BWW Recap: NASHVILLE'S Third Season's a Charm

Anxiety is at the forefront of everyone's mind as the season finale opens. For Deacon, it's fears of dying (metaphorically being buried alive), and for Juliette, it's stress on top of denial of postpartum depression. For Avery, it's Juliette. For Will, it's coming out to his father... and potentially the rest of the world. For Layla, it's Jeff...and for Jeff, it's Luke. It all comes first circle here in NASHVILLE, as it should be at the start of a riveting season finale.

The bright spot in all of this is, unexpectedly, Beverly Claybourne. Deacon's tumor has grown large enough to get him pulled from the transplant list- just as Beverly finally steps onto the plate. 6-8 hours of surgery and 7-10 days of recovery time is currently all that stands in between Deacon, Rayna, and a viable future. Apparently it comes at quite the egotistical price. Beverly has deemed herself the hero of the situation, blaming Rayna for offering a check and putting her between a rock and a hard place. Class act that she is, Rayna let's it go. It's all about Deacon living, after all. Or at least, you would think.

The one difference between Teddy and his late father-in-law (for now) is the hesitance to trap family. "All-in" to dodge prison, trick the system, and undermine the authorities comes to a temporary halt when the end result of all of it is Tandy. At this point, honestly, Teddy's storyline is so isolated from the rest of NASHVILLE that it's hard to really invest in it. My hope is that it either gets resolved ASAP, or it somehow finds a way to become relevant and/or more interesting again... and (update): we're there. Highway 65 is funded by the very illicit funds Teddy refuses to go after Tandy for. And because of his "nobility," he's immediately taken into custody.

In a storyline that's been played on almost every teen drama everywhere, Will begs Kevin not to expose him as gay- helping his career, but ending his relationship in the process.

On the verge of a nervous breakdown (her words, not mine), Juliette knocks down none other than Mr. Jeff Fordham's door, asking him to help her launch her back into stardom.

But Juliette can no longer deny- even to herself- that she has a serious problem. What started as Avery simply asking her to sing to their daughter turned into a screaming match, ending with Juliette chucking glass against the wall in a fight to get Avery to hand her the baby. Leaving both a shocked Avery and distressed little girl in tears (and leaving us with our mouths agape), she runs... straight into the (metaphorical) arms of Luke Wheeler and his label. Juliette has officially chosen her career, and her depression, over Avery and their daughter. And it's heartbreaking.

And in an incredible, breath-of-fresh-air-moment, minutes before Deacon is rolled into surgery, he and Rayna recite the most loving, heartfelt, and genuine words (in the form of wedding vows) we've probably heard all season. That moment in itself is as if the writers are sayng sorry for all of the fighting, lies, crying, and distance we've witnessed between the two since the show began three years ago.

Layla has finally decided to think and act for herself and discovers what Jeff has actually been up to- scamming and screwing with both her and her career. (though she ends up just believing everything he feeds her and lierally falling back into his arms). Following suit, Will chooses to come to his senses, as well, coming out to an entire press conference meant to deny his sexuality. Losing his father in the process, something tells me Will is about to gain much more.

Avery leaves Juliette as she leaves for tour, Scarlett and Gunnar kiss, and everything Deacon was terrified of has happened. At least we're led to believe. Because the episode, and the season, ends with "I have some bad news...:

The NASHVILLE writers either hate us or love us. I haven't decided yet.

Thoughts about the episode? Comment below or tweet me @WendiReichstein!

Photo Credit: ABC