148 replies to this topic

[TWoP Nikita]

From Zap2it:

Rayna is upset when her record label asks her to tour as the opening act for a popular newcomer; Rayna's father, Lamar, disregards her wishes when he backs her husband in a run for mayor of Nashville.

This thread will open at 11:00pm EDT on October 10th.

[Last Time Lord]

I'm not really much of a country music fan, but I really liked a lot of the songs they played in this pilot.

Show seems off to a good start. So far Rayna's husband is the only character I really don't care for.

[Nightmare Logic]

A lot of interesting plot developments to start. Evil mommies and daddies. Autotuning. Old school v new school. I am liking this. Good because I wanted to like this, I like country music and I was looking for a Wednesday show.

[donnamarie]

I really liked it. I enjoyed the songs, Connie Britton. I'm looking forward to the season.

[JennyLiz729]

I really liked this episode. I love Connie Britton, and she did not disappoint. And while I have no problem with bitches (I've loved Blair Waldorf since day one!), they're gonna need more than a drug-addicted mother to explain her behavior. Not saying it's not horribly sad, but it doesn't explain why she's such an awful human being.

[CK17]

Just me or was Juliette a better singer than Rayna?

Great pilot, alot of good plot points going forward.

[Tears of Flame]

Connie Britton, Powers Boothe! I was sold from them alone. I actually really liked this. I liked the songs even though country isn't my thing. I thought Hayden did a good job as well and I've always enjoyed Eric Close.

[Make It So]

Good show.

Just me or was Juliette a better singer than Rayna?

Not just you. I assume they are doing their own singing. I know Hayden's character is supposed to represent the talentless younger performer who needs auto-tune, but she didn't sound too bad to my ears. Certainly as good or better than a certain immensely popular country singer of today.

I like the drama of this series so far.

Edited by Make It So, Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:13 PM.

[reeneebob]

I loathe all things country music. I really do. So the music bits were MEH to me - but the storyline sucked me in.

I came for Hayden Pannetierre and Jonathan Jackson, but I'm staying for the story. Really like it. Well, minus the twang.

[Colonel Green]

That certainly introduced a heck of a lot of characters in fairly short order, and reasonably effectively (though, particularly with the many supporting male characters with scruffy faces, I'm not totally clear on names). I think it has a lot of potential, and none of the plots really stand out as problematic on the face of it, which is a plus (compared with something like Smash, which had plenty of potential in its pilot, but had some clearly extraneous stuff apparent from the beginning, which only became more of a problem as the series went on).

I admit, I was surprised at Rayna's decision, even though in retrospect it's a pretty cliched plot, just because forcing the two of them together on tour seemed like such an obvious ending for a pilot (though it keeps them joining forces as a later dramatic plot development, which I'm sure we'll see at some point). Rayna's a very convincingly drawn, interesting character.

I guess my one reservation would be Juliet, the ersatz Taylor Swift (or, it might be better to say, what the people who don't like Taylor Swift think she represents for country music), who's painted in some pretty broad strokes. She's a bitchy diva temptress! But she's got a sad backstory! Also, in this day and age, there's no way her having a mom like that would be some kind of dark secret (unless they come up with a really convincing explanation). That would've come out as soon as she started to make it big. All the same, Hayden Panettiere is very fun in the part.

I know Hayden's character is supposed to represent the talentless younger performer who needs auto-tune, but she didn't sound too bad to my ears.

I agree as well, I thought she sounded fine.

Edited by Colonel Green, Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:18 PM.

[Cherith]

It all felt very exposition heavy (as pilots often are) but, damn, Connie Britton could seriously be alone in a room and not allowed to talk and I would be mesmerized by her. So, I am in.

Not just you. I assume they are doing their own singing. I know Hayden's character is supposed to represent the talentless younger performer who needs auto-tune, but she didn't sound too bad to my ears. Certainly as good or better than a certain immensely popular country singer of today.

I think she was fine they were just personally offended by the fact that she does use autotune, which the other singers did not. Good music, especially in that genre, is in the flaws. The cracking voice, the emotion coming through, the brief moments you can't reach a note. Classic country music (which is not what country music is today) is the root of some of the best acts/bands from going back decades. People who are dedicated to that tradition would definitely find autotune completely offensive. (Not saying the audience should feel that way just that I completely understand how the characters would feel given the history of real country music as an expression of raw truth.) An autotuned country singer is really offensive to the root of what country music is supposed to be.

