35 replies to this topic

[DollEyes]

Here's the thread for Rayna James, the country music legend played by the amazing Connie Britton. Rayna's life is full of drama: her career is not only in trouble, she may have to tour with her rival Juliette Barnes, whom she considers an untalented bimbo, she's been shamed by her daddy into supporting her husband's run for Mayor and she's working with her ex, Deacon Claybourne, whom she still has feelings for and could be the bio dad of her oldest child, but, unbeknownst to her, is also sleeping with Juliette. Rayna's life definitely sounds like a country song, if not a whole album.

However, Rayna's a fighter. Despite the obstacles in her way, Rayna refuses to give up. She may compromise occasionally, but she's tough. Rayna wouldn't be as successful as she is nor lasted as long as as she has without guts and she's got 'em. Speak your piece about all things Rayna here.

[sammiekay]

.

Edited by sammiekay, Jan 30, 2013 @ 12:17 PM.

[ByaNose]

Was Rayna's marriage to her husband arranged or something? Did he just marry her for her money? At the beginning he seemed like a nice husband/family guy but then it made it sound like he just married her out of necessity or money..

[gpgurl50]

I don't know about that. I have the feeling she didn't want to marry him but then I guess decided to when Deacon disappointed her. He definitely blew all their money but I don't know if he married her for it. It could be though with the way he talked about the money.

[big chicken]

I don't think the marriage was arranged because I can't see Rayna agreeing to it considering how much she hates her father. I think Teddy probably came into her life when she needed somebody safe, stable, and steady and, if we're right about the paternity of her eldest daugher, looked like good father material. Teddy is or was probably more in love with Rayna than she was with him--I think Rayna was more attracted to what Teddy represented.

[Brinny]

I'm not sure if this is the right thread to ask this, but since it's a (albeit randomly kind of stupid) question that directly relates to Rayna, I'm gonna put it here:

I'm totally confused about where the "Jaymes" in Rayna Jaymes come from. Is this explained? Is it just Rayna's stage name? Her mama's maiden name? Because her father is Lamar Wyatt (and it seems that her sister, Tandy, is also a Wyatt) and her husband is Teddy Conrad. I suppose it could be that Rayna just hates her father that much that she no longer wanted to be associated with him, but if that were the case, you'd think she'd stop going to all those events honouring him. (I know, I know, she does it for Tandy.)

[ByaNose]

And, I can't tell if Rayna likes her sister or not (or vice versa). I know she sort of hates the father but does she hate the sister too? They were talking earlier and seemed fine but when she was with the father in the dining room not so much.

[cmm226]

I really hate her voice. Hate. She's nasally (or something) but whatever it is, it's a really big turn off. It's like nails on a chalkboard to me.

[JenE4]

Rayna's supposed to be the protagonist of this show, right? Gah. I don't think I can get behind her as the "hero" to root for. I mean, I suppose a diva past her prime still has the diva tendencies that she thinks she "owns" Deacon and that she's better than Juliette because Juliette hasn't "proven" herself. I think if Connie was a spectacular singer and Hayden was terrible, then I might be more inclined to see Rayna's point of view. I'm not a country music fan, so maybe I'm unable to judge the sound, but to me Hayden seems to be a better singer, so every time Rayna goes off about how fabulous she is and how much Juliette sucks, all I see is a washed-up, bitter shrew. Is that what they're going for in her characterization? Or, are we supposed to suspend belief and every time Rayna goes off on her jealous, controlling rants we're supposed to think, "That's right, girl! You OWN this business!" And, other characters seem to agree with her assessment of Juliette... Eh, maybe they fact that she can no longer sell out arenas and recently passed on hit songs gives some credence to the characterization that she's out of touch with what's hot in music...yet, having a good voice would still translate across time... There's a difference between a COMPELLING character who you are both rooting for and against at the same time. But, Rayna Jaymes is no Ben Linus. I really want to like this show. But two episodes in and I'm already fed up with Rayna's character, who comes off as more petty and immature than her 20-year-old antagonist. I don't care whether Rayna "wins" or whether she secures a comeback, and I don't care about her marriage/potential affair with Deacon. I guess I wanted to come to the forum to see whether anyone could sway me into liking this show--not even as much as I THOUGHT I would like it based on the commercials--but JUST enough to give it another chance.

