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tv_talk2013-10-08 10:48 pm
raktajinos) wrote in tv_talk2013-10-08 10:48 pm
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Nashville : A Primer
Nashville : A Primer
I just signed up to be the captain for this show and I realized that it needs a primer too! So if you're at all curious to see if you'd enjoy Nashville, come on in and read this! (I don't even like country music, but I LOVE this show)
You'd Like this Show if you Like: The Good Wife, Parenthood, Friday Night Lights, Downton Abbey, Switched at Birth
Nashville is the story of three women, all at different points in their musical careers, the trials and tribulations that come their way, and their relationships with family, friends, and each other.
There are far too many characters for me to tell you about them all, so I'm going to showcase the three main ladies and talk about some of the stuff in their lives. The show has a large ensemble cast and while the three leads are the focus, the secondary characters are just as fleshed out, complex and riveting as the mains.
But I think the best way to give a 'primer' on this show is to do it through the music - which is the beating heart of the show. The music on Nashville is fantastic - I promise you will be heading to iTunes after every episode (which may in fact not be a selling point because loving this show makes you spend more money :P). All the actors do their own singing and while the show is about country music, it really thrives on showcasing the diversity within country music. There's the old school, Reba McEntire-esque 80s stuff that we see from Rayna's long career; there's the pop-infused Taylor Swift style, and then the modern Civil Wars/Lindi Ortega jazz-influenced stuff that's gaining in popularity right now.
An added bonus is that many high profile songwriters (including the Civil Wars) have written songs for the show! The show is not a musical, when there is music, the characters are always doing a performance of some kind. So its not cheesy; it fits in beautifully with the structure of the show.
Rayna James
Old Stompin' Grounds
She's experiencing some difficulties in connecting with/selling to younger listeners. As a result, their label forces them to work together on a song (above) which becomes so popular the label decides to force the two of them to go on a joint tour with Juliette (and they don't exactly get along).
Juliette Barnes
Telescope
She's the shit - lol thats really the only way to put it. She's incredibly popular and sells well with the youth market (Rayna's daughters love her), but she's having difficulties being taken 'seriously' in the music world, so the label forces her to go on tour with Rayna to add some legitimacy to her career. She grew up with a single mom who was an addict and she left home at the age of 13, where she was then discovered busking and signed to the same label as Rayna. She's a bit of a bitch and makes horrible life choices (especially about men), but she's passionate about what she does and she never takes any crap from anyone.
Undermine
Juliette is trying to change her image; she doesn't just want to be the pop-infused disposable star of the Telescope song, she wants to have a long career and eventually succeed Rayna as the Queen of Country. So she begins writing her own music and pushes for her label to accept it. On a personal note, Undermine is my absolute favourite song from Nashville. I cannot stop playing it.
Scarlett O'Connor
She originally moved to Nashville to support her boyfriend, Avery, in his quest for a career in music. Long story short however, she gets discovered instead and ho-boy, she's one to watch out for. She's an absolute powerhouse but she's learning to stand on her own two feet, to be self-sufficient and find her voice in music.
If I Didn't Know Better
Scarlet writes poetry and she's introduced to Gunner (in the video) who plays guitar and they are encouraged to work together….and the result is MAGICAL. This song was written by The Civil Wars and frak if it just doesn't HIT YOU RIGHT THERE.
I Will Fall
Scarlett's journey is just starting and she's only beginning to decide what her identity as an artist is.
One of the best things about this show is watching how these three narratives overlap each other and watching these characters move in and out of each others lives, watching them make the same mistakes. Also, whenever Juliette and Rayna have a scene together its the best thing ever - you root for them to become friends or allies.
Its also just totally fantastic to watch a narrative about a cast of women set in different periods of life. Through this three-fold narrative we can explore how identities change and shift over time or even when they don't. We can look back and reflect on our youth, or look forward into our future and imagine what kind of life we want.
Ultimately its a show about incredibly REAL people and the curve balls life throws at you and how you respond to them.
Its also just totally fantastic to watch a narrative about a cast of women set in different periods of life. Through this three-fold narrative we can explore how identities change and shift over time or even when they don't. We can look back and reflect on our youth, or look forward into our future and imagine what kind of life we want.
Ultimately its a show about incredibly REAL people and the curve balls life throws at you and how you respond to them.
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I actually hadn't watched last week's episode yet either (super crazy week) but I got them both watched this morning (cause I wanted to post the discussion post lol!)
(oh and I forgot to mention in my earlier comment that I liked you're Stiles icon lol)
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I was pondering signing up to captain Nashville but had the same thought, that no one would comment, LOL.
Deacon seriously needs ALL the hugs, doesn't he? I'm so glad that Scarlett set her foot down with him!
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Deacon seriously needs ALL the hugs, doesn't he? I'm so glad that Scarlett set her foot down with him!
