Last week we were left with Deacon accusing his niece, Scarlett, of giving up on her mum after she turned off Beverley's life support, Juliette so off her head on a concoction of prescription and non-prescription drugs and alcohol that she didn't care Avery had their daughter, Cadence, at the hospital, Layla having her spotlight stolen on her Grand Ole Opry debut by Markus Keen from some rock band called Blvd and Deacon smashing up his house as he unleashed his guilt upon his furniture. Ready?

Juliette wakes from her drug-induced sleep and wonders what she is doing with her life so flushes the rest of the pills down the toilet and Avery signs the divorce papers. At last he sees sense!!

Juliette's friend (whatever her name is) continues to lead the singer stray, but Juliette decides to reach out to Avery ... of course just before he sent the divorce papers, as happens in every drama. 

Avery starts as Markus' producer and it doesn't go so well.

Sexual tension is building between Gunnar and Emily, who is now going to be Cadence's nanny by the look of it.

Colt and Maddie goes to see Luke Wheeler with her boyfriend (Luke's son) and Luke's publicist and this is going to end badly. Like, really, really badly. Maddie starts giving Luke's son the signals she wants to take their relationship to 'the next step', shall we say, but it's stop-start. Maddie, I think that's a sign. You're 16 – don't go there.

Jeff Fordham continues to lead poor naïve Layla on and she continues to act like the teenager she is.

Scarlett cleans out her mum's place and her and Deacon have another argument while Beverley's ghost keeps reappearing to show their various memories of her. Because, c'mon, you can't die in a drama and not reappear just a few more times to remind people what a terrible person you were – something Deacon seems to be conveniently forgetting.

Jeff tells Luke's publicist he should be Luke's CEO... this will also end badly.

Rayna meets with Layla and Layla just keeps pushing Jeff thinks this, Jeff thinks that. Shut. Up. Layla. If you know what is good for you, you'll go with Rayna and forget Jeff ever existed. She is going to have to move on, and soon. Rayna tells Layla Jeff is going to be destructive to her as a person and as a career. The truth hurts.

Maddie goes to Juliette for advice. As you do. Except, surprisingly, Juliette gives some great advice. Maddie shows how stupid she is by telling Juliette she often wonders what the singer would do if she was in the same situation. And it just gets better when Juliette brings Maddie out on stage in front of tens of thousands of people and let's say Rayna's head is gonna explode when she finds out. It's going to get worse, though, so performing on stage will pale in comparison.

Luke's head explodes first and he gives Juliette some home truths. Now, I'm not a Luke fan, like. Ever. But, he delivers the line of the night, “Don't go trying to play cool mum with someone else's kid just because you've abandoned your own.” Take that, Juliette! She wants to get back in touch with Avery and admits she remembers nothing about what happened

The excitement of being on stage in front of 18,000 people goes straight to Maddie's head and she heads off to the tour bus with Luke's son. Bad things will happen.

Layla pours her heart out to Rayna about Jeff and I want to find a bathroom asap.

Markus is so full of himself that he doesn't want any input from producer Avery and sacks him.

Scarlett goes and gets drunk. Fantastic. Her alcoholic uncle, Deacon, comes to her rescue. Of course, he does. Scarlett tells Deacon the way it is. It may be the alcohol talking, but everything she says is true.

Luke has the whole Trace Adkins thing happening and debuts a song that Will and his boyfriend, Kevin, wrote and, while Will seems happy enough about it (it gets a fantastic reception), but he wants to be the one performing his songs, not some else. I can understand that, especially when the artist doesn't really want to be associated with a gay artist, but is happy enough to be recording his songs.

Emily just continues to be used by Avery now, instead of Juliette. She is way too nice to be mixed up with them.

Juliette continues to be the crazy she is and Layla and Rayna write a song together about how Layla feels about Jeff. Avery turns up at Juliette's hotel as she is about to fly to Nashville and tells her he wants full custody and he's going for divorce. Will this push Juliette over the edge? Literally. There's a good chance.

