Nashville – Let’s Put It Back Together Again

By starrymag | January 28, 2017

By: Julie Mante

 

As Avery (Jonathan Jackson) is getting ready to go to work, Juliette (Hayden Panettiere) is listening to demo tracks. Her manager Glenn (Ed Amatrudo) believes making an album will encourage her recovery. After he leaves, Juliette goes on the internet to research more about Hallie (Rhiannon Giddens), the woman saved Juliette’s life after her plane crashed.

 

Maddie (Lennon Stella) has a new gig. She is interning at Tracks Studio where her father Deacon (Charles Esten) and Avery will be helping a YouTube celebrity Ashley Willerman (Bridgit Mendler) record her first album. When the young starlet arrives, she puts Maddie to work right away and the intern goes on a coffee run.

 

Right away, Ashley and Avery have different visions on what Ashley’s album should sound like. Avery wants Ashley to sing in a raw and natural way and Ashley prefers to sing the way she has been singing on YouTube. When Ashley asks Deacon for input, he does not want to pick sides so he does not offer his opinion.

 

While walking to the coffee shop, Maddie sees a young man named Clayton Carter performing and she is intrigued. While she is ordering, she asks the barista about him and learns that he has been performing around town for a while. On the way back to the studio, with her hands full of coffee, Maddie accidentally drops one of the cups and the “dreamy” performer (Joseph David-Jones) stops singing to help pick it up. The two chat a bit and he asks for her name and she tells him.

 

Juliette stops by Hallie’s house. When the young woman opens her door, she is surprised and excited to see Juliette. Hallie admits to Juliette that she did not call her back because she felt weird calling the country superstar, but she is happy the starlet reached out to her. Juliette thanks again for being there for her and wants to know if they hang out sometime. Hallie agrees. Hallie tells Juliette not to lose hope about her slow recovery. Miracles do happen and a toe wiggle is a good start.

 

At Highway 65, Rayna is talking to Scarlett (Clare Bowen), Gunnar (Sam Palladio) and Bucky (David Alford) about making a music video for The Exes’ new single. Rayna introduces their new marketing and social media manager Randall (Jordan Woods-Robinson). Randall wants to share his ideas on how to promote their music.

 

Back at the studio, Maddie is at the desk when Clayton shows up. It turns out that Maddie left her song writing journal at the coffee shop and he brought her back to her. Also, he gives her his demo tape so she can listen to it. He stresses that it is for her and not for the studio.

 

As Ashley is singing, Avery is getting a headache. He tries to get her to stop singing in a whiny tone, but she refuses. Again, Ashley asks Deacon for his opinion. Reluctantly, he says that he agrees with Avery. Feeling attacked from both sides, Ashley becomes defensive. It’s her album. She should be the one calling the shots, not Avery. Frustrated and hungry, Ashley decides to take a break. She arrives at the desk to ask Maddie to order lunch. Looking at the choices, she wants Maddie to find her a vegan option.

 

After her volunteer shift ends, Hallie walks out of the church and is speechless. She is standing next to a brand new car. Immediately, she calls Juliette. Juliette tells her that the car is a gift. While she appreciates the gesture, Hallie feels it is wrong to accept it and tells Juliette to return it. After Hallie hangs up, Juliette tells her assistant Emily (Kourtney Hansen) to take the car back to the dealership.

 

Maddie learns more about Clayton. His grandfather influenced his love for country music. He reveals to her about his mom’s difficulties with drugs and how she died a few years ago. Maddie encourages him to take his music beyond street festivals, but he is not convinced. As she starts talking about her love of music, she gets a text indicating that she is needed back in the studio. When he asks if he can see her again, she says yes.

 

Avery and Ashley continue to clash in the studio. Ashley refuses to listen or try any of Avery’s suggestions and he has had enough. Avery tells her that he knows she has a good voice, but she hides it behind gimmicks. If only she would take a risk and sing more naturally, she could take her singing to the another level. She rejects Avery’s pleas. Frustrated, Avery quits. If she is not open to his opinions, there is not point of him producing her album. As Avery is walking out, Maddie arrives with lunch. Ashley is upset when her sandwich is not whole wheat and throws a fit. Deacon tells Maddie that Ashley can eat his sandwich because he is not hungry.

 

Later that night, Rayna and Bucky are talking about a strategy for The Exes when they are stopped by a fan. Reluctantly, Rayna takes a quick picture with him and he asks her if Maddie is home. While she is uncomfortable, she tells him that Maddie is home. After the fan leaves, Rayna tells Bucky that period when Maddie tried to emancipate herself was a difficult time for the family. Back at home, Maddie is complaining about Ashley’s diva behavior to her younger sister Daphne (Maisy Stella) and Deacon. Daphne reminds herself that being an intern comes with prissy singers. Maddie did not like being reminded about her job responsibilities so when Rayna arrives home, she hugs her mother and goes to her room. Deacon tells Rayna everything that happened at the studio with Avery and Maddie.

