I'm liking the new show, and kind of like the new more assertive Scarlett. Agree that the paired down cast makes the story lines tighter. What I wonder is how they never mention Rayna's ex-husband. At least they could say they went to visit him in jail or something.

EDIT, naturally I write this and then they mention the ex.

I agree... same thing with Julia's manager... where did he go? Not enough Will time either. I'd also like to see the younger daughter's character continue to be developed more. She has the best singing voice of any one on the show!

Juliet's manager?

My favorite singing on the show is Hayden Panettierre's Juliet! Especially "Nothing in this world will ever break my heart again"

Whoops, yes "Juliet"!

I was one that was actually fine with it being cancelled on ABC, not because I was tired of the show but because it ended with everyone getting happy endings with the exception of Juliet's whereabouts. So far I like the new season on CMT just fine, but now everything is different. For example, I like Scarlett and Gunnar together, but now they are making it seem like they are not meant to be all of a sudden. Of course now Rayna is dead (because Connie Britton wanted to move on after the original cancellation) and there is no coming back from that. I like that we are seeing Juliet's transformation into a better person and giving Daphne a storyline, but that seems to be the only positives so far with this new season. I don't hate the season by any means but I was also at peace with all the happy endings that everyone (not Juliet) got when it was ended on ABC.

After seeing the most recent episode, I wish they had have just finished with the ABC cancellation. The happy endings were good. I could even handle Juliette being an unknown ending at that point. I miss the good songs that we got through every other season, I had thought that being CMT, the focus would be on great music.

I don't hate it or anything, but it hasn't wowed me either.

I agree about the music... I was really upset they had Rayna go into distress during the kids song, why that couldn't wait till after? It destroyed a lovely moment and if I were her daughter or the kids, be extra traumatized! They never seem to even finish a song either!

Yes! I wouldn't be surprised if Daphne doesn't want to sing anymore, being traumatised by that. And that will be a tiresome storyline if they go that way..

I dont like how the CMT version hasn't addressed where the hell Luke Wheeler and Layla Grant are. Both Luke and Layla were HUGE parts of the last season, so not mentioning them one single time doesn't make sense to me. Especially Luke, since Will is still signed to Wheelin Dealin Records.

@nyxeus said:

I dont like how the CMT version hasn't addressed where the hell Luke Wheeler and Layla Grant are. Both Luke and Layla were HUGE parts of the last season, so not mentioning them one single time doesn't make sense to me. Especially Luke, since Will is still signed to Wheelin Dealin Records.

Luke was in an episode or two ago. He wanted to sell his record label and go back to singing or something like that. Rayna and that new guy business partner met with Luke about selling to them and I think he agreed. Luke and Rayna made peace with their breaking up also. Honestly, I didn't like Layla and I feel like the writers really didn't know what to do with her character so I'm not upset that we haven't seen her. I guess they could have mentioned what she was doing in a throwaway line or something to have closure on the character.

I think they did mention her very briefly in one early episode in Rayna's office. She said Layla was on tour or something to that effect but I agree, a little more explanation would have been nice...

I'm up to episode 5 of the new season, and Luke hasn't shown up yet, so I guess I just haven't gotten to Luke yet. Thanks for the heads up...that was really bugging me

Love the show and glad that CMT took it on. Not happy about Rayna dying but that is nobody's fault except hers for wanting to leave. Cried my eyes out tonight's episode and interested in seeing where goes from here I love Scarlet voice it's beautiful all the singers are very talented and I'm honored to be able to keep watching it thank you CMT

The only way forward is for Juliet to step up and be the "main character" of this ensemble.

@nyxeus said:

The only way forward is for Juliet to step up and be the "main character" of this ensemble.

IMO she already was.