[Blue Girl]

I really want to like this show. But two episodes in and I'm already fed up with Rayna's character, who comes off as more petty and immature than her 20-year-old antagonist. I don't care whether Rayna "wins" or whether she secures a comeback, and I don't care about her marriage/potential affair with Deacon. -- JenE4

I do like this show, it might even be the show I am enjoying the most right now, but I kinda agree with the above quote. The only reason Rayna is not my least favorite character is because Teddy is so damn boring and Scarlett is so damn frustrating. I don't have to love the main character of a show (usually supporting cast love is enough to sustain me), but I want to at least like the main character, and I'm really not feeling it with Rayna.

I think part of the reason might be because she is a character that has so much compared to others that it's going to take a lot for me to believe any kind of woe-is-me treatment with her. The issues she is dealing with (attraction to an old flame, money problems that are more inconvenient than anything else, a super rich dad who is snotty, first time problems with one album after a career of being country royalty) don't really make her sympathetic enough in my opinion. Her life is actually really good and I think her problems need to be more challenging in order to generate any kind of sympathy for her.

The writers gave Juliette a back story that helped mitigate a lot of her character flaws, but I think Rayna needs the writers attention and fast.

[Crim]

I think part of the reason might be because she is a character that has so much compared to others

I can't help but think that this is intentional.

There were several times when I thought Rayna was meant to be shown as severely, obnoxiously oblivious to her privilege. Most recently, her insistence that the rich socialite at the fundraiser were not her people - which was definitely not confirmed by the show. On one side, Rayna is the product of her rich family, she never really broke ties with them - not in the "walked away from home at 19, built her own life" way. She might say "not my people", but she sees it as normal every day life to hang out with politicians and help with campaigns. And, on the other hand, it can't be by accident that Deacon mentioned Rayna hadn't been at the Bluebird in ages: Rayna has been living a comfy family life, with regular albums and megastar tours. There is a complacence in this, which she wouldn't own up to, because she is so convinced she is this independent, self-made woman, unlike her sister. Incidentally, the way these daddy issues are portrayed are not very appealing for someone her age; I'm not sure they are entirely meant to make the audience feel for her - her father paying for the album, the mother's affair, the fact that those 2 things were rubbed in her face until she stirred the shit up again.

This would be enough for me to think it intentional, but then there is also the contrast with Juliette's raising up from poverty AND the Avery and Scarlett storyline of failed expectations and frustrations. Rayna's album was paid off by her father. She presumably never had to deal with a lot of things, never had to jump through that many hoops. In fact, I kinda hoped she'd realize that she had always had more power than actual upcoming artists, and that Juliette's music and image are not as much her choice as the product of the industry. (Though Juliette was indeed a bitch when they met.)

ETA: Or at least this is what I'm telling myself to be able to keep watching...

And, other characters seem to agree with her assessment of Juliette.

I think most of that was in the pilot. After that, we saw that Rayna's old friends knew about Juliette's album being out (i.e. not just popular with tweens), that she had skills, that Deacon was impressed (granted, sex is a powerful motivator), and that her people didn't take the first opportunity to jump ship. I didn't keep track, but I can't remember any instance after the pilot where someone who wouldn't just want to appease Rayna badmouthed Juliette except for her attitude.

Based on what's on screen now, I don't think the show is still trying to go for Rayna as "the one to root for" here. I do think she'll get her comeback (duh), but I hope her going on tour with Juliette after Juliette's fall for glory (if this happens) will not be handled as Rayna getting her deserved win. I'd drop the show over that.

Edited by Crim, Nov 2, 2012 @ 10:00 AM.

[Cherith]

Based on what's on screen now, I don't think the show is still trying to go for Rayna as "the one to root for" here. I do think she'll get her comeback (duh), but I hope her going on tour with Juliette after Juliette's fall for glory (if this happens) will not be handled as Rayna getting her deserved win. I'd drop the show over that.

I don't think so either. In fact, they seem to be going out of their way to make her as sympathetic as possible what with her mother situation and getting legitimate respect for her talent from people we are supposed to trust like Deacon.

