By Potes
We begin the show with an exhausted Rayna on a press junket, trying to get the various voices that say, alternately, "I'm done talking," and "I want a divorce" out of her ginger head. She's typically pro about the whole thing, saying that she's always fine (even when she's not). Testing that theory is an appearance by Liam, who is apparently "producing a band" in whatever town they're in and not just there because he "still wants to bang Rayna." (There actually is a band, FYI.) Even more of a test is a call from Teddy -- just before she's about to go on stage -- saying that he wants to tell the girls about the divorce the following day. Rayna doesn't understand the hurry and wants to be more deliberate about the reveal, and then has to go open her show. She steps on to the stage in a fog and misses her cue twice. But then she smiles, snaps back into it and sings that song about being fickle, like a pro. So that's the moment that could end a career?
Meanwhile, Teddy and Tandy are doing mayor-adjacent things and she happens to see an incoming call on his phone from Peggy. She's like WTF and he's all, "You're not the boss of me!" because one sexytime with a sycophantic nutjob has given him the delusion that he's actually mayor and not just a lonely goatherd puppet being controlled by Lamar.
Back to the interesting stuff! Liam shows up backstage after Rayna's show and begins to ply her with champagne. But then Deacon pulls her away to talk, because her freeze-up on stage has caused him concern. He wonders if it's due to their hot elevator makeout session. She assures him that it isn't, but can't elaborate further because if she does, she'll lose it. Deacon is understanding and tells her she can talk about it when she's ready, and mostly I wish they would just make out some more.
A call from Tandy puts Rayna over the edge and she heads out to a dive bar with Liam. It's one of those nights where the bottle is on the table and it is perhaps liquid courage that prompts Rayna to steal Liam's fedora. Just like Britney before HER breakdown! And wow, conceptualizing Liam as a country music K-Fed just made him a lot less appealing. Anyway, Rayna teaches him the two-step and finally divulges tales of woe about her hot-mess life, saying she wants to feel anything else -- preferably something good. As you may have suspected, Liam has some ideas for how she can go about doing that. They head back to the hotel and he invites her in for a nightcap, which means all-caps SEX. And then making out happens in the hallway! It's arguably even hotter than the Deacon elevator scene, but then again I'm partial to Liam. She wonders what she's doing, but can't resist the siren call of minibar bourbon. Liam doesn't wait too long before going in for the attack, but Rayna asks for a minute. That minute turns into a really long time crying in a stupendously sad manner in the bathroom. She tries to keep Liam out, but he charms his way in just by being a nice guy. And then they have a heart to heart about all her problems, particularly her sadness about ruining her kids' lives. Liam reprises his role as sage truth-teller, talking about his own parents' divorce and how it was the best thing that could have happened. It's a really great scene and I feel justified in being a Liam apologist, and not even that sad that they never got around to banging each other. Okay, a little sad. But way to make good choices, Rayna!
Meanwhile, Teddy is constitutionally incapable of not being an idiot and as he is talking schmoopily on the phone to Peggy, Maddie walks in. He doesn't notice and basically is like, "I can't wait to have sex with you again, PEGGY," in full earshot. He's truly going to be the worst mayor ever.
In other news, Juliette is basically having a manic episode focused on doing an acoustic set with Deacon as part of her show. She tells her crew that they're revamping the show and Glenn is NOT PLEASED. She screams at him, but he still has a secret meeting with the crew (minus Deacon), telling them to run all of Juliette's orders by him first. This meeting does not include Deacon, but he gets wind of it and confronts Glenn about the need to let Juliette stretch her wings a little. We learn that Glenn is basically Juliette's Lou Pearlman -- he discovered her auditioning for a local Alabama TV show and helped make her into who she is today. He thinks of himself as a father figure and is more than a little threatened when Juliette literally leaves him in the dust in favor of writing with Deacon. When she learns that Glenn has been going behind her back, she has a full-on middle of the night diva tantrum, reminding all of her crew (by screaming) that they work for her and not Glenn. In response, Glenn quits. Deacon also isn't thrilled by this side of Juliette and basically tells her not to alienate all of her people, including him.
Deacon walks right out of this confrontation with Juliette and into full view of Rayna and Liam canoodling in the hotel lobby. He then totally proceeds to slut shame her without bothering to find out that she was actually just pouring her heart out on the bathroom floor and not having the sexytimes (mostly) at all. She's all, "What do you want from me?" and he's all, "Not a damn thing," and ARGH, THESE TWO! Then poor Rayna goes home and not only has to tell the girls about the divorce, but learns from Maddie that Teddy is totally banging Peggy. D'oh!
Elsewhere, Scarlett and Gunnar's happiness about Rayna wanting to sign them is dampened when Jason shows up at the Bluebird. Scarlett knows a LOT about parole laws in Texas and isn't so into the idea of harboring a fugitive in their house. But Gunnar pleads, so she allows one night and then actually likes Jason a little bit and agrees to a few more nights. But of course, despite Jason's claims that he got rid of his gun, he's still packing. The whole thing is very Bad Idea Jeans, with the only silver lining being that Scarlett or Gunnar might accidentally get shot.
Disaster looms for Avery too, who is unhappy with what Dominic is doing to his music. Marilyn is all, "I told you, you fucking idiot," and then Avery proceeds to ignore her advice AGAIN and sign a publishing deal (with Hailey!!!) that gives him $100,000 in the short term, but could cost him millions down the line. I'd be okay with him getting shot, too, I guess.
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