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# Fug the Show: Nashville recap, season 4, episode 4
- URL: https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/fug-the-show-nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4/
- Published: 2015-10-19T20:00:36.000Z
- Updated: 2017-01-23T19:14:00.000Z
- Author: Heather
- Tags: Nashville, #wp, #wp-gallery, #slideshow, #Import 2026-10-07 07:44

## Funeralville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bf/b9/bfb99790-924d-4e41-a7e6-5e3c6e04fe57/content/images/static-gofugyourself-com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-2.png)

Deacon is bummed, because the script says so. He chokes on his eulogy and Rayna has to step in, and he also recasts Bev as this wonderful bright light on the universe, so tough, such a fighter, so undaunted. I know Bev was supposed to grapple with some mental demons, but she was also totally awful to Scarlett, totally absentee in both Scarlett's and Deacon's lives BY HER OWN CHOICE, very nearly refused to give Deacon her liver just out of pettiness, and the bailed on him and Scarlett AGAIN before changing her mind -- which she only did because it was the season finale and they were out of options, and not because I think that character as written actually WOULD have changed her mind. This story would have been so much better if Deacon and Scarlett instead were dealing with a) the fact that they didn't actually like Bev that much, b) the fact that they didn't actually think Bev liked them much in return until she woke up from her coma, c) how Bev treated them pretty badly for their entire lives, and d) the fact that her passing won't change much about any of their daily existence. Those things are more complicated and nuanced than the basic boring "SHE WAS AN ANGEL! IT WASN'T HER TIME!!!!!!!!" stuff they have Deacon spewing.

## Zoeyville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-3.png)

Deacon is totally cold-shouldering Scarlett, blaming her for Bev's death because for him it's easier to have a tangible enemy. Fortunately for her, Zoey has come back from Los Angeles to comfort her -- this tracks, since they knew each other as kids, and is a smart way to use character history. Sadly, all Zoey does is hug Scarlett, provide a sounding board for her and Deacon's individual relationship woes, and announce she's seeing someone so that we don't worry she will play spoiler (or stick around). She also sings the tail end of a song. I'm surprised they didn't have the Stellas sing something, but I guess they didn't care that much about Bev because NOBODY CARES THAT MUCH ABOUT BEV. INCLUDING BEV.

## Zombieville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-4.png)

Juliette wakes up every day in a haze, because of all the partying. Oliver Hudson tells her that she's blown off three interviews or media appearances now, and to combat that, an E! reporter is shadowing her for the next 48 hours. So she needs to keep her shit tight. But he won't be there to supervise, because all of a sudden, he has decided to go to Nashville and support Layla. If he had stubbornly refused to leave Juliette much before, it makes no sense that he would do it now, at a time when he's trying to fix her image and wangle her an Oscar nomination. His sexual needs must be mighty, and very specific.

## Pillsville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-7.png)

Juliette's floozy produces a "doctor" who can get Juliette pills, to help her be alert during her 48 hours with E! This, of course, leads to her being way too antsy when she's trying to fall asleep later, so she guzzles some sleeping pills, and then the cycle starts again. This ALSO makes a certain amount of sense, knowing as we do that her mother was an addict. It's weird that Juliette wouldn't recognize the behavior and course correct, given how much she hated her mother (well, until HER convenient end; this show loves to lionize its subpar dead). I know her mental state is obviously all jacked up, so maybe she's incapable of seeing past the end of her nose, but... it's confusing. Hayden plays Juliette as if there IS a frothing self-awareness under there of the decisions she's making, and an attendant self-loathing because of it. But I do also think we're meant to believe there are larger chemical imbalances at work. Maybe. I'm a little unclear. It could just be a self-loathing spiral, a shame spiral, a Feelings of Inadequacy spiral... whatever it is, it's definitely spiralized. It is the zucchini noodle of emotional freefalls.

## Bootsville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-6.png)

Oliver and Layla are all happy and glowing, because of the banging, and also her Opry debut (as arranged by Rayna). Oliver even grudgingly gives Rayna credit for pulling that off, and says she might've been a smart pick for Layla after all. He even wisely notes that, with regard to new label mate Marcus Keen, "a rising tide floats all boats," so that Layla won't let jealousy get the better of her. Then he gives her new boots, made for walking all over the Opry stage. They're all domestic and rom-com-y and sensible suddenly. I seriously was like, "Is Oliver going to get hit by a bus? They're so HAPPY."

## Sleekville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-8.png)

Grief is Scarlett's anti-frizz. She has a dumb fight with her 14-year old doctor boyfriend in which he asks if she's read about the stages of grief and she snaps that she has. Then he tries to say something else and she barks, "You speak doctor. I don't speak doctor." Um, you JUST SAID you've read this book. Also, it's not doctor-speak. It's person-speak. He wasn't even using fancy language. He barely even used syllables.