I don't think anyone disagrees that Juliette's music tends to be overproduced pop drivel including Juliette herself. But anyone who spends time with her seems to see there is more there. And my, unspoiled, assumption is that eventually Rayna will too. And there will be a tour. Eventhough there will continue to be personal differences.

Edited by Cherith, Nov 2, 2012 @ 3:55 PM.

[Blue Girl]

I agree the show is making Juliette as sympathetic as possible, which I appreciate because I think Hayden can knock whatever they give her out of the park. My concern is that the show might be making Juliette more complex to "catch up" with Rayna (in their minds), as they started her out with more issues (on the surface) than Juliette. But what I think they might be missing is that they've fleshed out Juliette so much, that now Rayna needs to catch up with her in terms of complexity and sympathy.

Based on what's on screen now, I don't think the show is still trying to go for Rayna as "the one to root for" here. --Crim

I hope you're right. My fear is that they do think this. Which means they're crazy. Which wouldn't bode well for the future.

I don't think anyone disagrees that Juliette's music tends to be overproduced pop drivel including Juliette herself. But anyone who spends time with her seems to see there is more there. And my, unspoiled, assumption is that eventually Rayna will too. And there will be a tour. Even though there will continue to be personal differences. --Cherith

I agree that most likely there will be a combined tour (I assume), and Rayna will see Juliette's better qualities (I hope), but just because she is able to see Juliette in a better light wouldn't be enough to flesh out Rayna in my eyes. I guess if they really become friends that could happen, but that worries me as I don't think they have great chemistry to begin with, plus Deacon may be a bone of contention between them, and Rayna's problems are going to head towards an area where it may make it difficult for her to confide in Juliette (marriage problems, financial scandals, etc.)

[gpgurl50]

I would like to see Rayna and Juliette to become friends. However, since she still seems bothered by Peggy who Teddy dated fifteen years ago and the country club people who made fun of her in high school, I think it might take her awhile to let go of a fresh grudge with Juliette.

[Midru]

For most of this season I have been with many of the posters here in finding Reyna pretty unsympathetic and not very likeable. But in the last few episodes she is seeming to make a little more sense.

I think part of the issue is, in writers' terms, there's not enough show and too much tell. Instead of showing us a strong character who is a responsible devoted Mom and loyal wife, we get all these people saying she's this great person. But we don't actually see enough of this to mitigate the tone deaf diva who orders people around like her servants. At the same time, they don't go far enough with the diva behavior for anyone to call her on it or for her to get any kind of comeuppance.

As it is now, she's really kind of one dimensional. Where we see all kinds of ways Juliette can grow and really is growing as a person, Reyna 1)is not really tested as a Mom, 2) her tests as a singer (failing album, need to bring Juliette on her tour, working with the Jack White kind of character) have somehow not been very interesting, and 3) her tests as a wife dealing with Teddy's mistakes have not led to any growth, and somehow left me feeling more for Teddy than for her. Do we get the feeling that she cares about Teddy at all, aside from being a thorn in her side when he has a problem? Last episode when she was saying how betrayed she felt, it sounded less like a distraught wife and more like the store owner scolding a temp for not getting her coffee right.

I don't know if the problem is more with the writing or the acting. But they have to show her struggling with more than whether she should "lower" herself to tor with Juliette, because at this point you have to think Juliette would outperform her in a tour while being much more interesting.

Edited by Midru, Dec 20, 2012 @ 5:18 AM.

[Houddy]

I think part of the issue is, in writers' terms, there's not enough show and too much tell. Instead of showing us a strong character who is a responsible devoted Mom and loyal wife, we get all these people saying she's this great person.

This is it, exactly, for me. Every character except Juliette tells me how wonderful Rayna Jaymes is but the show has not shown me any evidence of this. She's not a horrible person, she's just there. I find her more annoying because the rest of the characters are constantly propping her up. It's like I'm missing something. Did she save a baby from a well when I went to get more popcorn?

