Nashville recap: '(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I'

Guys, it’s the 100th episode of Nashville. Can you believe it? Maybe. It sure seems like a long time since Gunnar was pining over Scarlett, Juliette was showing ruthless determination, and Maddie was being a bratty teen… Hmmm, maybe not that long a time. So much has(n’t) changed over the years. Let’s see what our favorite Nashvillians are up to!

Juliette is practicing walking and making Glenn watch to see if her limp is noticeable. It seems she’s back to her old self, as she tells Glenn she only wants to hear how great she is. Anyway, she’s going to start writing songs again (didn’t she just release an album last week?), and Glenn’s all excited. “She’s baaaaaack,” he says, gleefully rubbing his hands together as dollar signs appear in his eyes. (Okay, I made up those physical attributes.)

Dutiful Gunnar is making breakfast for Scarlett when Damien stops by, full of hugs and excitement about co-parenting with Scar and Gunnar. He wants to name the baby Rupert, send him to Eton (every man in his family’s been going there for generations — I so hope this baby’s a girl) and buy them (all?) a mansion to live in in the ‘ville. Gunnar’s confused about them all having a baby together and doesn’t really know how he fits in. Scar’s not really helping, since she still has no idea what she wants from the whole situation.

Anyway, they go and see the mansion Damien is planning on buying them all, and while Gunnar is checking out the yard, the remaining two characters in this co-parenting fiasco share a kiss. Scar seems like she might be won over by the whole offer, but when she meets up with the D-man later, she realizes that as much as he wants to be the guy she needs him to be, deep down, he’s not. She says her goodbyes, walks away in tears, and goes home to openly sob about it in front of Gunnar. How tactful!

Gunnar is understandably salty about it and walks out, saying, “If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not watch you cry over another guy.” So, what? She’s just going to be with Gunnar even though she doesn’t love him because Damien isn’t responsible enough? Sounds like the making of a happy home for the new baby!

Elsewhere, Juliette is not pleased with the songs publishers are sending her. “Am I going to have to write this whole record?” she laments. Pretty sure lots of people do that, Jules. Anyway, after she hears that her appearance on Kimmel has been canceled, she’s more determined than ever to get her career back on track. She goes to see Travis Shroud, a big-wig producer who “looooooves” Juliette, apparently. Only, when she gets there, he’s more interested in giving her music for Maddie to perform, despite the bottle of bourbon she gifts him.

Of course Juliette tries to do the right thing, but in the end, she’s so tempted to keep the song for herself that she calls Travis and tells him Maddie passed on the song — but she’s happy to record it. How unsurprising — apparently J’s brush with the gospel didn’t do much for her conscience. She and Travis set up more time to write together. The truth will out, mark my words.

Down at HW65, there’s a call for Deacon to perform at the Bluebird — something he hasn’t done since Ray’s death. He’s reluctant, but after a few convincing words from Bucky about what Rayna would really want, he decides to do it. (Can Bucky just stay on as Deacon’s adviser/manager?) Daphne and Liv opt not to go to watch him perform in favor of trying on some hideous makeup and watching a movie at home. Surprisingly, they don’t burn the house down (again) while he’s gone, but Deacon does tell Daphne that Liv can’t stay with them forever. When Daph gets upset and guilts him, he relents and says he’ll look into the legal in-and-outs of situation. At least his performance is a hit. There’s even some kinda-flirting with an old regular, a recently divorced Bluebird singer named Jessie Caine. Thankfully, most of the flirting is coming from Jessie, since Ray’s body is not yet cold.
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Let’s go over to Maddie for some drama. She’s hanging at Clay’s place, agonizing over how her song will be received, when Daphne calls to tell her it’s on the radio right that minute. Maddie’s excitement is short lived, however, when she’s invited onto a radio show to talk about it, and all the host does is quiz her about her mom’s death. And that’s just the beginning of Maddie’s problems in this episode — or problems that aren’t really hers but she makes her own.

Okay, here’s the main conflict in this episode: When Maddie and Clay are driving home from the radio show, they’re pulled over by a cop for — apparently — doing a rolling stop. Both Maddie and Clay are pretty sure they did no such thing, but Clay is smart enough to keep his mouth closed and just do as the cop says. Maddie, on the other hand, starts protesting the cop’s claim and even takes out her phone to record the injustice. Here’s the issue: Maddie is not the one in danger here. Yes, she’s right to stand up for her boyfriend or anyone in this situation, and yes, the cop is entirely in the wrong and should be called out for it. But when the person in real danger is telling you repeatedly to stop, maybe just listen for once? Clay’s fear for the possible repercussions is completely valid. That’s a fear that Maddie cannot fully understand.

Anyway, they both end up arrested for not complying with the cop’s command, and Deacon has to come and pick them up from jail. Luckily, neither is charged. When Maddie complains that she was just sticking up for their rights, Clay tells her, “That’s not how you do it.” Damn straight.

Later, it’s all over the internet, and Maddie’s life is over once again. Clay’s getting some press attention in the streets too, and he denies that he and Maddie are in a relationship. When they meet up later to talk about the whole thing he tells her he wants out for now — he’s not about the press attention. He points out that they live in two different worlds, and while he gets that she was just trying to stand up for him, he could’ve gotten shot, and that’s what he has to think about in those moments — not just a silly stop sign.

Maddie now realizes the severity of the situation. She’s heartbroken, and in her sadness, she even goes as far as to tell Deacon that she and Clay never even got to have sex — ummmm, you’re a teen, and he’s your dad. Just shhhhhhhh, girl. Kudos to Deacon for not trying to high-five her in that moment. Instead he gives her some encouraging advice about love, and she gets to writing a ballad about heartbreak with mascara all over her face. Ah, a silver-lining hit.

And that’s it for this episode. Maybe Clay will have had enough solo time when we return next week? Maybe Will will make a reappearance? We’ll find out soon enough.