Later, she cruelly tells Zoey that sometimes he's like "hugging a textbook." This doesn't track AT ALL. Can't it just be that he's awesome, and she knows it, but she can't help being drawn to Gunnar anyway? Not everyone needs to turn horrible. Like, Luke Wheeler has always been a fairly laid-back and nice dude, but suddenly when Rayna needed to fall out of love with him, he turned into a dink for a few episodes. It's not always like that. Sometimes you just don't love the person even when they are truly lovable.

## Songwritingville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-19.png)

In an excruciating development, Dr. Gerber goes to Gunnar for help writing a song to express his adoration and support to Scarlett. He apologizes for verbally dumping all over music as a career and asks if Gunnar will help refine his song. "I want her to know how much I care about her, and I want her to let me be there, but it's like she can't hear me," he says. Dude, just sing your everyday conversations, like you're in Les Miserables. Set EVERY interaction to music. It will save you a lot of time with the Rhyming Dictionary.

The good doctor's poetic soul churned out "I'm around if you need me," which Gunnar politely edits to "You can count on me," and Dr. Doogie is blinded by his science.

## Sponsorville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-9.png)

One cast member they did NOT bring back is Deacon's sponsor, so he gets this dude instead. And yes, he runs a bar, and yes, it's because he likes to surround himself with the devil that tempts him. Move along; nothing you haven't seen before.

## Gigville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-11.png)

Avery asks Bucky to hook him up with a job, if any producing gigs are available. Bucky gets him an interview with Marcus Keen, which takes place backstage at the Opry. Marcus is like, "OH RIGHT, Juliette's baby daddy," and then when Avery lists his credits -- the album of Sadie Stone, Husband Killer, and a song of Juliette's that did not win a CMA -- it doesn't seem to be going well. You can see him struggling to stay above water, and of course, right then Cadence spikes a 104-degree fever and has to go to the ER. He bails on the interview. But for reasons of magic, Marcus Keen decides his gut tells him Avery is The One. He will feel so silly if it turns out all his gut was saying was, "BRING ME A PIZZA."

## Frockville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-12.png)

Rayna looked nice enough in this, but looks like a sewing machine mishap.

## Maddieville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-13.png)

This looks really nice, though. Also, three cheers to Nashville for remembering that Luke's son Colt would have attended Bev's funeral, as Maddie's boyfriend. I mean, in REAL life, you might not bring your sophomore-year boyfriend to the funeral of the aunt you only recently met, who died under tragic circumstances and about whom your biological father is ragey-sad. But at least it proves the show hasn't forgotten about people.

## Willville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-14.png)

At the Opry, Will comes by to wish Layla luck. They have a nice scene together, because Will is the coolest, and Layla admits that being bummed out about whether she's in the spotlight enough feels really selfish when she stops to consider what Will is enduring right now. Will also chats with Rayna, and when a fan tries to get a picture, she cheerfully pulls in Will and makes sure he's there too. Because Rayna is the nicest. Will leaves that little interaction feeling better about his life, which pleases me. SIGN HIM RAYNA. Also she is paying NO ATTENTION to The Exes. It's like nobody remembers they're ALSO on Highway 65\. Which... there are only like three people on that particular freeway.

## Emilyville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-16.png)

Emily was watching Cadence while Avery went to Bev's funeral, and they discussed how he decided not to file the divorce papers because he thinks Juliette is still buried in there somewhere and that she will find her way back to them. Photographers caught him returning to them in the park and turned it into a love affair, which was sprung on Juliette during a radio interview. As her fingers tap with mania, she informs everyone Emily is just a longtime employee... and then, alone in her car, calls Em and curses her for being a gold-digging whore who's trying to steal Juliette's family. Amusingly, it takes Emily a second to realize this is Juliette speaking. Also amusingly, the phone number from which she calls doesn't show up in Emily's caller ID, or else nobody thinks to look there later when they don't know how to reach Juliette. Do people really bother to get burner phone numbers blocked?

## Tenseville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-17.png)

I love this face, though. Classic Juliette. The E! reporter stops by to tell her that she is AMAZING and OMG and YAY, and Juliette can barely keep it together long enough to accept that compliment. The E! reporter, by the way, is clearly a lousy journalist, because Juliette's body language was speaking I AM ON SOMETHING AND ALSO I WANT TO CUT SOMEONE loudly and fluently.

## Ovationville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-20.png)

Layla had been framing herself as more of an emo rock artist, but of course suddenly she's back in country, and her Opry performance goes very well. She looks okay, but I'm not a fan of that neckline, generally. We've seen versions of that on a lot of people and it rarely looks as good as I want it to -- much like Rayna's, actually. Just as Layla is calming down about all the attention Marcus Keen is getting, and basking on the spotlight ("All that matters is what happens on stage," Oliver coos), disaster strikes.