I love Connie Britton and I know she can bring it if they give her something more to work with. I love what they've done with Juliette's character so I know the writers can bring it too. So why is Rayna such a miss so far? All I can do is guess and my first guess is, they are resting on Connie's likability. They know fans love her and were hoping that would be enough. I can't really think of any other reason why Juliette is being so fleshed out and developed as a character and Rayna is still just St. Rayna whom all other characters adore for no reason we've been shown.

I think it's the pitfall of many shows, when they use other characters to prop one up, it is common for the audience to scratch their heads and go "but why do they all love this person?" Show us, show. Show us why Rayna Jaymes was a superstar. Or embrace the fading diva idea and just have her be this stealth terror, while the in show public worship her those who work with her are terrified of her. That would work for me, and I think Connie could have a blast with it. Just do something with her, please.

[Midru]

I totally agree, Houddy. I am one of those people who has never seen Connie Britton before, having never watched Heroes, etc.

So I'm watching the TV going, "WTF?" I see a wife who is used to running all over her husband and is annoyed if he acts like a human being with his own agenda. As Deacon's partner, the minute he went to rehab, while she's carrying his baby, does she support him as he has given up his career for her? No, she dumps his ass without telling him and gets married to a patsy, Mr. Nice Guy Teddy Whatever, secretly pregnant. And she clearly overvalues herself as an artist, when apparently she was a slightly nontraditional newcomer who only got an album deal cos her Daddy secretly financed it.

BUT, having rewatched the first several episodes recently, I must give Reyna more credit. She really does try in her marriage. She did pay for Deacon's rehab and was credited with saving his life. I had apparently also missed several times when her continuing love for Deacon tested her, and she always resisted him, instead she ran home and kissed Teddy.

Edited by Midru, Dec 23, 2012 @ 1:46 PM.

[agingeraries]

I think it's interesting that Rayna essentially recreated her mother's life (or as much of it as we're aware of). A country music singer that's married to a corporate/politician type and had a long-running affair and two daughters? I don't know enough (read: anything) about psychology to dissect that but I suspect it isn't good. I also think she's guilty of some emotional/psychological stagnancy, so to speak. Basically, I don't think Rayna is probably all that different from who she was when she married Teddy. I think her relationship with Liam, in particular, was an insight into how she was with Deacon. In her scenes with Liam she was all bratty eye-rolls and sighing about the lame record people holding her back; she'd make a comment on the phone while looking at him and he's snicker to her, like little co-conspirators. The lounging around like kittens, drunk singing, etc., it just all seemed like Rayna was using him as her Deacon substitute (except Liam never really called her on her bs like Deacon does; which was probably just a bonus).

I really like Rayna as a character. She's flawed without being heavy-handed and is completely unaware of her own issues. I can only handle so many self-aware flawed people because when you know what the score is then, to a large degree, you're willfully doing it. I think Rayna's created this image for herself as the rebellious outcast from a conservative, well-to-do family who didn't get help from anyone; she had to pull herself up and the only people who were ever on her side are Deacon and Watty. Those two men are highly-respected almost-legends in their own right and the fact that they both put her on a pedestal on reinforces her own perception of herself.

[lorra]

I don't think Rayna is suppose to be the great heroine. She's a country star diva. Emphasis on the diva part. She is thoroughly self-involved. I don't need to like her in order to enjoy the show. In fact, I like Juliette and Scarlett much more. I don't really like Rayna, but I am interested by her story.

Rayna seems to have the greatest struggle. The series began with her pretty much being a frazzled over-the-hill country star, still in rebellion with Daddy issues. She seems to have wanted it all, the career plus the love/marriage and children. For the first few episodes she seemed to be the SUV mom. The writing has developed her since that.

I think Rayna's main problem is that she seeks a conventional lifestyle yet leads an unconventional life. She and Teddy really don't work together. Each has found their solutions, outside of the marriage.

Rayna is highly judgemental of people and she doesn't really cut them slack. That has to do with her "daddy issues." She did toss Deacon over for Teddy. And when Teddy had a flaw, she could be barely tolerate being around him. Same for Liam, as soon as a flaw with him surfaced, Rayna tossed him. She will probably end up alone, and that's her greatest fear.