As soon as Maddie and her boyfriend have their 'thing' Luke puts her on a plane back to Nashville. The crew member that Gunnar tried to crack onto is sacked by Juliette and, to get over the pain, she drags Gunnar into a backstage cupboard for some... fun. They end up in the backseat of Kevin and Will's car, with Kevin and Will in the front. #Awkward

Deacon admits he's an idiot and Rayna finds out about the little stage incident.

Jeff tells Layla she is going to Atlanta and Jeff tries to sell himself to Luke Wheeler's PA or publicist or whatever. Luke doesn't want Jeff as his CEO because of his unprofessional relationship with Layla and this is going to end badly for Layla.

Rayna's head explodes at Maddie and has a teenage tantrum. Reminds of that time I got up on stage in front of all those screaming fans and my ultra-famous country singer mother was cranky... oh, no, that's right. This is some crazy fantasy world these people are living in. Rayna can't expect Maddie to be some normal teenager when she's flying around the country in private jets and hanging out at the Opry and with all these crazy industry people.

Luke tries to crack onto his PA/publicist. Surprise! He can't keep it in his pants, but she tells him he should and nothing happens.

Deacon grows a brain and he and Scarlett have a deep and meaningful and we finish up with Avery telling Juliette the way it is.

Next week is going to bring some high drama and we could just be losing a cast member.

What do you think is going to happen?

THIS week we farewelled Scarlett's mum and Deacon's sister, Beverley, opening with her funeral. Deacon is not supporting Scarlett at all, but her best friend, Zoe, sings at the funeral and Caleb feels a little miffed about the support Scarlett gets from Zoe.

Jeff Fordham tells Juliette the way it is. This should end well... Grow up girl, because watching you self-destruct is just getting boring.

Gunnar and Scarlett have another awkward hug at the funeral and Dr Caleb is starting to get possessive. Another thing that isn't going to end well. Gunnar, you're too nice and you need to just punch him. Deacon continues to blame Scarlett for Beverley's death.

Markus Keen is on his way to Nashville and Rayna takes his call at the graveside just after the funeral. Classy. He comes across as a spoiled child.

Are Avery and Juliette's old PA getting together? A paparazzo seems to want people to think that. Jeff and Layla are back together in bed making me just a bit sick .

Juliette has taken to popping some random prescription pill to get through the day after partying all night so then can't sleep at all and starts taking relaxants with alcohol. Things are really looking down for her and spiralling quickly.

Cut to Deacon and Rayna with Deacon treating her badly and Scarlett is starting to realise her and the doctor don't have all that in common. Just break up with him!

Deacon goes to an AA meeting, but it looks like he's gonna head straight to a bar.

Avery tries to get a production gig and Rayna gets stood up by her own family when she performs at the Opry – because the Opry is just so overrated when you're a teenager and could stay home with your moody, mourning father, instead. Rayna introduces Markus to Avery for a production gig and the only reason he knows Avery is as the father of Juliette's baby.

THEN the weirdest thing happens... and that's a massive call for this show; Dr Caleb asks Gunnar for help writing a song. What the??

Rayna has a pic taken with Will showing just how nice she is... ahhhh... then Layla makes her Opry debut. For the uninitiated, that's a massively big deal, but not all is going smoothly (it is a drama, after all).

Juliette can't stop fidgeting, but while doing a radio interview she sees a tabloid photo of Avery and her former PA together with Cadence and then rings the PA to abuse the hell outta that girl. Whatever, Juliette. Your behaviour has gone past insane now. She's now being injected and drugged by this so-called doctor friend of her so-called friend.

Gunnar and Caleb get back to songwriting and that's just too weird to contemplate.

Cadence isn't well, so the production gig for Avery is probably not going to happen, then Luke Wheeler's son turns up to see girlfriend, Maddie, and they head out. Another thing that isn't gonna end well. Avery tries to get Juliette to the hospital to see their sick daughter and she couldn't care less.

Just. Cut. Her. Loose!

Cadence is gonna be okay, but Avery realises he needs to get rid of Juliette.

Markus Keen crashes the stage and steals Layla's spotlight and she throws another tantrum. Speaking on tantrums and crashing, Deacon goes to his house and starts smashing up stuff until Maddie arrives and sees him doing it.

