Nashville 5.08 review: We want the old Gunnar back! Plus Rayna's stalker showdown

*This article contains spoilers: Nashville season 5 episode 8*

Okay Nashville fans, this is going to be a bit of a combo review with some thoughts about the latest episode (“Stand By Me,” episode 5.08) and a few about season 5 in general. I’ll say upfront that I’m not as wild about this season now as I was in the beginning, but I still think it’s a stronger show than what we saw in the last couple seasons on ABC. It’s more character and less plot-driven, there are new characters who have actually stuck around and made an impact, and, at long last, most of the relationships feel solid instead of constantly on the verge of collapse.

In episode 8, Rayna and Deacon continued to show off their sweet, sexy, healthy marriage, even in the midst of the stalker drama (more on that in a bit). This remains a real breath of fresh air for both the show and their characters. Maybe partially because of that stability at home, Maddie and Daphne continue to be pretty bearable and sometimes even charming, though I do think the show still relies on teen girl stereotypes a little too often for them. Rayna was quite the cool, understanding mom this episode, a side we don’t get to see all that often, mostly because the girls have painted her into one corner or another. I will say her storylines with them felt a bit manipulative in light of the final twist, like they knew that the girls needed to be in a good place with their mom for next week’s scenes to have maximum impact.

I also like how Juliette’s storyline has progressed—and it’s probably the best example of favouring character over plot. It’s a little cheesy, yes, but after everything Juliette’s been through, I buy her character turning to religion. We saw it more in last week’s episode than this one, but it’s also nice to see her find some of the joy she had in the first season, especially in regards to singing. Her relationship with Avery feels a little stalled at this point, but I also understand neither of them wanting to jump the gun one way or another. Avery singing again, however, I’m fully onboard with!

As mentioned, my enthusiasm for this season has waned a little despite the elements I’m enjoying. I don’t love what they’ve done with Gunnar; it seems like he’s watching his life from the sidelines, and that’s never a good look on anyone. I don’t like Scarlett’s fling with director Damien, but Gunnar was also acting pretty passive about their relationship before she started anything with him. And, as far as that fling, I could list about a zillion reasons why I dislike it (it’s repetitive, it feels out of character, I hate that she slept with someone who treated her terribly and justified it as “art,” etc). That being said, I can appreciate Scarlett and Gunnar as an echo of young, tumultuous Rayna and Deacon. It bums me out, but if that’s what they’re going for, it’s definitely working.

And finally, that stalker storyline: Hockney is back. Tough to watch, but I didn’t hate it. It was soapy for sure, but it also felt like a good lesson for this new incarnation of the show going forward: one soapy element is fun as long as the rest of the show remains rooted in good, realistic storytelling. For the most part, that happened in this episode. The knife showdown was smartly the longest scene of the hour and let the tension build very effectively. The terrifically committed Connie Britton sold every one of Rayna’s terrified emotions. My heart was beating the way it only does while watching quality TV drama, and, by the time Rayna was in the car, I had declared the storyline a success.

Then, of course, Rayna’s car was T-boned out of nowhere, in the most unwanted season one flashback of all time. I get the trope of “just when you thought things were safe, it turns out they’re not.” That can be very effective when it’s done right. But, call me crazy, I don’t think putting character trauma on repeat was the way to go. I may feel differently depending on what happens in the next episode, but that’s where I am now.

What did you guys think of this episode and season of Nashville so far? Let me know in the comments!