Nashville – I Fall to Pieces

• Title: Nashville – I Fall to Peices
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In the aftermath of the car crash Rayna (Connie Britton) languishes in a coma, Deacon (Charles Esten) is in jail facing drunken driving charges, and Juliette (Hayden Panettiere) worries the timing may tank her new album’s release. Peggy (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) lies to Teddy (Eric Close) about loosing the baby to try and keep him, Scarlett (Clare Bowen) and Gunnar (Sam Palladio) each deal with their recent break-up in different ways as she throws herself into trying to get her uncle released on bail (despite his complete disinterest at leaving prison) and Gunnar lets himself get roped into a party thrown by his still closeted roommate (Chris Carmack) that gets a little out of hand.

Of all the various storylines and performances the one that works best is Juliette’s grandstanding getting her accidentally roped into seeing Rayna in the hospital and bonding with Maddie (Lennon Stella) who still blames herself for the circumstances that caused the accident. The situation also causes her to second guess her initial refusal to help Scarlett save Deacon.

Although the episode ends with Deacon released from prison and Rayna awakening from a coma, both may have lost something in the crash which could seriously effect their individual careers going forward based on next week’s preview. The show also ends with Scarlett’s final performance at the Blue Bird before leaving to make good on her big new record contract with Gunnar and Avery (Jonathan Jackson) both in attendance.

As season premieres go, “I Fall to Pieces” promises plenty of selfishness, secrets and lies in the coming months but no real improvement to the so-so writing of the First Season. I understand the idea behind the Teddy/Peggy fake pregnancy and Will continuing to struggle with his sexuality, but Nashville could certainly do with trimming some fat and focusing more on its leading characters rather than jumping the the jumble of soapy side-plots every week.