Markus is acting like a dick, although he does want Avery to produce him, which is fantastic.

Dr Caleb presents Scarlett with the song he co-wrote with Gunnar and Scarlett plays it on the piano while Gunnar is at home playing it himself on guitar. C'mon you two. It's meant to be. Zoe is in on their not-so-secret, secret, and knows that Gunnar is still into Scarlett. Cut to Scarlett and Caleb naked in bed. Not so nice.

Jeff and Layla make up and I wanna be sick again. Bucky is not happy.

Deacon confesses to Rayna what happened at his home and they end up in Rayna's bed with the bazillion pillows and noisy sheets and quilts. I don't know how anyone sleeps in that bed.

Deacon is not gonna let her off easily on turning off the life support on Beverley.

Until next week...

WE were left with Juliette partying way too hard and Beverley, Deacon's sister, crashed again after the live kidney transplant for Deacon.

This episode opens with doctors doing tests on Beverley and, I think we all know it's going to be bad news. Then cut to Juliette finding the aftermath of another partying binge. Luke Wheeler wakes up to some stranger leaving his bed while Juliette works out like some crazy woman on the treadmill.

Daphne gets suspended from school for punching a girl who, I reckon, deserved it after she bitched about the sisters and their dad being a criminal, which is now reflecting badly on Maddie and Daphne.

Juliette keeps Wheeler company on a sightseeing trip as she continues to avoid Cadence and Avery. They go do hot laps... a great way to show you're missing your family. Then Juliette starts a party in a bar during the day and continues drinking. Her problems aren't decreasing as Avery goes to file for divorce. Teeny boppers continue to think she's the best thing since sliced bread.

Beverley is brain dead and doctors say she is unlikely to recover and Scarlett has to decide whether to turn off life support.

Avery is trying to get in touch with Juliette and meets with her old team.

Will takes his continual bad mood out on his boyfriend and finally we see Teddy in jail who argues with Rayna because he thinks he's going to get off and won't see his daughters. Good luck with that, ex-mayor.

Teddy decides to meet with the girls because it's so cool to see your dad all hairy in jail. It just makes Daphne all that more upset when he tells her he is guilty. Teddy ends up in tears. Cry me a river you cheating … thing. Daphne and Maddie go home and rip up photos of their dad and Rayna loses it.

The exes are going to start being an ex-band if the avoidance continues and Scarlett and Deacon won't accept that Beverley is dead. Scarlett goes to the chapel and plays the piano and sings... I don't reckon that's gonna bring your mum back. Gunnar shows up and Scarlett runs to him for comfort. More than what Caleb is doing and she confesses to Gunnar about her mum. Just get back together already.

Will is encouraged to speak out against homophobia in country music by one of his boyfriend's, Mike's, mates. C'mon, old mate, man up and do something about it. Will admits he's scared and doesn't want to be a spokesperson for the gay community.

Deacon argues against turning off Beverley's life support, but Scarlett decides to donate her mum's organs to help others and she dies at noon.

Maddie and Daphne meet again with Teddy in jail and this one goes a little better than the previous day's visit. He admits he's going to tell the truth and plead guilty and turns on the tears, probably in an effort to get their sympathy. Making me sick, Teddy... just remember the prostitute in the cupboard/basement.

Surprise, surprise. Juliette ends up in Luke Wheeler's bed, but not in the way she normally does with various men. He slept on the lounge. Wheeler tells Juliette a little story about missing his kids' lives and Juliette may even think about her family back home for a second.

Deacon tells Rayna he's going to the hospital to farewell Beverley, but goes back to his house instead and Avery is about to sign the divorce papers when Cadence cries and he has to play her Juliette to soothe her. Juliette continues to party and Deacon doesn't show at the hospital as Scarlett has to say goodbye alone as they turn off the life support.

Deacon continues to cry and I get the feeling this guilt trip is not going to end, which means his drinking demons will return, no doubt. We are left with Scarlett crying alone. Where is Caleb, the supposedly loving boyfriend?

