The Finale
Jessie’s ex, the evil person who owns a record label (you can tell he’s evil because of his dumb glasses and fidget spinner) is talking to Deacon about buying Highway 65, which as we all know, is going broke. Deke, our noble Deke, of course is not having it. But the bad news for the label is only getting worse — Zack cut off the lights and phones!!
Some lady I’m pretty sure we’ve never seen before who is, I guess, Highway 65’s accountant, tells Deacon that it’ll take three days to resume electric service, and the power company needs a deposit, but their bank account is empty. And they’re also about to be overdrawn. Seems like this person should have been in all the meetings from the start? Anyway, Deacon wants to move everyone to his house, but then he has a better idea …
Deacon moves the entire label to some dude’s recording studio! Well, that’s nice of that dude. You know how it is, when you run a small business and then some guy you know is like, “Hey, can I move my entire office of a few dozen people plus musicians to YOUR office while I sort out our billionaire partner who is fucking us over out of petulance?” Kacey Musgraves is there. Everyone starts to “jam.”
Deke finds Zack, who is like, "I spent my whole life trying to be nice, but when I’m pushed too far, that ends! I never lose! I am a baby!" So now he threatens to choke the life out of the label and everyone who loves it. Billionaires, man. IDK.
But that’s not the only drama that’s happening: Remember how Juliette stole Maddie’s song? Of course you do. And they’re nominated for awards in the same category. And they’re at a pre-party for the awards, and you can tell it’s a great party because Daphne and at least one other kid is present. ALL the best parties involve 13-year-olds. Anyway, Daphne cracks, and tells Deacon that Juliette/Maddie are feuding because Juliette took the song. This is the first he’s hearing of this, I guess. He goes to confront her and ask WTF. Juliette says she feels super-duper bad but she cannot bake it right. Deke says regardless of what happens with Zack and the money, Juliette is off Highway 65.
Jessie’s evil ex meets up with Zack to talk Highway 65. The gentlemen are basically like, egotistical narcissist game recognizes egotistical narcissist game, so they think they should work together to suck every penny dry from the label, or whatever. One of them literally says “every exploitation of every artist brand,” and I’m legit surprised they’re not smoking cigars and propping their feet up on orphan footstools. See, Deke: These are bidnessmen.
Meanwhile, all the dorks are still “jamming” at the studio. And I guess Gunnar’s back from Avery’s tour! Scarlett (an organic bell pepper that you know costs way too much money) tells him the Bluebird has asked them to play its 35th anniversary show. Since he’s been on the road for, like, two weeks, he has a whole new perspective on the world and his relationships and he’s ready to try and make it (emotionally) on his own.
Juliette calls Avery (still on the road, still dealing with that girl flirting with him by insulting his wife) to tell him about how bad she feels re: screwing over a teenager. But she never gets a chance, because Avery tells her all about Highway 65’s problems. She asks if nothing can be done, but Avery says nope: they’re dealing with two vain, ego-driven jerks. Juliette’s like, "Hey, I’m a vain ego-driven jerk, maybe I can find a way out of this!"
Will is still Zack’s boyfriend I guess, and he tracks him down to again ask WTF is your problem. Zack tells Will that he’ll never have to worry: he jump-started his career, it’s only his friends he plans on choking to death or whatever. Will says that he loves his friends, and he will never sell them out, and so they break up.
I think Pam Tillis should just join the cast next season, because here she is again, giving everyone her love before the big 35th anniversary party at The Bluebird. Here’s what else happens at that party — glasses girl (Alyssa) from the label kisses Deacon. But who cares? That’s not even a thing! Don’t try to trick me and act like that’s a thing. Deke’s not having it and neither am I.
Naturally, Gunnar still wants to talk to Scarlett about the feelings he doesn’t have, this time right before their show. Only instead of talking about his problems, this time he picks apart everything that’s wrong with her: which is my job. Rude. He tells her that she needs to stop picking apart everyone who loves her. So yeah, now is a great time for them to sing a sad love song together!
What else, what else: Oh, yes, remember Mackenzie the terrible journalist who wrote those cruel stories about our favorite people? Well, this time Juliette has decided that they can work together. Juliette tells her all about the drama with Zack, who is not at all happy that a journalist who somehow got his personal phone number is going to write a story about how a petulant billionaire fanboy is destroying the legacy of Rayna Jaymes. And that’s not the only good deed Juliette is doing via journalism: She is withdrawing herself from the ACM nomination, and allows Mackenzie to publish the story about how she stole Maddie’s song.
So Zack has a breakdown in the offices. He’s very sad, and he’s sorry that Rayna’s only support was a “sideman” like Deacon (BURN). But Deke pivots: Instead of being all smashin’ like he used to be, he decides to act all paternal. He asks Zack why he hasn’t left yet: it’s because he’s lonely! The loneliest person Deacon’s ever met, which must be pretty fucking sad since Deke theoretically goes to AA and stuff. He suspects Zack has been happy at the label for the first time in a long time, thanks to Will and the gang. He hasn’t left because he LOVES IT at Highway 65, so Deke proposes a partnership. They should work together instead of letting Zack make all the decisions. And, uh, I guess that’s a wrap on the Season for Highway 65? We’ll see!
Also
Daphne and Maddie wonder if Jessie’s going to be “around” a lot. I think probably!
