows Will that he found the apartment application in the trash. Will apologizes, but Kevin wants to know what is going on and Will comes clean and confesses that he does not really want to move in with Kevin. Kevin wants Will to be honest and admit to him that this is more than just moving in and that Will is not ready to be in a committed relationship. Will says he is sorry. Devastated by the breakup, Will preforms at his show with Scarlett and Gunnar cheering him on. Will stops the music and talks honestly with the crowd. He decides to play a sad song he wrote with Kevin. As Rayna signs the contract, Deacon is by her side. While Will is out performing, Kevin removes Will’s stuff out of his place. Avery turns out to actually be ready and he and Juliette have sex.