This post contains spoilers.
As one of the last remaining Nashville fans in the world, it is with a heavy heart that I announce my resignation from watching this show — effective immediately. This was a difficult decision but, after much consideration, I’ve come to the conclusion that this is some bullshit.
Thursday night, sometime after 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, the writers of Nashville killed off our beloved Rayna James (Connie Britton). At about the same time, the arduous burden of watching this show officially became too much to bear.
My people (Nashville fans) have had to endure a lot over the years: forced tragedies, forced Southern accents, and, most importantly, unrelenting ridicule from our peers who prefer watching “watchable” television instead of Nashville. But we persevered due to our love of two things. The first is country music. Upon finding out there would be a television show centered around radio country music, I couldn’t believe it. What a terrible idea, and yet, my people finally had a home. The second is the goddess Connie Britton. To know that Tami Taylor would forever be the fictional face of country music … I wept.
It’s due to country and Connie that we were willing to proudly put up with Nashville’s half-baked ideas involving plane crashes and car crashes and Maury-style “Who’s the father?!” episodes. But Connie’s gone, and now country doesn’t sound the same.
As bad as Nashville’s actions are (and to be fair, Britton wanted to leave), it is the timing of them that has forced me to step away. To take away our beloved Rayna now, just after the move to CMT restored our hope, is not only cruel, it’s disgusting. Not to mention the show never gave us any obvious Friday Night Lights cameos from Matt Saracen, Tim Riggins, or Coach Taylor. We would have even accepted Santiago from FNL Season 2. All told, these are actions I cannot condone in good conscience.
As I step away, I want to offer my sincerest thank-yous to Hayden Panettiere and Clare Bowen and wish them well moving forward. I have no doubt that they will carry themselves with honor and dignity during this difficult time, like the queens they are.
Fuck this show. And long live Rayna James.