Nashville Series Finale recap: A beautiful ending to thank the fans

I’m not crying; you’re crying! That’s it, everyone. Nashville has come to an end and it was a beautiful thank you to the fans.

Whether you’ve been with Nashville since the very beginning or joined part way through the series, you’ll have been sad to hear that the series was coming to an end. The finale has just aired and now we have to say a real goodbye. But what a goodbye it was.

For those who wait for the Nashville recap, here it is. Your look at the events of the finale. Did Avery and Juliette find a way to make it work? Did Deacon really see Rayna? Did Daphne win the competition? Could things be smoothed between Deacon and his father?

As you would expect, there are spoilers in this post. I do recommend you watch the Nashville Series Finale before you read this. Check out the advance preview and then grab your DVR copy or pull up a stream.

Gideon still wants to be part of the girls’ lives

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The big ending for the previous episode was Deacon finding out his dad was drinking again. Deacon may have kicked him out of the house, but Gideon still wants to be part of the girls’ lives. As Deacon views it as manipulation, he pays his dad a visit at the motel room, where Gideon explains that while he did start drinking again, the bottle Deacon had found was sealed. He hasn’t touched a drop for weeks. The girls have helped change him.

Also, Daphne has invited Gideon to the finale of the music competition, so he’s going to go. During Daphne’s song, Deacon realizes that maybe he should give his dad another chance. By the end of the episode, Deacon decides to mend the bridge and welcome his dad back into his life.

This is while Deacon is headlining a tour of his own. Performing at the Ryman Auditorium, Deacon thanks his dad for the inspiration that he was and welcomes Gideon on stage. It turns out that Gideon knows all of Deacon’s songs, which is touching and sweet, and the two sing together.

Daphne fights for the win

The music competition is down to the final three and the competition is changing up. They’re all given a song and Daphne’s is definitely not her style. Ilsa is worried and angry at Brad, but he believes that Daphne will either sink or swim.

Daphne spends most of the episode worried about it, but Deacon tries and Ilsa manages to convince her to put her own style to the song. Honestly, that’s what I thought from the very beginning. Great musicians will make others’ songs their own. Daphne opts to pick up her guitar again and performs.

Unfortunately, she doesn’t win. But that doesn’t stop her from landing a music career, signing with Highway 65, where she belongs.

Maddie breaks up with Twig

After a season of wondering whether Maddie and Twig would finally find their way to each other, Maddie makes a very sensible and grown-up decision. Despite how Twig feels, Maddie knows that she doesn’t really want to be with him. She’s not sure why, because he is sweet and thoughtful, but she’s been through far too much with Jonah.

Scarlett encourages her to take time for herself. Maddie deserves to be happy, so she opts to break up with Twig while encouraging him to become a professional producer. Of course, Twig is upset but this is part of growing up and being in love. Sometimes it’s doesn’t work out.

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Alannah takes on Brad

Last week on Nashville, it looked like Alannah was going to lose her battle against Brad. They weren’t really going to leave that story on a negative note for the finale were they? Of course not!

Brad books Alannah a tour and it’s the perfect opportunity. Brad invites her to a party in his penthouse suite, so she goes up. It turns out it was all a lure for Brad to force Alannah into something. Despite her saying stop, he continues to pressure her so she slaps him. After an argument, Brad warns her that she’ll never work again. It’s important to note that she picks up her cell phone before storming out.

You see, she’d managed to record it all and turned to the people who could help: Deacon and Zach. With this information and the women from before, Zach is able to buy Shiney New for a fraction of its worth and Brad’s life is in ruins. If he doesn’t, Alannah will use the recording to see him completely destroyed.

It’s not quite what we wanted to see. After all, Brad is still able to go on harassing other women, but it’s a win for Alannah. She manages to get on tour with the Luminaires in the end.

The band gets back together

As for a music career, Daphne and Alannah aren’t the only ones who are able to get their careers off the ground again. Gunner, Avery, and Will get their band back together and go on tour. We don’t see too much of it but do see that they’re popular. It’s just a snippet of a happy ending for them.

They’re not the only ones getting a happy ending. Scarlett is engaged–by the way, that was Claire Bowen’s husband, Brandon Young.

What about Avery and Juliette?

The big part of the Nashville you want to know is a good one. When Juliette decides to sell the house and move out to a farm, Avery feels like she’s being impulsive again. Hallie decides to tell Avery the truth about the pregnancy, which leads to Avery rushing to Juliette with questions. How was she going to hide this?

Juliette didn’t want to hide it but makes it clear that she didn’t want to trap Avery into a relationship he didn’t want to be in. She wants Avery to want her and that’s not going to happen, so she’s moving on.

It all looks bittersweet, until the very end. Avery decides that, actually, he can’t live without Juliette. He needs her and his small family. Juliette and Avery have made it to the end and Juliette certainly looks like she’s benefiting from the quiet life in the country. We can believe that this is the way it goes.

And that’s it…

Wait, what about Rayna?

Ah yes! Deacon sees Rayna before going on the stage at the Ryman. Well, it wasn’t Rayna but it was. Deacon was thinking back to his wedding night and it all seemed real. Scarlett broke the memory to get Deacon on stage.

It was a sweet and beautiful moment for all those Rayna and Deacon fans out there; those that just wish Rayna could still be alive. We got a final moment between Rayna and Deacon and it was perfect.

The ending was the best thank you to the fans

Honestly, the ending caused the tears and the lump in my throat. In the final moments of Nashville, Deacon and Gideon take the stage. Maddie and Daphne then join, and then Scarlett, Gunner, Will, Avery and…

Wait, it turns out that it’s the actors. All the main actors throughout the course of the show take the stage, including Connie Britton, Eric Close, and Will Chase. Then there’s the crew who join and it’s clear we’re no longer part of the show and this is the very real thank you to the fans. Finally, showrunner and EP Callie Khouri takes to the stage to share her personal thanks to the Nashville fans past and present.

What did you think of the Nashville finale? Which was your favorite moment? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Thank you, Nashville, for everything over the last six years. You will be dearly missed.