[heydude08]

When Rayna went off with Liam I wanted either strangle her or vomit. I used to like her but it's getting to the point that there is NO character on the show that is likeable any more. Even Gunnar is perfecting the naive/patsy character to the fullest. I just want to take all of them and give them a slap upside the head!

[mimicall]

So I discovered this show and few days ago, and watched the season almost non-stop. I got to see all the storylines develop rather quickly. I have to admit, I totally see the "star power" that Rayna has brought to the show.

I think that Rayna's life, plight, has been rather sympathetically shown. Her boyfriend (and love of her life?) was a crazt addict who she used to find passed out in hotel rooms etc. She put him into rehab 5 times, even paid for it. The fifth time she was also pregnant and clearly went to find a safe guy who raise the baby with -- and she never even lied to him about the baby. Well to Deacon, but she admits she never knew the stint in rehab was going to work! Its so screwed up that Deacon has obviously seen his daughter grow up and never even guessed it (how did he not wonder about her quick marriage and then baby?) but Rayna continued working with him and also stayed faithful to her husband. I can see how she's personable, friendly and rather secure about her talent. I really like her characters, and all the confusion. Seeing Liam fall for Rayna, a chick he so easily dismissed, as also shown us why she's a star and why she is so attractive to these men who also have easy access to much younger women! That said, I so want to see Deacon and her get together, even if its for a little bit!

That aside, just loving the different stages of music everyone is at, including Rayna. I would like going on a tour with Juliette is a huge step down for her, she is the queen of country music! But got to agree with posters, Hayden's voice is much stronger than Connie's. Wish they'd give Rayna some other songs... haven't been very wild about any of them yet. (Scarlett/Gunner music reallly lovely in comparison!)

Just edited to add:

Also like seeing the three women in their various stages of success. I suppose we are, somewhere, meant to see Rayna in the girls. Scarlette who is immensely talented but needs Gunner as a support center (sort of like Deacan for Rayna? -- but you can certainly see how this dynamic works together). You have Juliette who wants to move away from her "brand" and make her own music, a conversation Deacon says he had with Rayna in the past too... Its nice. I also wondered if Juliette's moms addiction problem (and how she has to deal with it) is somehow meant to show us how tough it is to focus and keep going for Juliette, and while you cannot draw a straight parallel but in someways she does share that with Rayna who struggled with Deacon's addiction in her early career?

And you have Rayna now, who can get her way without throwing major fits but still needs to fight it out. And excited to see what they do with the label.

Edited by mimicall, Feb 15, 2013 @ 10:55 PM.

[lorra]

The problem with Rayna is that she is the passive aggressive type. She doesn't deal with the problems she has with people, she retreats and avoids. We've seen that with Teddy. We've seen that with the way she ignores Juliette. And that's probably how she treated Deacon back in the day. I'm convinced that Deacon is a masochist, and something within him was drawn to that treatment. It became another one of his addictions, and the one that he has never let go of.

[lurknomore]

Ignoring Juliette isn't passive aggressive, it's common sense. She needs to get through the tour with someone who hates her, and who she has very little use for. Fighting about it isn't going to help anything.

And as for Teddy... she wanted time to figure out what to do. It's not passive aggressive to think when you're not sure your marriage isn't working anymore, especially when there are children involved. And based on her reaction in the last episode - when he asked for a divorce - she wasn't quite ready to make that admission. If she were truly passive-aggressive, she'd have been relieved it was over. And I didn't get that at all.

As for how she treated Deacon back in the day, it's text that she stayed with him and put him in rehab five times. That isn't passive or aggressive; it's loving, and desperate. She didn't leave until she was pregnant and there was more at stake than just her.

Rayna makes mistakes, no question. She's far from perfect. That's why I like her; but I don't think she's passive aggressive, not by a longshot.

Edited by lurknomore, Feb 18, 2013 @ 10:53 AM.

[lorra]

Ignoring Juliette isn't passive aggressive, it's common sense. She needs to get through the tour with someone who hates her, and who she has very little use for. Fighting about it isn't going to help anything.

Right now, the only good things Rayna has going for her life are based on Juliette - 1) her hit song with Juliette, and 2) her tour with Juliette. Rayna's career was not doing well. Sure, Juliette had some trouble, but she was still a hit. It has been a long time since Rayna was a hit.

