9-1-1: Nashville Season 1, Episode 15 Review: Narcissist Can’t Isolate You Anymore

Admittedly 9-1-1: Nashville Season 1 Episode 15 “Bad Girls” was a little heavy-handed with its messaging when it came to Blue and his mother Dixie having a toxic relationship. Nevertheless, I think it worked in showing how Blue has changed. Nashville is if anything a soap. And grandiose overreactions or storytelling moments like this are staples for soaps. But so are heartbreaking moments like what happened between Blue after Dixie kicked him out and the growth that certainly comes after. 

MORE: Need a refresher of last week’s episode? Read our review for 9-1-1: Nashville Season 1 Episode 14 “Hard Knox.”

When I look back at 9-1-1: Nashville Season 1 Episode 1 and compare that version of Blue to the young man we have in “Bad Girls,” I see the clear changes/development. For one he isn’t as one dimensional as a character. In the beginning he just felt like a caricature of the country hick. And it did him no favors in endearing us to him. But as time has gone on, Blue has become a more grounded character because he’s not alone. And I’m not just talking about his girlfriend Taylor, who he has no problem sharing how much he likes her or coming to her when he’s got nowhere else to go. 

Blue also has his father and Blythe firmly on his side. And Don, I expect. That’s his son after all. What I didn’t expect is how Don made it clear that if there’s anything he knows about Dixie it’s that she loves Blue. I do wish that he was a little bit more forthcoming that Dixie did something horrible. But I’ve never had a kid with someone who was problematic. I don’t have a kid at all. So there are complexities there where you might not like the person, but they matter to the person that you care about. That’s what I think Don was thinking about when talking to Blue. 

Then there’s my girl Blythe. I still have no problem saying that she’s my favorite character on the show. And it’s precisely for how she carries herself when it comes to these complex family situations. Example: At the beginning of “Bad Girls” she was helping her husband pick out a new car for Blue because he deserved it. Because he was a good kid. Because he mattered to dawn. But also because he matters to Blythe. 

Blythe does not do what she’s doing when it comes to Blue to spite Dixie or throw her money around. She’s also not doing it to establish some sort of authority in Don’s life as his wife. Blythe is helping out when it comes to picking a car ,and probably paying for it, because wants him to have a good birthday. That’s it. He’s a good kid and she thinks he has a good heart. And I like that Nashville leaned away heavily from what other shows would do aka make it that Blythe would be jealous and try to get in between Don and Blue. Blythe knows who she is, where her relationships stand, and she’s okay with it. 

But back to Taylor for a second here.

I love how Taylor was there to offer Blue some advice that I think weighed a lot more than that suspiciously perfectly timed incident with the son that was locked in a room since he was 11. This is someone he trusts. And it was hard to hear her say that about his mother. But the fact that Taylor framed it as giving him perspective and welcomed him into her home, it shows how much she cares for him, the bond they have, and how again, he’s not alone in this big crazy thing. Because Dixie thought that she had Blue when she kicked him out. She didn’t. And as someone who survived a narcissistic parent, they love to isolate you. 

Despite this being a very Blue centric episode, I do like that Nashville had 2 B plots that could lead to some really interesting storylines. And I’m talking about Roxie and that influencer flirting and then Ryan and Sam having a baby. Both of them are big moments. And I’m particularly happy that we’re getting to see more of Roxie and possible sapphic relationships. Nashville needs more LGBTQ+ rep. And I like that Ryan and Sam are building on their relationship in a new and terrifying way, as happens in marriages. My problem is that I feel like Nashville still needs to work on its core before they bring new people (or children) in. 

For example, I forgot that Blue and Ryan were brothers. That’s how little time they have spent together after it was made such a big deal at the beginning of Nashville that Blue was going to work at the firehouse and Ryan was jealous. Where are they bonding? When are they bonding? Do they still remember they’re brothers? Also, you’re going to bring in some possible love interest for Roxie when I barely know anything about her??? (Which, to clarify, I want the development AND the sapphic relationship.) Maybe we can also have more Taylor and Roxie hanging out, who are apparently really great friends, but we don’t really see them doing anything together besides their job.

Point being, look over at 9-1-1. That show is wild and continuously does ridiculous things. But why do people stay? Because of the relationships between the core characters. And I think that Nashville is on the cusp of finally starting to understand that. I see that in the way that I’m not hating as much on this show week after week because it’s a fun hate watch most of the time. But shocker, I’m actually starting to enjoy this show. But they need to take that leap into strengthening the core characters before they do anything else. That’s going to make them survive anything that comes their way. Guaranteed.

9-1-1: Nashville airs new episodes Thursdays at 9 pm ET on ABC.

What did you think about 9-1-1: Nashville Season 1, Episode 15 ‘Bad Girls’? Share with us in the comments below!