FOX debuted its new series Empire, and I believe they've got a hit on their hands.
In Empire, we follow the life of hip-hop mogul Lucious Lyon, CEO of Empire Entertainment. We see Lucious in the recording studio, helping out one of his artists on a track she is recording. We then see him at the doctor’s office getting tested for something we're unaware of.
Lucious holds a press conference where he reveals that Empire Entertainment will become a publicly traded company on the New York stock exchange.
He later meets with his sons where he tells them that he will choose one of them to take over his pot when he's gone. He lets them know that none of them are capable of doing so at this time, which upsets his eldest son Andre, who believes he is more than qualified to do so.
Cookie, mother of Lucious' son's Andre, Jamal and Hakeem, is released from prison after serving 17 years of a 30 year sentence; released on good behavior.
Andre and Lucious are at a boxing ring, and Andre lets Lucious know that he believes he should run the company. He also informs Lucious that Cookie is now out of prison. Cookie confronts his friend Bunkie, who failed to tell him about Cookie. Bunkie asks for money but Lucious turns him down and tells him to keep an eye on Cookie.
Jamal is at home with his boyfriend, Michael. Jamal tells Michael that his dead will never pick him to take over because he is gay. Cookie then shows up and Jamal remembers when he was younger and visited her in prison. She told him she knew he was different, but that she will always be there for him. Jamal welcomes Cookie and introduces her to Michael. She welcomes them both.
Later, Cookie shows up at Lucious’ office. She demands half of the company since she is the one who put up $400,000 to begin it. Lucious claims he cannot give her half of the company because he only owns 10% of it himself. She then asks for $5 million a year, but he tells her that he can only give her $3 million. She leaves, letting him know that she will get what’s hers.
Cookie then goes to see Hakeem, who is not as welcoming as Jamal. He calls her a bitch and she beats him with a broom.
Hakeem later goes to Lucious. Lucious tells him that Cookie is not a bad person, and that he is spoiled and needs to get his act together. Lucious then reveals that he has some new music for Hakeem to record and release an album.
Cookie finds Bunkie and confronts him about following her. Bunkie admits that Lucious told him to do so, and warns Cookie about Lucious’ war path.
Jamal goes to see Lucious. Lucious tells Jamal that he cannot release an album is he’s gay because their target audience will not buy it.
Jamal has a flashback of when he was a child, trying on his mom’s heels and scarf. Lucious gets angry and takes Jamal away, with an upset Cookie following behind them.
Back at the doctor’s office, Lucious gets an MRI.
Andre is at home in bed when his wife, Rhonda, comes in and gives him his medicine. They talk about the company and Rhonda comes up with a plan for Andre to come out on top. She tells him that they need to get Jamal and Hakeem against each other so that while they’re busy fighting, Andre will be taking over.
Andre goes to see Cookie at her apartment. He apologizes for not visiting her in prison and they hug. He has a look on his face as if he’s up to no good. Andre convinces Cookie to run Jamal’s career and make him a star.
Cookie then interrupts one of Lucious’ meetings. She, Lucious and Vernon, Lucious’ right hand man, talk about Jamal. She threatens to take down Empire Entertainment if she doesn’t get him, and Lucious agrees, claiming he didn’t want Jamal in the first place.
Jamal is performing at a small club, where he has a flashback of being put in the trash can by Lucious because he’s rotten. After the performance, Cookie tells Jamal that he can be big, but he doesn’t want to be, walking away with Cookie calling him a “stupid sissy.”
Hakeem and Jamal meet up and Hakeem tells Jamal that he thinks they’re going to be put up against each other but Jamal says that won’t happen.
Hakeem is in Lucious’ studio, obviously hung over from the night before, and Lucious calls him a disappointment. Hakeem tells him that the song is horrible and throws off his headphones.
Later, Hakeem plays the song for Jamal who agrees that the song is bad and helps him make a new one.
Bunkie goes to Lucious’ house with a gun, angry that Lucious won’t help him out anymore despite their long friendship. He demands money, wanting what he believes is his.
Hakeem performs the new song for Lucious and he loves it, ignoring the fact that Jamal helped. Jamal then leaves and goes to Cookie, agreeing to work with her and come out of the closet.
Lucious is at the doctor’s office where she gives him the news that he is in fact diagnosed with ALS. She gives him about 3 years to live.
We then have a flashback where Cookie makes a drug sale but feels off about it. She tells Lucious that if she were to get caught, that he must not give up.
As Cookie is signing the deal to have Jamal, Vernon tells Andre that he believes he is capable of running the company, and not to forget about him when he takes over.
Lucious finds out that Bunkie is in money trouble with a rival, and later meets up with Bunkie, confronting him about the new information he’s learned. Bunkie admits it but still demands money. Lucious then shoots Bunkie in the head.
Cookie tells Lucious that Jamal will be bigger than Hakeem. Lucious later makes the announcement about the new albums from both Hakeem and Jamal. The war begins!
image courtesy of INFphoto.com