The way Rayna has been acting towards Juliette lacks common sense. If Rayna could have risen above a few remarks and acted like a professional with a much younger singer, then Rayna would have shown she had character. But all Rayna showed is that she could not deal, and that's what is passive aggressive.

as for Teddy... she wanted time to figure out what to do. It's not passive aggressive to think when you're not sure you're marriage isn't working anymore, especially when there are children involved. And based on her reaction in the last episode - when he asked for a divorce - she wasn't quite ready to make that admission.

I'm not so sure that Rayna either needed time or that she deserved time. It's not all about her. There's two in a marriage. It seems to me that the love ran pretty thin on both sides of this marriage. They had an illusion, not a loving relationship. A loving relationship takes work - not time-outs. Instead of working on her marriage, Rayna was playing around with Liam and Deacon. It's passive. The aggressive part is that it was also a harmful and negative way to act. Her husband was obviously hurt by it. He tried to talk to her about it.

I'm not absolving Teddy from guilt. That he can dump Rayna so easily and so fast shows how thin the love was. But that didn't just happen. Lack of love like that has been the ongoing condition of their marriage.

[lurknomore]

Conversely, Rayna saved Juliette's ass. Otherwise Juliette's career would be falling around her ears, and the respect she craves so desperately with it.

And no, not 'every good thing' in Rayna's life comes from Juliette. She CO-wrote the song; it was HER idea to co-write the song, and SHE was the one who was adult enough to figure out a compromise that benefited both women. On top of that she has a new solo album in the works that she, her label, and everyone who's heard anything on it is very excited about. Rayna is no supplicant, just as Juliette isn't. Both women wanted something, both women got something. ANd it seems to me that it's Juliette who still wants what Rayna gets so effortlessly: respect.

I'm not so sure that Rayna either needed time or that she deserved time. It's not all about her. There's two in a marriage.

Rayna found out during Teddy's campaign that he was lying to her about something incredibly fundamental. And the only reason she found out about it was because Teddy was running for mayor: something he did at the behest/prompting of her father, with whom Rayna clearly has issues. While I agree that the problems in the Teddy/Rayna marriage are not all on Teddy, these particular wrinkles - Teddy embezzling, lying about it, getting caught out with Peggy, getting compromised by Rayna's father - did merit Rayna getting some time to think if she wanted to even TRY to save the relationship she had with this man. Because if nothing else, Rayna thought they had honesty, and it turns out they didn't even have that.

Teddy, of course, also has the right to figure out if he thinks there's something worth saving. And I thought it was really sad and telling when he told Peggy that he liked seeing himself in her eyes, because he's getting something that he should have from his wife; Although fooling around with Peggy on the side is an incredibly dishonest and weaselly (not to mention stupid) way to get it.

Edited by lurknomore, Feb 18, 2013 @ 10:54 AM.

[lorra]

But my main point about Rayna's passive aggressive demeanor is that instead of dealing with the people she should be dealing with - her concert partner and her husband, instead Rayna was playing around with Liam and even Deacon, adding to the problems. Instead of acting pro-actively, she was mealy-mouth complaining to Liam about Juliette. And Liam was the one manipulating Rayna and using her. So also add to it, that Rayna is lousy judge of character.

Fans paid good money for their tickets to see her and Juliette be great on stage together. They didn't pay that money to watch Rayna play around with Liam.

As for Rayna's future album - who says it's great? For such a great album which was half-finished, Rayna was quick to fire Liam.

[lurknomore]

But my main point about Rayna's passive aggressive demeanor is that instead of dealing with the people she should be dealing with - her concert partner and her husband, instead Rayna was playing around with Liam and even Deacon, adding to the problems. Instead of acting pro-actively, she was mealy-mouth complaining to Liam about Juliette. And Liam was the one manipulating Rayna and using her. So also add to it, that Rayna is lousy judge of character.

