Don Complicated His Backstory in 9-1-1: Nashville Way Too Much

Sometimes stories get a little too convoluted, and that’s certainly the case for Don Hart’s backstory in 9-1-1: Nashville.

I don’t think anyone was all that surprised when the 9-1-1: Nashville promo revealed that Ryan and Blue are half-brothers.

With the tease that this series would be soapier than the rest of the 9-1-1 universe and the promise of history between Dixie and Don, it was pretty clear how this storyline was going to play out.

Then, the backstory was revealed, and it turned out to be way more complicated than it needed to be.

On top of that, Don comes across as a liar, prompting more questions from Ryan than necessary.

When Did All This Happen?

Look, I really need to know the 9-1-1: Nashville timeline so it all makes sense.

Don tells Ryan that he learned of Dixie’s pregnancy while he was at Disney World with Ryan for Ryan’s birthday, but there’s no mention of which birthday.

So, we don’t really know the age gap between Ryan and Blue for any of this to make sense, or for there to be any reason for Ryan to hate on Blue so much, considering Blue is innocent in Don and Dixie’s backstory.

We can assume he was at least six at the time if he remembers Disney World for his birthday, since that’s when long-term memories form, but nothing is clear.

On top of that, we have no idea how long Blythe and Don were separated, although it was long enough for both of them to hook up with other people.

There’s a mention of summer, suggesting they were separated for a few months, but it wasn’t clear.

The Paternity Test

With all this, Don’s explanation of Blue’s start didn’t make sense.

When Ryan asks for information in 9-1-1: Nashville Season 1 Episode 1, Don explains that Blue reached out to him after doing a paternity test.

It seemed like this was the first time Don had heard he had a son, and then he went on to say that he found out about the baby when Dixie discovered she was pregnant.

What was the point in mentioning the paternity test to Ryan?

It’s almost like the writers had one idea for the backstory, then pivoted without quite changing how things would play out.

In fact, you could tell from the way Don looked at Blue that he knew who his son was.

It would suggest that Don knew this man, almost as if they had spoken to each other, as Blue also seemed to look at Don as if he knew the man.

By the end of the initial reveal scene, I was scratching my head, trying to piece the timeline together and figure out who knew what.

Blythe’s Story Made a Lot More Sense on 9-1-1: Nashville

Granted, Ryan didn’t exactly ask that many questions in the 9-1-1: Nashville series premiere.

He wasn’t too interested in getting all the facts.

There’s a bit of confirmation bias at work for him, as he got the information he needed, which allowed him to side with his mom.

The problem is that the whole story wasn’t there, and Blythe’s explanation made a lot more sense.

Not only did she make it clear that they were separated when the pregnancy happened, but she also made it clear that she stood by her husband.

Don should have told Ryan that he and Blythe had already discussed the situation.

Do I believe that children need to be told everything their parents are discussing or have experienced?

Not at all!

However, if you’re going to tell the story, make sure to do so clearly.

Blythe was able to clarify a few things, including that she and Don sent money to Dixie to raise Blue.

It’s not like they were deadbeats, which is the way they could have been viewed as, since Don knew that he had another son out there.

By the end of the 9-1-1: Nashville series premiere, I felt more confused about the backstory than I did going in, and it could have been explained a lot better.

Here’s hoping the series gets better!

What’s your take on the way Don’s past was handled?

If you’re all in on the world of 9-1-1, then I’m sure you have some thoughts on 9-1-1 Season 9 taking things to space. Check out our coverage!

If you read this whole thing — wow, we’re impressed.
Please consider leaving a comment or sharing it with someone who might enjoy it too. Small actions, big impact — that’s how you help sites like ours thrive.

TV Fanatic is searching for passionate contributors to share their voices across various article types. Think you have what it takes to be a TV Fanatic? Click here for more information and next steps.