Thursday, March 28, 2024

Recap: Empire (S3, Ep2) Sin That Amends

watch-empire-season-3-premiere-online-e1475085937640

In last night’s Empire, guest star Taye Diggs hopped aboard the Empire train, playing a local city councilman. As far as we can see, he’s a good hunk of dark chocolate. But you can bet your new iPhone 7 that councilman Angelo DuBois’s hidden agenda will be revealed in about episode 5. Cookie is already on to “his high siddity ass.”

Like the season premiere, last night’s episode of Empire certainly had its improbable moments. But it’s still significantly better than it was last season when the only thing Lee Daniels didn’t try was a machine that could change the weather.

Oh, wait. General Hospital did that in the ‘80s. Maybe it’s been too difficult for the Empire writing staff to come up with original material. Maybe they can steal Jenifer Lewis from Black-ish for comedic relief.

In the meantime, Lucious (a.k.a Mr. Softee) has been working overtime to woo Cookie back into the Lyon’s den with expensive gifts—all of which she’s rejected.

You can’t fault a brother for trying.

Young Lucious and Cookie are featured in a series of flashbacks that attempt to explain the method to their madness.

Additionally, Lucious has agreed to underwrite the councilman’s benefit event. During his speech, Lucious summons Jamal to the stage to perform. Jamal, however, can’t seem to shake that pesky PTSD. And Angelo can’t seem to hide the feelings he’s developing for the ex-Mrs. Lyon.

Nothing much was happening with the supporting characters on Wednesday. The unemployed Anika got her feelings hurt when Lucious refused to get her a nanny. Anika, did, however, find a bugging device in one of the baby’s teddy bears, which made her husband a little more amorous. The perennially underused Becky with the bad weave (Gabourey Sidibe) is getting pressure from her boo to leave Empire and join him at another label.

The highlight of last night’s show, however, was all the drama poor Andre is going through. Thankfully, Trai Byers (Andre) is getting more screen time, to showcase his talents as one of the better actors on the show. Reportedly, Byers was unhappy with the direction his character was going in Season 2 and threatened to leave. Now, that he’s denounced God, has conversations with his dead wife in the still of the night and has fallen victim to police violence—yeah, he became the umpteenth unarmed black man to get roughed up by the po-po—he might be more inclined to stick around The Empire for a while.

So, two episodes in, it looks like Empire is ready to regain its position as TV’s No. 1 soap. And, maybe in time, it will be TV’s No. 1 show–again. But for now, the show is about a B-.

Miki Turner is a full time lecturer at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and author of the book Journey to the Woman I’ve Come to Love
Miki Turner is a full time lecturer at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and author of the book Journey to the Woman I’ve Come to Love

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!

YOU MAY LIKE

SEARCH

- Advertisement -

TRENDING