## Keenville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-21.png)

Well, "disaster" in the form of an upstaging, anyway. Marcus bursts out from backstage to seize the spotlight and duet with Rayna, as a way of formalizing their partnership. Layla actually stomps off in a huff, which seems insane. Wouldn't you just put your hand coolly on Marcus's shoulder and suggest a song the THREE of you can sing? I feel like the Layla from last season would have tried to flirt her way into a headline. If Rayna noticed Layla flouncing off -- and she did -- then don't you think everyone would? Layla is not that stupid, usually.

## Needleville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-23.png)

Juliette gets mournful staring at the photos of Emily being the mom and wife that she isn't, so she calls the drug doc and asks for something that will keep her from feeling anything. He injects her with a mystery substance, so she's completely knocked out when Avery calls about Cadence being in the hospital (she's fine; it turns out to be an ear infection). Flunky gets the phone, and Avery tells her to relay the message that Cadence is very sick; instead, Flunky shuffles to a totally zoned out Juliette and says, "Phone call," and Juliette slurs that unless it's about work she doesn't care. So, she never gets the details. But Flunky relays this to Avery as, "She says she doesn't care," and Avery interprets this as a total rejection of their family and proof that Juliette is dead inside. And while this all sucks for them, I'm not sure why knowing Cadence has an ear infection is reason for him to storm through the hospital and try to summon Juliette home from whatever city she's in for her tour (it's not Nashville). Ear infections are generally easily managed once they're diagnosed. It's not like he was under the impression Cadence might have the bubonic plague.

## Smoochville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-26.png)

Layla freaks out at Oliver over a) Marcus stealing her spotlight, and b) Avery calling trying to reach Juliette, which Oliver takes. But after some soothing from Will (and incidentally, Rayna also tells Marcus it wasn't super cool to swoop like that on her Opry debut night), Layla calms down and tells Oliver that she's just emotional because she was very happy, then very sad, and also super busy hiding her relationship from everyone for image reasons. Oliver responds by making out with her in the halls of the Opry, while everyone around them stares dumbfounded at the way older manager plunging his tongue into the throat of his 22-year old client.

## Concernville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-27.png)

"So THAT'S how it is in their family."

## Cuddleville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-28.png)

Scarlett really likes Dr. Pre-K's song, even though he limply admits he had help (but not whose it was). We've got a Cyrano de Babygerac situation on our hands.

## Rageville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-24.png)

Deacon is supposed to be home with Maddie and Daphne, but when Maddie reaches out to him, he's all, "Oh, I just remembered I can't do this because... uh, reasons," and bails. Then he goes to his cabin and smashes up the bedroom where Bev was staying, or going to be. Maddie creeps in and watches, distraught, as Deacon punches a giant mirror and comes away with a bleeding hand. Then she skitters back outside to Colt and is all, "I can't talk about it, JUST DRIVE." WHO IS WATCHING DAPHNE THEN. Maybe they left her at jail with Teddy.

## Denialville

![nashville season 4 episode 4 recap](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-29.png)

And as Rayna tries to get Deacon to relax, he growls that Bev NEVER GAVE UP Y'ALL and that in fact Scarlett is the one who quit here. He's putting all the blame on her tiny wee flaxen shoulders. Listen: Deacon frustrates the hell out of me in this episode. But as much as I want to punch him, this is totally consistent with his character, and one reason I think that means he's well-drawn: When other people are in trouble, Deacon is a rock, but when the wind changes and blows him into any kind of tough emotional situation, he CANNOT HANDLE IT and he turns inward and gets angry and ragey and all his alcoholic demons start chasing him down again. Every. Single. Time. Repetitive? Sure, but also actually pretty true to how someone like Deacon might be. And I'd much rather have a clearly, correctly drawn character than one who is unnaturally perfect, or bent and twisted to fit a plot. Deacon will always walk the razor's edge, and his coping skills when it comes to his own pain will always be crappy.

[Fug the Show: Nashville recap, season 4, episode 4B is for bitter. Y is for yelping. E is for envious. B is for bailing. E is for exasperating. V is for very very very reVisionist history required to make Deacon so vengeful. What's it spell? BYE BEV. Also, getting serious for a second: Not a lot of lightness about Juliette's storyline because Hayden Panettiere has gone into treatment for postpartum depression, and I can only imagine that filming this story arc was incredibly difficult for her while she herself was experiencing those kinds of emotional lows. Big props to her for that effort, but even bigger props for knowing when to step back and admit the need for help, which must be doubly complicated when you are in the public eye. Be well, Hayden.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bf/b9/bfb99790-924d-4e41-a7e6-5e3c6e04fe57/content/images/static-gofugyourself-com/uploads/2015/10/nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-2.png)](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/fug-the-show-nashville-recap-season-4-episode-4-10-2015/)