Nashville Recap: I’ve Got Reasons to Hate You (Season 3 Episode 12)

For once, Nashville wasn’t all about “Ruke” (you know, Luke and Rayna, America’s favorite country couple).

Deacon is still trying to come to terms with the fact that he needs a new liver, and Scarlett isn’t giving up on trying to save him. Scarlett calls her estranged mother/Deacon’s estranged sister, and (without telling Deacon) invites her to come visit. Scarlett also fails to tell mom (Beverly) about the whole liver cancer thing, so when she shows expecting a fun family weekend and instead finds Deacon having a minor seizure… she is not pleased. Deacon is also not pleased that Beverly now knows his secret, because he’s a moody cowboy who is basically obsessed with remaining stoic.

But Scarlett has those doe eyes, so no one stays mad at her for long. Beverly even agrees to take the test to see if her liver is a match. By the time the test is over the family is getting along so well that they sing one of gram’s old songs while making fried chicken. Literally.

Then the results come in, and the mood changes. Beverly isn’t a match. Everyone is disappointed, but glad that they got to start down the road of mending their relationships.

Until Scarlett calls the doctor and finds out Beverly actually is a match, and is also a liar and terrible mother. Scarlett confronts her and ends an intense teardown with ‘you’re losing light,’ which is a pretty excellent way to tell someone to get the hell out of your house while still sounding nice. “You’re losing light” is the new “bless your heart.”

The rest of the characters don’t know that Deacon is potentially dying, so they carry on with pretty much the same story lines they were dealing with last week.

Maddie is upset because Deacon isn’t returning her calls and because Rayna won’t help her get in touch with him. (People in Nashville, apparently, are terrible at putting their children first.)

Rayna is still broken up about calling off the wedding but needs to look together to the public so she agrees to do a show at the Bluebird. She sings with her daughters and they have a sweet moment. Rayna seems to be beginning to realize that Maddie has star power.

Speaking of Maddie’s star power, Jeff needs it now and he’s not taking no for an answer. His label isn’t doing well and he needs to sign the next Taylor Swift ASAP. When Teddy says no, Jeff reminds him that they’ve shared a hooker… so Maddie is probably getting a record contract because, like I said early, I’m not confident that parents in Nashville know how to put their children first.

Also, since when do politicians lose their jobs for sleeping with prostitutes?

Meanwhile, Gunnar is still trying to be present in Micah’s life so he flies down to visit him (okay maybe Gunnar is good at parenting, er, uncling?) and Juliette is still pregnant and is worried her career? Or something? Not much seems to be going on with Juliette.

All in all, this episode left me rooting for Deacon and kinda wanting to tell everyone else that they’re losing light.

What did you think of “I’ve Got Reasons to Hate You?” Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below!

 

Nashville airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on ABC.