And I expect at some point we are going to get a "damn, she can really sing" moment in the future. Hayden Panettiere is a perfectly competent singer. And she is being set up as a misunderstood girl not a complete villain so her genuine talent is sure to be part of her redemption.

Edited by Cherith, Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:31 PM.

[Navelgazer]

I used to live in Nashville, and loved all the local touches. The Bluebird Cafe, though a small venue, is definitely the place for up-and-comers to be discovered. Rayna wore a Loveless Cafe t-shirt, which was my favorite Southern food joint in town. I've been to Capitol Grille for a fancy dinner with the parents. I can't speak to the authenticity of the politics part, but they definitely "got" Nashville the way I remember it.

Love love love Connie Britton, who is just amazing. Hayden P was actually pretty good though of course not to Connie's level. Hayden actually sings much better than Taylor Swift, but I had to laugh at the comments about her crappy songs, because I make similar comments about Taylor's songs all the time. Powers Booth kicked ass, and I liked seeing Bunny Colvin from the Wire as Rayna's friend, the candidate for mayor. The other male actors were pretty forgettable for me, and hopefully will turn out to be more than pretty faces. There were a few too many love triangles and quadrangles for my taste, and it looks like the multiple entangled plots are already becoming very complicated (I'd like a few scenes where the actors can breathe and take their time) but overall it's a very strong start. The NY Times gave it a glowing review, hopefully the show will have a good following.

The Civil Wars song at the end (the duet with the blond waitress and promising young songwriter guy) was GORGEOUS. I hope they continue to contribute to the soundtrack, and that other fantastic local country and alt-country bands contribute songs too. I also hope they show the funkier side of Nashville, east of the River, and places like the Family Wash.

[missbonnie]

Count me among the people that are not a fan of country music, but I love Connie Britton since FNL so I had to check this out. I have to say I like it a lot. Definitely will see this through to the end.

[Crucial]

I loathe all things country music. I really do. So the music bits were MEH to me - but the storyline sucked me in.

Totally agree.

I almost didn't watch this but seeing the ads from abc made me want to watch it. I am so so glad I did. Hayden was really, really good in this role too. I now have to stick around for this season (and hopefully more too).

[Last Time Lord]

I used to live in Nashville, and loved all the local touches. The Bluebird Cafe, though a small venue, is definitely the place for up-and-comers to be discovered. Rayna wore a Loveless Cafe t-shirt, which was my favorite Southern food joint in town. I've been to Capitol Grille for a fancy dinner with the parents. I can't speak to the authenticity of the politics part, but they definitely "got" Nashville the way I remember it.

Wait, those were all real places? They must love the free advertising this show is going to give them.

[Navelgazer]

Wait, those were all real places?

Yep, they are all real places. Rayna also mentioned "Tootsies" which is a famous honky tonk joint. And of course, they showed her performing at the Grand Ol' Opry.

I wasn't paying attention to the name of the record label or its building so I can't verify whether that's real or fake.

[lacey81]

I liked it, but all the male characters blended together for me. Except for Jonathan Jackson and Eric Close, they all look alike. I could not tell them apart and couldn't tell you one from the other. Didn't even realize Juliet was sleeping with 2 different guys at first.

I think Connie Britton was fine as Rayma, nothing out of the ordinary. Hayden Pannettiere was more of a surprise, but she does have a pretty juicy character. Count me as one who went a little "huh?" at the autotune talk from the producers in that scene, because she sounded fine to me. I actually thought CB sounded weaker.

[thuganomics85]

A little bit rushed at the beginning and there were so many characters introduced that I had problems telling some of them apart, and I couldn't tell you half of the characters names, but it really picked up at the end, and I'm now very intrigued. I really love that all of them seem to have their positives and negatives, and, with the possible exception of Powers Boothe's character, no one is just one-dimensional. Rayna is a perfect example. I loved that she is the lead and while I did sympathize with her, she really did come off arrogant at times and actually had people call her out on it. I'm already finding her an interesting lead.

Acting was excellent. Of course, Connie Britton was pitch perfect. Hayden Panettiere was pretty solid. I hope Robert Wisdom gets more screen time in the future. Powers Booth was perfectly slimy, even if his character is currently one-dimensional antagonistic at this point (and he was totally channeling Cly from Deadwood at times. I kept waiting for Ian McShane to show up and confront him.) Totally blown away that Deacon is played by Charles Esten, who I know from Whose Line is it Anyway?, under the name Chip Esten instead. And he was actually solid here.