YES! And I'm really enjoying this storyline of Scarlett's. Its her stepping out on her own, being on her own, but also growing up and taking care of someone. All badass like. I love how she doesn't take any shit - which is new for someone just starting to care for an addict. Usually in the early times you're a lot more lenient.
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Thanks for mentioning "Civil Wars". Not being a country music fan, I don't have much of a baseline for judging the music on the show, but Scarlett & Gunner's stuff is definitely my favorite.
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I love JJ but I wish they'd do more with Avery. I really don't like the character and I feel that it's because they aren't giving us much to work with. Yeah, he was jealous of Scarlett, he went to Atlanta, but it's all two dimensional stuff. I want more backstory! JJ can just keep singing FOREVER though!
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you haven't seen last night's episode yet, but there's some really great stuff for Avery. I like the direction they're taking the character.
Though its funny when he went off to Atlanta, I was all 'why are they even telling this story anymore' I was kinda bored. But it makes sense now. Dunno if you watched BSG, but they did a similar thing in season 1 there, telling this weird side story with Athena + Helo and I was always 'omg this story again!' but it was incredibly relevant to the narrative two seasons down the line. So I'm going with that here as well. lol
/ramble
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mm, Should take these spoilers to the discussion post but I don't want to get spoiled for last night, haha. I have tons of Will rants though.
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Which is really surprising, because I've never been a fan of country music, and this type of character drama without any action or sci-fi elements isn't usually my cup of tea
this is pretty much me as well. I don't really care for country music and stuff without scifi elements is kinda 'why bother' territory for me. But there's something about this show that just pulls you in!!
Maturity! I think thats exactly right. Its adult stories, adult issues and actual consequences for things. And they don't blow stuff out of proportion like other shows would. They aren't creating drama for drama's sake - it feels like they are just telling a natural story of these people's lives. And I really appreciate that. And they act the crap out of it, that helps too :P
I also agree that the characters can do awful things and you can still see stuff from their perspective, still relate to them and understand them. In season 1 when Avery was getting upset/jealous with Scarlett's success on the one hand I was all 'dude, not cool', but then at the same time you could completely understand where his feelings were coming from.
Thanks for mentioning "Civil Wars". Not being a country music fan, I don't have much of a baseline for judging the music on the show, but Scarlett & Gunner's stuff is definitely my favorite.
Civil Wars are awesome. You'd like Lindi Ortega as well I bet (she's Canadian but she's been namechecked on the show several times and her newest album 'Cigarrettes and Truckstops' is GORGEOUS). I grew up in a super hick small town so I know more country than I'd like to admit - but I'm only starting to like some of the modern stuff (or like classic Reba - cause she was a badass. Ditto for Dolly). I like Scarlett's and Gunner's stuff best as well - but Juliette's super poppy songs I really like as well. That 'Telescope' song is pretty dern catchy.
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I love Lennon and Maisy's version of Telescope omgggg.
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and their version is totally adorable. Both those kids are talented.
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I hadn't thought to frame the show the way you do, with Scarlett as a third lead, following the careers of these three women. For me it's Rayna and Juliette. Or, well, like the title says...
I am excited that they've given Scarlett a female friend; if there's one thing about the show I was less crazy about, it was that none of the ladies had female friends (that weren't family). I get it with Juliette since they make a point of her having NO friends, but Rayna and Scarlett?
I also love how, even though the show is soapy, it never makes me roll my eyes. I think the amazing cast and writing are the reason.
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Its astounding that the music is all NEW stuff, not covers, and its able to ring us in. Like with Glee, their covers are fantastic - but no show has really been able to do the original music thing very well. But Nashville can. I think its cause they take it seriously and hire a variety of songwriters to do them.
I hadn't thought to frame the show the way you do, with Scarlett as a third lead, following the careers of these three women. For me it's Rayna and Juliette. Or, well, like the title says...
I originally hadn't thought of it that way either - and because Hayden and Connie are such known actors, it feels like they are the leads (and they are). But the more I watched, I noticed that Scarlett's plot lines got just as much time as Rayna and Juliette's. And while Claire Bowan might be a newcomer, she's totally a lead for this show as well.
And you're right, the show is about Nashville on the whole, but every storyline, every character is in someway connected to Juliette, Rayna or Scarlett. We meet them through them.
I am excited that they've given Scarlett a female friend; if there's one thing about the show I was less crazy about, it was that none of the ladies had female friends (that weren't family). I get it with Juliette since they make a point of her having NO friends, but Rayna and Scarlett?
YES. this right here! I totally agree. And I suppose we have Rayna's sister - they're friends. And Juliette's personal aid last season was *almost* a friend which was interesting considering it was Juliette. I don't like that they got rid of her - it felt like they did it so they could focus more on Avery being the one to push for Juliette to open up instead of her. But....thats just me. lol.