 

Juliette listen to Avery talk about what happened with Ashley. Juliette tells him about the car fiasco. Juliette feels so discouraged and frustrated by the fact that she will probably be in this wheelchair for the rest of her life. Avery tells her not to stop believing, but his words seem hollow and empty to her. She feels it would have been better to die than live like this and Avery admonishes her for talking like that. Sadly, Juliette is beyond the point of caring. When they hear their daughter cry, Juliette goes to change her. Suddenly, Juliette is shocked. Cadence peed on her legs and she felt it. Like Hallie says, miracles can happen after all.

 

The next day, Deacon is recording his guitar parts and Ashley is not satisfied. She wants him to go again. While Deacon is annoyed, he says nothing but Ashley saw the look on his face and wants him to tell her what is he is feeling. Deacon says that he will do whatever she wants and say nothing else. Maddie hands Ashley a coffee loaded with whipped cream and Ashley snaps that she does not eat whipped cream. When Ashley makes a snippy comment, Maddie lashes out at her. After her rant ends with calling Ashley a bitch, Ashley tells Maddie to leave. Maddie is happy to comply. Ashley tells her that she is going to make sure that Maddie is fired. Deacon is quiet during the whole incident. Immediately, he calls Rayna and tells her what happened. When Rayna asks if he has talked to Maddie, he says he has not. Since Maddie revealed in open court that Deacon scares her when he is angry, Deacon has been afraid to say or do anything that will make her feel afraid. Rayna tells him that Maddie needs him right now no matter what she said back then.

 

Avery arrives back at the apartment he used to share with Gunnar and Will (Chris Carmack). He is there to pick up more stuff to take to Juliette’s. Will tells him about his plans of finding a place with his boyfriend Kevin. Gunnar and Avery talk about the Ashley incident. Avery tells them that Juliette now has feeling in her legs. His friends are obviously excited that things are turning around for Juliette. Avery says that Juliette did not want him to tell anyone because she still has doubts about her breakthrough. Gunnar feels that maybe now Avery can work on recording a solo album, but Avery does not see that happening right now.

 

Juliette stops by Hallie’s place to apologize for giving her the car. Juliette confides that while she has feeling in her leg, she is still afraid about what her recovery will mean. She still believes that she deserves to be in her wheelchair and punished for all the mistakes she has made in her life. She wonders why she was the only plane crash survivor but Hallie is convinced that God saved her for a reason. Juliette is skeptical.

 

Back home, Deacon tries to talk to Maddie about what happened at the studio. Maddie is unrepentant and believes that she told the truth. Ashley was awful and she let her know. Deacon tells her that Ashley’s behavior is no reason for Maddie to be unprofessional on the job. When Maddie brings up that Ashley was being rude to him, he counters back that Maddie does not have a history coming to his defense which leaves Maddie speechless. Calmly, Deacon tells her that if she apologizes to Ashley, she can have her job back. Maddie thinks that is ridiculous. Deacon says it is up to her.

 

When Rayna arrives home, she goes to talk to Maddie. Maddie feels it is pointless because she feels like she will just get another lecture. Rayna says that Maddie has to make things right with Deacon. Rayna tells her daughter that those words on the stand broke Deacon’s heart. After talking with Rayna, Maddie decides to talk to Daphne. When she asks her younger sister, “Am I turning into a bitch?” Daphne politely says a little when the audience knows she’s been one for a long time.

 

As Bucky leaves work for the night, Randall is still there. Inside Rayna’s office, Randall steals Rayna’s jewelry box. Last week’s episode, it was revealed that Rayna has a stalker. Is it Randall?

 

As Deacon plays his guitar, Maddie comes to talk to him. She admits to him that she did not believe what she said at the trial. She felt that lying was the only way she could be emancipated and start her singing career. She is afraid that their relationship will never be the same. Deacon thanks her for apologizing. Deacon hugs her as she cries. He tells her that he could have been better father and more patient during that time. She assures him that she does not need the perfect dad. She needs him.

 

After her appointment, Avery brings a quiet Juliette home. The doctor confirmed that Juliette will walk again. Avery tells her that he is going to Gunnar’s to get more of his things. As he is walking out the door, he asks her about their status. She admits that she does not know and wonders if he is okay with that. Avery lets her know that he wants to be more than friends, but he will wait until she is ready.

 

As Juliette is singing a new song, Avery finds old pictures of him performing at Gunnar’s. Maddie goes back to the studio to apologize to Ashley. Hallie is trying to start her car but it does not work. Avery continues to find more of his old song lyrics. Maddie talks to Clayton during a coffee run. No coffee spills this time.