This was probably one of the most emotional episodes that Nashville has had, although I always found it hard to warm to Beverley. For a drama that normally leaves me shaking my head in disbelief at the over-the-top way it deals with issues, this episode just left me feeling sad and wondering what else could possibly go wrong.

Last episode viewers were left with Scarlett and Gunnar who had kissed.... again and Scarlett slowly backing out of the planned 50-date tour for the Exes. Rayna can't keep artists on the Highway 65 roster as she continues to try to sign top artists and they either buy out of their contracts or back out before signing on the dotted line... things aren't looking good for the artist who was once at the top of the country music game.

We cut to Rayna's daughters Daphne and  Maddie who are learning a song by band, Blvd (yes, that's how they write it), who have just broken up, so Rayna decides to use that to her advantage.

Life isn't going so well for Rayna with Deacon, again, trading sharing a bed with Rayna, his fiancee, for sitting by his sister, Beverley's bedside, as he continues to be wracked by guilt over her aneurysm following the live kidney transplant. So, he slips his man bag on and he's off. This has dragged on long enough, Deacon.

We finally see Jeff Fordham in this episode, after many conversations with him last week on the phone where I was starting to think he was a ghost, but no, unfortunately he's back, but doesn't see Layla. Again. She's starting to get annoyed by it all and, honestly, she should just reclaim a small part of her lost dignity and break up with him (in the words of country band, Old Dominion).

And, drum roll, Juliette decides to pretend to be the loving wife and mother she wants the media to think she is, and returns home at Jeff's urgings. At least this puts a very temporary end to Avery's pain because it's excruciating watching him pine over her via her television appearances.

Cut back to Rayna's dying record label and Wade Cole, apparently he's kind of a big deal, who rejects the country star's record deal offer. Cole signs with Wheeling Dealing Records (yes, that's the name of Luke Wheeler's record label – the biggest rival of Highway 65) and no doubt there'll be dramas.

Highway 65's Gunnar and Scarlett, The Exes, then get photos taken for their EP and the photoshopped cover could pose problems for Scarlett and her doctor boyfriend, with issues heating up and the end in sight for the unlikely pairing.

Jeff suggests Juliette should return to her family... she orders another drink. Jeff then visits Avery to tell him that he was worried about Juliette and that she wants to see the baby.

Layla does get some credibility with a gig at the Bluebird Cafe – definitely a big deal. None of her team are there to support her and Juliette's ex-manager tries to sign her up.

Will wants to get on the road, but Luke Wheeler is still unsure of how the country market will react to a gay country star. Really? Get over it, Wheeler. You're not all that and Will has more talent and guts than you ever will.

Deason tells Rayna they're gonna get all 'hitched up and married' (yes, he said that) and Rayna seems pretty happy with that. About time after, like, 15 years.

Juliette continues to party, so Avery takes Cadence to visit their once happy family home and crashes a party. Juliette turns on the tears and Avery falls for it. Stupid Avery. She pretends to care about her family and lures him into bed. They appear together on the red carpet, posing as a happy family for the cameras, and then disappears once again. This time throwing away her phone and getting Jeff to organise a phone for her that Avery doesn't have the number for. Avery learns that babies don't like loud concerts... who'd have thought it?

At the same event, Wade Cole tells a photographer to get lost when he tries to take a photo of him with Will Lexington, but you're left wondering whether it's because he's worried about Will or his own reputation. This is answered when Will sees Wade having photos with Luke. Another sign of their prejudice against gay men and their place in country music. It made me want to punch them both through the television screen. The highlight of this event is an appearance by Pam Tillis.

Deacon and Beverley continue their awkward brother-sister relationship and reminisce about old times.

The Conrad Sisters, Maddie and Daphne, perform their tribute to Blvd and lead singer, Markus Keen, and Rayna loves the song so much, she stalks Keen to sign him to Highway 65 to the point that she jumps on a plane and gets the seat next to him on a flight from Los Angeles to New York and seems to lure him in. I can't work out whether she is talking business or flirting with him.

Back to the hospital, and Beverley makes an apology to Scarlett (her daughter) sound like an insult.

Scarlett rings Gunnar and tries to cut the number of tour dates... because she knows what will happen on tour, and it may not just stay on tour.

