When Nashville was unceremoniously cancelled past ABC in 2016, it acquired an uproar with the dedicated fans that had fallen in love with the bear witness — from the characters to the original songs that blessedly did not feel every bit though they were created for a Television show. Because of the outrage, CMT decided to selection upwards the serial, but there was one catch: Connie Britton, who played country legend and series star Rayna Jaymes, was not sticking around. Considering of behind the scenes rumors, fans knew Rayna's inevitable death was coming in that first half of Nashville Season 5 — later on all, there was no other way to write off the center of the bear witness whose family was remaining backside. But, the consequences of this decision were catastrophic for the serial, and left many questioning whether the testify should have been revived by CMT at all. After finishing the season and a one-half that aired afterward Rayna's death, the reply was clear: Information technology wasn't worth it.

For the first four and a half seasons of Nashville, Rayna was undeniably the star. Close, but not quite on her level, would have been Juliette (Hayden Panetierre), who was frequently an antagonist in Rayna's story. Everyone else — from Deacon (Charles Esten) to Will (Chris Carmack) — were simply supporting characters whose individual storylines held no weight in comparison to the two leading ladies (unless said ladies were involved in some capacity). Rayna's juggling being a mom to her daughters Maddie (Lennon Stella) and Daphne (Maisy Stella), a wife to Deacon, and a leader in the land music business is what Nashville was about, which is why it brutal apart afterward she was killed off. Rayna'south decease left her family to pick upward the pieces… when information technology felt similar they had just finished picking up the pieces to come together as an unusual kind of family unit afterwards Rayna and Deacon's decades-long, complicated dear matter. Daphne had already lost her biological father, as Teddy (Eric Close) had been written off of the testify, only returning right after Rayna'south decease to briefly fight for guardianship before giving upwards to Deacon. Maddie was just getting to know Deacon as her biological father, after learning the hush-hush relatively close to the time of Rayna's death. As for Rayna and Deacon, they had just officially tied the knot, finally in the correct place individually to make their relationship work. Then, their earth is shattered.

From hither, Deacon, Maddie, and Daphne had to struggle to detect a way forward, and information technology was incommunicable not to encounter the glaring absenteeism of the family's glue. Rayna held everyone together, and was the fundamental slice of the puzzle that continuously felt like it was missing throughout the terminal episodes. They made their ain beautiful family, but it didn't feel right without Rayna, who had fought then hard for the life she had just lost.

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Of the other characters, Rayna's death particularly impacted Juliette in the scope of the prove — non the grapheme, who had little emotional connection to Rayna, only how the character was involved with the show going forrard. Subsequently Rayna passed away, Juliette'due south star ability was incredibly diminished. Every bit the co-lead of the show, often butting heads with Rayna and competing in the music business organisation, Juliette had to exist lessened all-around to permit for the show fully irresolute over to an ensemble in the centre of Nashville Season 5. Without Rayna, the show didn't know what to do with Juliette either.

Later her plane crash, which she spent the majority of Rayna'due south terminal episodes recovering from, Juliette was lost. It was articulate the writers had little idea of what to exercise with her without their other big star, and Juliette had very lilliputian (if whatsoever) connection to the remaining characters, except her off-and-on-again husband Avery (Jonathan Jackson). This is well-nigh notable in the final season when virtually of Juliette's character evolution over the class of the show is wiped away and she joins a cult temporarily.

A case could be made for the reality of death and how information technology tin come at the most unexpected times, simply isn't there plenty heartbreak in the world already? So much of the journey throughout the first four seasons of Nashville was well-nigh Rayna and Deacon finally being able to embrace and experience their honey for one another, to finally exist able to support i another in the manner they both needed simply weren't capable of way back when. What was the point in the journey with Rayna dead soon thereafter? Didn't Deacon and Rayna write enough sad state songs about heartache and loss? After Rayna was gone, Nashville lost its heart and soul. It became a show nigh several people trying to alive life in the music capitol of the world. Hell, the testify focused less on the music and the music business after Rayna died, too. (At least, much less than information technology did previously.) The world was fabricated incredibly dimmer without her in it, and the loss of Rayna fabricated the show take much also big of a turn, where information technology slowly drowned in the deadening darkness. It was no longer the Nashville fans had fought so hard to save upon its cancellation.

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While Season 5 was heady at commencement, Rayna'due south decease destroyed everything. The joy of watching Nashville was gone, as fans had lost the biggest parts of the show — from her music, her finally running Highway 65 Records, and particularly her family unit. Rayna's expiry inverse the bear witness for the worse, which ultimately fabricated many tune out and caused the show to be cancelled afterwards Season half dozen. Knowing what happened, information technology would have been better had the show never been revived and moved to CMT in the first place, unless just for a concluding flavour to wrap up the open up-ended stories. Information technology would take been disappointing if Season iv was the unresolved cease, but not every bit disappointing equally what actually happened.

Rayna Jaymes never should have died.

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Jay Snow (81 Articles Published)

Jay Snow is a freelance entertainment journalist. He lives in the PNW, and enjoys anything to practice with witches and superheroes. Follow him on Twitter (@snowyjay) for more on what he's watching!

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