I'm not overtly famailar with country music, but I enjoyed most of it. But it might be my naivety showing, but I didn't think Juliette's style was that bad. I've heard much worse (looking at Taylor Swift.) I get why Rayna wouldn't care for it, but I didn't think it was the worst thing ever. I do prefer the bar girl's style though, so I'm curious to see where that will lead.

Edited by thuganomics85, Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:51 PM.

[big chicken]

Rayna is married to Teddy Conrad but she has a past with Deacon (her BFF/bandleader). Rayna is apparently the love of Deacon's life. Am I wrong in thinking that Deacon may be the father of Rayna's oldest daughter? Juliette has a professional and personal interest in Deacon but she also has a boyfriend/boytoy whose identity I can't figure out.

Deacon's niece Scarlett (aka Kirsten Dunst/Emilie De Ravin's love child) can't quit Avery (aka Lucky Spencer) and now she's making music with Gunnar who is an aspiring songwriter/waiter.

Does that cover all the romantic entanglements?

The best song out of this episode was the duet between Scarlett and Gunnar. Is that a song the Civil Wars wrote for the show or is that an actual song they covered? I read somewhere that a bunch of artists wrote original songs for Nashville.

Edited by big chicken, Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:42 PM.

[calidub]

For what it's worth, Hayden actually had a brief stint in pop music before she made it big in acting. Connie Britton is completely new to singing. I give her major props for taking on that challenge. And to have to sing for T.Bone Burnett to boot? Talk about a daunting task!

I really really loved this pilot. So many interesting storylines, so many characters with tons of potential. I was almost more excited to see the previews because I couldn't wait to see where they were going with some of this.

Clare Bowen was fantastic in that last scene. Absolutely love that Civil Wars song and she just killed it. It'll be in my head for days, I'm sure.

I hope this show is as big of a ratings success as it was with the critics. Mostly because I want Connie Britton to be on a hit show and become a household name and be adored by everyone because she deserves all the things.

Edited by calidub, Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:45 PM.

[Colonel Green]

Juliette has a professional and personal interest in Deacon but she also has a boyfriend/boytoy whose identity I can't figure out.

He's a songwriter who works with Rayna. Couldn't tell you his name.

[hathorlive]

I tuned in for Jonathan Jackson but loved the entire cast. What great acting and writing. The music is well done too.
I just hope JJ gets a chance to show what he can do in prime time. Hayden was so good at being so bad. And it's nice to see actors and actresses with real, nonplastic faces. Just really pleased with this show!

[kariyaki]

Rayna not liking Juliette's music is probably because of the subject matter and not necessarily the singing. Black Mascara Tears? Ugh. I was listening to the words and it's all just so... fluffy and shallow, there's nothing deep about anything she's singing. A major contrast to the song being sung by Deacon's niece and her guy friend that's secretly in love with her (I don't remember their names).

Rayna is married to Teddy Conrad but she has a past with Deacon (her BFF/bandleader). Rayna is apparently the love of Deacon's life. Am I wrong in thinking that Deacon may be the father of Rayna's oldest daughter?

I was just going to ask if that's what Rayna's dad was implying at their big blowout towards the end there, if Deacon had fathered one of Rayna's kids.

[loriro]

I wasn't paying attention to the name of the record label or its building so I can't verify whether that's real or fake.

It's not a real record label (though the name "Edgehill ..." something...) gets it's name in part from a street/neighborhood (Edgehill) near Music Row.
The building they were in was the Pinnacle Building downtown.

Even the little touches were right... the "announcer" at the Grand Old Opry was the actual announcer for the live show/radio broadcasts on WSM, and the Del McCoury band (the band that Deacon was talking to in the hallway when Juliette came up to him telling him how big a fan she was...) is a hugely successful Bluegrass band that regularly plays the Opry.

They also filmed in the State Capitol building for the press conference at the beginning honoring Rayna's dad...

I was just going to ask if that's what Rayna's dad was implying at their big blowout towards the end there, if Deacon had fathered one of Rayna's kids.

That's what I took from the conversation...

Edited by loriro, Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:50 PM.

[benteen]

This show had me as soon as I found out that Connie Britton and Hayden Paniettiere were going to be the stars. It didn't disappoint. Very good pilot episode.

I thought Juliet was a fine singer and I didn't see the difference during the autotune scene. Though I thought the Deacon's niece was the best singer of them all.

Edited by benteen, Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:48 PM.