And my point was that she is dealing with Juliette by not confronting her and making this worse, since I can't imagine that Juliette would handle that well. And she was taking TIME to deal with Teddy, because she wasn't sure what she wanted to do. And she fired Liam for his attempted manipulation/betrayal.Now I would argue there that she should have given him a chance to explain, because that wasn't passive or aggressive so much as misdirected. She was mad at Teddy, Deacon, and her father, and overreacted.

Fans paid good money for their tickets to see her and Juliette be great on stage together. They didn't pay that money to watch Rayna play around with Liam.

There weren't any complaints from the audience, or anyone other than Juliette. The audience probably thought it was pretty hot, lord knows I did.

As for Rayna's future album - who says it's great? For such a great album which was half-finished, Rayna was quick to fire Liam.

The show says it's great.
1. The label is quite anxious to keep Rayna now, so that says to me that it's excellent material; they liked it so much they let her use an outside producer.
2. The character Ming Na Wen played, the head of the other label, was also really high on it. That's why she she was trying to sign Rayna.
3. Rayna's manager and Watty White, both of whom aren't yes men.

I touched on this above, but Rayna didn't fire Liam for creative reasons: she fired him because he'd' gone behind her back. I imagine things will be back on now, since they made up in this most recent episode. One in which, by the way, Liam wasn't manipulative at all. He was a sympathetic and honest listener, at a time when Rayna needed just that.

[lorra]

I have no doubt in my mind that Liam is going to be husband #2 for Rayna. Not a single doubt.

But then she shouldn't be so shocked when she catches him stealing cookies out of the cookie jar.

[shron17]

And my point was that she is dealing with Juliette by not confronting her and making this worse, since I can't imagine that Juliette would handle that well.

Very good point. Juliette has been hostile to Rayna every single time they've spoken. When they agreed to sing together Juliette made some comment that it was just for the one song and didn't mean they had to pretend to like each other. Rayna just chuckled and told Juliette to do what she had to do. I don't see how there's anything Rayna can do on her own to make their interactions better.

Fans paid good money for their tickets to see her and Juliette be great on stage together. They didn't pay that money to watch Rayna play around with Liam.

I think the fans probably paid to see either Rayna or Juliette perform solo. Sure, their duet was a big hit and I'm sure they wanted to see that, but it's not as though Rayna and Juliette singing together has happened enough to be something fans would buy tickets to see.

Right now, the only good things Rayna has going for her life are based on Juliette - 1) her hit song with Juliette, and 2) her tour with Juliette. Rayna's career was not doing well. Sure, Juliette had some trouble, but she was still a hit. It has been a long time since Rayna was a hit.

Rayna has loads of good things in her life including two wonderful daughters, a mostly amicable relationship with her sister, good relationships with all of the people we've seen her work with except Juliette, lots of fans and people in her community who look up to her (judging by the way she's received at parties and political functions), and 20+ year musical career that's still going strong. There was a hiccup in her career because the latest album didn't do well and her record label suggested touring with Juliette as way to adjust to the changing market. Rayna took other measures instead and now her career is headed in a good direction and going strong with or without Juliette.

She CO-wrote the song; it was HER idea to co-write the song, and SHE was the one who was adult enough to figure out a compromise that benefited both women. On top of that she has a new solo album in the works that she, her label, and everyone who's heard anything on it is very excited about.

Exactly. Wrong Song wouldn't have been written if it wasn't for Rayna, and neither would have a hit song or be on tour.

[lorra]

Tonight we will see how Rayna reacts to the news that Teddy has another woman. It will be very interesting.

Rayna strikes me as the type who will be riled up over another woman. But I could be wrong.

Then there's the Lamar factor. I bet he stops the divorce.
-------------------------------------------------------
After the show

Rayna did not react the way I was expecting. She seems to have fastly recovered from her blues over the divorce and made a bee-line straight for Deacon. But I actually think this was the worst thing for Deacon. He and his sobriety just may not be capable of handling the disappointments that are in store for him - such as the news that Maddie is his daughter.

Tonight they said Maddie was 13 years old. Which means for over 13 years, Rayna has lied to Deacon. It also means that Rayna was actually with Teddy almost twice as long as she had been with Deacon. And that's what so odd in her reactions. Was the love so little in her marriage to Teddy?

Edited by lorra, Feb 27, 2013 @ 11:35 PM.