If things seemed complicated in "Nashville" for our two country darlings before, the episode "We Live in Two Different Worlds" twists everything into an even bigger mess. Where once the biggest problem was refusing to tour together, now it's looking like neither singer will be touring at all.
The fallout of shoplifting
Juliette gets confronted by police for the video of her shoplifting that has now gone viral. She slams the door in their face and proceeds to ignore every piece of advice on damage control from her handlers. At first she ignores it to let it blow over. When she starts losing tour sponsors and a presenting spot at the CMAs, she agrees to a "Good Morning America" interview.Juliette petulantly lies about the stealing and blames the whole thing on the public wanting to tear her down. When Robin Roberts asks about her drug-addicted mother, the country diva ends the interview and storms off. Internet gossip soars, the record label is angry, and the tour is suddenly in jeopardy. Her reputation plummets so far that even her manager Glenn suggests parting ways.
No favors, please
When Rayna learns from her sister that Teddy's campaign isn't doing well, she offers to perform at one of his fundraisers. She hates hanging with the socialites at her dad's club, but she's making an effort to support her husband. (She may also be feeling guilty for the steamy sex dream she had about Deacon.)Deacon agrees to play at the fundraiser as a favor to Rayna, but once there, he gets into it with Teddy. There's too much tension between them already, and Deacon seems to be relishing making his rival jealous. Rayna fights with Deacon about his behavior, and though she insists that she needs him, the two agree to call it quits. Rayna later promises a peeved Teddy that she'll "fire Deacon."
It seems Teddy might not have a leg to stand on, as he hooks up with former flame Peggy at a secret meeting. It's obvious there was/is something romantic between them, but the desperate way Teddy insists she keep his "secret" implies there might be more to it than just an old affair.
Scarlett bewildered
Avery's attempts to be supportive of his girlfriend start to crumble when Scarlett and Gunnar get an actual music deal. At a dinner with the record executive and her assistant Hailey, Avery chastises his girlfriend for praising his work when he "doesn't need her help." He forces her to leave early from the celebration, then cuts down her new enthusiasm for songwriting.Meanwhile, Gunnar is tired of pining for Scarlett and hooks up with Hailey. She insists it's just a one-night stand, but their flirty behavior at the office the next day hints that there might be more. Stopping by the morning after that one-night stand, Scarlett is stunned to see the couple together outside. Maybe she's finally feeling some jealousy herself?
Starting over
Juliette confesses to Glenn that the shoplifting is a lifelong habit that used to make her feel like she could take care of herself, and it's obvious it relates to her bad mother. Suspicious of her new house guest even when she's trying to be nice, Juliette searches her mother's bag for stolen possessions or drugs, only to break down in tears when all she finds is a well-worn picture of herself as a baby in her mother's arms.Glenn tells her to hang with a friend to take her mind off things and they'll start fresh PR work the next day. She tells him she doesn't have friends, "only people who want to be seen with me." But then she remembers Deacon and calls him out of the blue. Hearing the tremors in her voice, he offers to come over, and it's the happiest we've seen her all episode.
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