Layla, back at the Bluebird, gets a full house but still looks like the petulant teen that she is. Is there nothing that will make her happy? Goodman tries to sign her for management (Juliette's former manager) and I think she should take the opportunity and run with it. She may get the chance in a few weeks...

Cut to Juliette and her new phone and we find her passed out on her private jet. Do you think you might have a little drinking problem, Juliette?? And Jeff still makes my skin crawl.

We are left hanging at the end of this episode as the doctor that Scarlett is dating disses their music career as 'not saving lives' and a fantasy... you're gone, buddy, Luke Wheeler drops Will from the label for being gay, not that he would say those exact words, and Beverley crashes and we may see the end of her in coming episodes as she looked pretty dead in the final scene.

Are you exhausted by the drama? As well as being over the top, we can thank the show for shining a light on a few things, albeit in an overly dramatic sense. 

Nashville is trying to highlight a few important issues at the moment – post-natal depression and non-heterosexual discrimination. In reality, I don't think country music has an issue with gay stars in the US or Australia from what I've seen, but please let me know if I'm wrong. 

Luke Wheeler needs to go. And it's showing that PND can strike whether you're an average mother or the top of the pops in the music world.

Stay tuned for more craziness, country music style, next week. It looks like Avery finally files for D.I.V.O.R.C.E. and Juliette takes the partying way too far, just for something different.

NASHVILLE had left us loyal viewers on a cliffhanger at the end of last season, wondering what the 'bad news' was that Rayna was told. Had Deacon died? Surely the writers wouldn't do that to us when we had waited so long for the on-again, off-again musician lovebirds to get it together. Or would they?

Had Deacon's sister, Beverley, died during the live liver transplant that she had so grudgingly agreed to? And what's going to happen now that Will has finally come out as gay?

So many questions and only one episode to sate our appetite each week.

As Juliette does what she does best – suck up to the crowds – as the Patsy Cline movie premieres, Rayna sits at home doing what she does best – practising her dramatic looks as she slips into an empty bed. Where's Deacon?

The arguing continues between Juliette and Layla and I'm not sure who annoys me more. Juliette needs to get home and own up to her responsibilities. Who doesn't want to go home to Avery and that baby? Layla needs to stop being so needy and get a man. A real man who doesn't feel the need to control her. We all know Jeff is not the male that Layla needs in her life.

And Luke Wheeler? Don't get me started.

So, everything is pointing to the death of Deacon, with plenty of talk of letting go... but then.. he finally makes an appearance and we can breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Then there is Scarlett. Will her and Gunnar need to just admit they belong together and end the tension already. They kiss again and she continues to deny any feelings. As for Scarlett and the doctor? No chemistry.

Cut to Avery and his parents now looking after Cadence and watching Juliette on tv, then Juliette vomiting in a bathroom at a party and calling Rayna for help. What? She's left her record label, but doesn't mind drunk calling her when she needs something. Good one, Juliette. Rayna loves to state the obvious that something is wrong.

The question is, is the vomiting due to the drinking or is she pregnant?

Then it's on to Will and he's not left the house since he came out and Deacon continues to wrestle with the guilt of Beverley after she suffers an aneurism on the operating table. Her condition improves and some of the guilt lifts.

Will finally leaves the house and is abused by a girl he slept with, but he and Kevin head to a gay bar and things don't improve.

Rayna's eldest rejects a letter from their dad written from his cell and then Juliette rejects Rayna's help. We do enjoy a performance by Steven Tyler, but then Layla humiliates herself again in front of Juliette. Both of these women need a reality check.

We finish up with Avery moving back to Gunnar's with Cadence, but will Juliette return to them? And radio hosts dissing Rayna with, perhaps, some home truths.

There are so many more unanswered questions, but what have we learned from this episode? Drinking excessively will age you years in a matter of months and have you surrounded by a bunch of wannabes, if you've got a good looking husband at home it's probably safer to just go home to him, if you're making music with your ex, things might happen, and if people are self-destructing, it's sometimes best to just leave them to it. Oh, and don't get mixed up in fraud and prostitutes if you're the mayor.