[spiceinator]

Another not-fan of country music here. But I swear, sometimes, I think I would follow Connie Britton into the pits of hell. Loved that woman immensely on Friday Night Lights, and she's the reason I started watching American Horror Story as well as this show. Very intriguing start to what could be a fun and soapy (but hopefully not in a trashy way) show.

Also, in this day and age, there's no way her having a mom like that would be some kind of dark secret (unless they come up with a really convincing explanation). That would've come out as soon as she started to make it big.

I agree. And unless they address it in a future episode, it would be a glaring plot hole. Not to mention that Juliette's mother was portrayed to be a pretty strung out and very broke junkie. You'd think she'd have to find and then bribe some people deep within Juliette's inner-circle in order to keep getting her ever changing cell phone numbers and I don't see that happening with what we've been shown of the mother character so far.

That aside, I really enjoyed it and am definitely looking forward to what this show has to offer this season.

[Make It So]

Deacon's niece Scarlett (aka Kirsten Dunst/Emilie De Ravin's love child)

I had to get close to my TV to make sure that was Kirsten - what a resemblance.

I thought Rayna's bandleader was still pining over her?

Nice twist with Rayna supporting the husband - she seemed to be a person who stuck to her guns. At least this makes her a little more complicated.

I agree that Hayden is doing a nice job. Hopefully they will explore the complexity of her character as well.

Edited by Make It So, Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:52 PM.

[ethanvahlere]

So, I liked all of the dramatic moments in between the music. Connie Britton, as usual, was very good, and while I don't have strong feelings about Hayden Panettiere one way or another (she was okay on Heroes, but I haven't really thought much of her in what she's done since), but she was good. And I didn't mind the mayoral subplot, as it tied in to the family angle. It was also nice to see Bunny Colvin - er, Robert Wisdom - in a small role as the rival mayor. And while it was predictable Rayna would show up to support her husband at the end, I at least am glad they avoided the storyline of her and Juliette touring together, as that would have been too easy an out.

My problem? Did not like the music. Admittedly, I have, if not strange tastes, at least offbeat tastes when it comes to country (Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Allyson Krauss, Lyle Lovett, Shelby Lynne, Lucinda Williams), so this may be expected. I'm sure Juliette was supposed to be representative of, or satirizing, the so-called "Swift-ing" of country, and if it's accurate, than it worked - Panettiere has a good voice, but the songs she's singing are crap. However, I didn't really see much distinction in the songs Rayna was singing, except for the song she was rehearsing. The only song I really liked was the one Scarlett and Gunnar (?) were singing at the end. If they do more songs like that, it would be nice; I'd hate to watch a show involving music where I was cringing every time the music came on.

[kariyaki]

The best song out of this episode was the duet between Scarlett and Gunnar.

THAT'S their names, thank you. And while I'm at it, I wanted to mention that Gunnar has some impressive singing range. He can sing really high but in a good way, it doesn't sound girly.

[Irlandesa]

Not saying it's not horribly sad, but it doesn't explain why she's such an awful human being.

She's unpleasant and a bit bitchy but what did she do that made her truly awful? For me, it's enough that she's a young superstar from a messed up home. Once she became big, she was likely coddled by the people surrounding her which could easily explain her divadom.

But it's not like she has murdered anyone...yet.

Just me or was Juliette a better singer than Rayna?

That stood out to me too and I'm glad to see others thought so. It makes sense since I don't believe Connie really considered herself a singer while music has been a part of Hayden's career. It's not her main thing but she has done some songs for her animated movies and probably has had a bit more training. She's not extraordinary but I do think that background has given her a solidly pleasant voice. Connie's voice was a bit weak for me. Luckily, her performance overall was anything but and if she has talent, which the cast and producers seem to think she does, I suspect more training will improve what we hear from her.

Clare was the best singer of them all and while I'm not a "new" country fan, I adored the final song.

Also, in this day and age, there's no way her having a mom like that would be some kind of dark secret (unless they come up with a really convincing explanation).

Was she a dark secret or just cut out of Juliette's life?

I loved that she is the lead and while I did sympathize with her, she really did come off arrogant at times and actually had people call her out on it. I'm already finding her an interesting lead.

Yep. I loved that about the character. There were about three instances in this episode where I felt she was a bit entitled.

I didn't have that much trouble with the men since I knew Eric Close, Jon Jackson, Powers Boothe and Chip Etsen. It sort of cut down on the 'others' I needed to figure out, although I couldn't tell you their names.