(spoilers ahead)
Andre does all he can to purge himself of his demons this week, but when your father is the most criminally inclined music mogul in the world, that’s no easy task. He’s not much up for celebration, not even after Prosecutor Ford has apparently dropped her charges against Lucious, Empire acquiring Gutter Life, a new sub-label, or even a lapdance hilariously enough. Cookie isn’t amused by her ex’s gloating, still focused on Lyon Dynasty’s various projects, including Laura the bar singer Hakeem discovered last week. Unfortunately Tiana and by extension the label become the target of extortionists, and Cookie vows to find out who’s behind it.
Jamal’s heat between him and eccentric painter/Warhol wannabe Chase One hasn’t diminished much, and drama between the two and Michael is distracting the aspiring Empire head from his collaboration with Ne-Yo in a guest appearance. The R&B icon tries to give Jamal the best relationship advice possible, both ignoring Lucious’s suggestion to just keep his men off the road.
I wonder if Cooks is maybe being a little too forgiving of Porsha after her monumental bungle that got her boss arrested. It might be because Porsha was holding a cute dog, or because she was busy being charmed by concert promoter Laz Delgado (Adam Rodriguez). She confronts Lucious regarding Vernon’s fate, but he’s unwilling to be lectured, let alone even take his former assistant’s ashes. Thirsty Rawlings so far has yet to let him down, who unsuccessfully tries to push Andre into stealing some Lyon Dynasty tracks. But as it turns out, Porsha’s trusty pooch (named “Woopty Woo”) comes in handy as he alerts Cookie and Delgado to thieves hoping to steal their masters, who confess they were sent by Thirsty after Cook and Del pull out their heaters.
Poor Jamal, his troubles continue to deepen even when he’s trying to unwind. While drinking with Becky and talking about his Ne-Yo work, he catches Michael doing some dirty deeds dirt cheap with Chase One on their balcony. After giving the nutty artist the boot, he’s not much in the mood for more of Andre’s angst and confessions the next morning, let alone an invitation to his upcoming baptism. Nor is Lucious, who isn’t much of a holy roller and more or less admits he’s already sold his soul.
More than usual this week, Hakeem is a spoiled brat who nevertheless has a big heart- not a character type you see very often. He pretty much forgets all about the prior animosity he held towards Jamal last week, livid that Andre had previously endangered his big brother’s life. Laura, not giving in to his flirting, gives him a reality check during a party and firmly tells him she’s not interested. We understandably sing the praises of Terrence and Taraji’s performances, but Bryshere Gray does a good job expressing the proper shock after getting shot down. Later, he gives her a sincere apology and a ride home in his limo, showing some good character growth.
Inspired after a studio session with Freda, Lucious gives in and joins the rest of the Lyons for Andre’s baptism- and a verbal smackdown from Cookie over the robberies and bugging Thirsty and him set up. The actual act of the baptism is sadly too much for him, triggering another terrifying memory of his mother and prompting him to leave the church. Later, Hakeem’s reward for gaining a new sense of maturity is a bag over his head and a bunch of goons shoving him into a van during his afternoon jog, in a big setup for next week.
Odds and Ends
– The actual song Jamal and Ne-Yo record together is probably one of the best his character’s done so far.
– So judging by the preview clips for next week it’s doubtful Lucious is behind the continued hits on Lyon Dynasty, barring a Russo or Shyamalan-level twist. As far as possible suspects, maybe Barreti, or Thirsty on his own or- Anika? (Dun-dun-duuuuuuuun.)