A real dive into the merciless world of the music industry, Nashville tells us about the crossed careers of Rayna Jaymes, a country glory on the decline, and Juliette Barnes, the rising star and darling of teenagers. But the series also knows how to tell us about more intimate quarrels and beautiful love stories, all carried by the omnipresent music, a real character in its own right.
Nashville definitely worth a visit. So if you missed it when it first aired, we give you five good reasons not to miss it this time:
1. Complex and touching characters. From the first episode, we empathize with Rayna. This loving mother and wife is above all an artist who refuses to compromise herself by agreeing to cut corners on the quality of her songs to make them more commercial. Her declining career will however force her to make a choice: to persist at the risk of losing everything, or to bow down and tour with her rival, just to give her image a facelift. Juliette is immediately unfriendly. Little diva with the character of a pig, she dreams only of glory and glitter. But it would be a mistake to stop there. Juliette Barnes has her own demons and if you scratch the varnish a bit, you realize that she is much more complex and not as smooth and hateful as she looks. Side supporting roles, Deacon, the mentor and ex-lover of Rayna will be torn between the affection, as well on the human level as artistic, which he has for the latter, and his desire to work for Juliette. The Scarlett / Gunnar duo are the cutest couple around, especially when they sing.
2. Music! Let’s face it, you don’t have to be a country fan to appreciate Nashville. Even if music takes a considerable place in history, those who are most resistant to the genre should let their guard down. Sometimes pop, sometimes traditional, each song speaks to us, tells us a story, feelings that the characters do not dare to admit, is the catalyst for the rivalry between Rayna and Juliette, or focuses the career challenges of these two -the. The music in the series is as much a character as it is a setting and constantly brings us back to the history of Nashville, the country capital which has established it as a true local religion.
3. The fabulous cast. At the head, the wonderful, the formidable, the sublime Connie Britton that we hoped to see again in a role commensurate with her talent since Friday Night Lights (non, American Horror Story, it does not count !). She literally radiates in the role of Rayna Jaymes. And when Rayna sings, it’s really Connie Britton who sticks to it. Beside her, Hayden Panettiere looks pale. But the ex-cheerleader of Heroes frankly does not have the beautiful role. She plays Juliette, a character difficult to love, but ultimately quite complex. Another strong point of this casting, the musical duets of Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio, where time stands still, and the sisters who play the daughters of Rayna, Lennon and Maisy Stella. The two girls show an insolent gift for singing and music. Their videos are also visible on Youtube.
4. The exciting story. Apart from a political intrigue not always captivating, the crossed destinies of the characters of Nashville grab you so they won’t let go. How do you experience the decline of your career in the limelight when you’ve been successful? And how do you accept to give way to a rising star with teeth scratching the floor? Do you have to compromise your ethics, your sincerity, to become number one again? How to bet everything on his career, in a last rescue attempt, without endangering his marriage and his family life? Can you live your dazzling fame with serenity when you are tracked day and night by paparazzi who do not hesitate to unearth the darkest aspects of your existence? Nashville has been able to highlight its female characters and their stories, in all their complexity, without neglecting either the men or the intrigues. The music industry is portrayed as a ruthless world, where sincere and seemingly lasting friendships can falter at the sight of a big, juicy contract.
5. The decor. Nashville, capital of country, is a huge stage. From small neighborhood bars that have seen fans parade like music stars on their open stages, to stadiums and other local events bringing locals together in droves, the city is the heart of all intrigue, and the object of all. lusts. The rivalry between Rayna and Juliet is also a turf war where the one who wins will become the queen of the kingdom that is Nashville. Beautifully filmed, the city bathes in a light, an atmosphere, which must have inspired more than one country singer.
