It's been three long months, but I am so so so so ready.
Are you Team Cookie or Team Lucious?
Lucious announces the release of his newest album Inferno with a performance featuring Remy Ma.
Did anyone else feel like they should have been clutching a bible while watching this?
Cookie is furious with Lucious for outing Angelo's DUI secret and wants revenge. In the middle of Lucious' album announcement, Cookie brings Leah on stage creating a media firestorm since, remember, up until now, Lucious has maintained that his mother committed suicide. Wanting revenge, Lucious chooses to feature Nessa at Empire's upcoming showcase over Tiana, who Cookie wants featured. The two continue to argue when they go to visit Jamal in rehab (more on that in a minute), Lucious also publicly bashes Angelo in the news and offers a cash reward for any information that can lead to Angelo's conviction for his DUI. The war continues when Hakeem and Tiana crash Nessa's showcase performance, leading to an onstage brawl between the two ladies.
Weaves were snatched, claws came out—it was real. Another addition to the Empire fight hall of fame.
Lucious deals the final blow when he appoints Anika as the head of A&R saying that she is the "DNA" of Empire, but Hell hath no fury like a Cookie scorned.
Cookie accuses Lucious of trying to erase her from Empire and goes on a rampage destroying his many awards and pictures with a bat and bludgeoning Lucious in the process. Lucious stops her and the two share a passionate moment that nearly goes too far. Cookie reiterates that she's done with Lucious and leaves.
Jamal Fights to Stay Clean
Jamal is half way through his rehab program and gets a visit from Cookie, Andre, Hakeem and surprisingly, Lucious. However, the visit quickly goes downhill when Lucious and Cookie get into an argument about who is responsible for Jamal's addiction. Jamal wants to come home and continue writing but Cookie and again surprisingly, Lucious insist that he stay in rehab and complete his treatment. Jamal befriends fellow fallen music star Tory Ash (played by Rumer Willis).
Tory helps him overcome his writer's block and write a song that has been stuck in his head. The two escape to a studio to record the song but are discovered by Cookie and Lucious after the rehab center informs Lucious that Jamal wasn't in his bed. After assuring his parents once again that he is clean and not trying to get a fix, Jamal is left to finish his song. Later, Cookie asks Jamal if he is a dope fiend. Jamal admits he got caught up, but vows that it will never happen again.
Becky Learns the Art of Revenge
Thirsty makes good on his promise to teach Becky how to get back at Xavier for taking credit for all of her work. Becky accompanies Thirsty on a series of "errands," including babysitting Leah, delivering a suspicious package to a radio station and ensuring that a former associate of Lucious' doesn't testify against him in the case. Although Becky is initially suspicious of Thirsty's practices, she is pleased when Xavier is framed for accepting kickbacks from radio stations due to Thirsty's actions and is fired and walked out of Empire's headquarters. Unfortunately, this doesn't result in Becky being promoted to head of A&R (see above).
Will Becky ever win? #QTNA
Other things we learned in this episode:
- All of the Lyons seem to have an affinity for three things, cutthroat business, fedoras and baseball bats.
- Nothing stops Lucious from getting it on with the women he loves/lusts after—not morality, not family, not shards of glass in his hand, not even a concussion.
- Shine is a member of Team #theyneverspellmynameright too!
- Cookie's anger leads to abuse by cleaning products, destruction of property and days off for the security staff.
- Tariq's case against Lucious is officially ruined and he is being put on paid leave—maybe he'll use the time to learn how to properly eat asparagus.
Stay tuned for tonight's episode!