DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

ALEX STRACHAN

MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

GARY EDGERTON

TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
 
 
 
Everyone’s Fanning the Fire When ‘Empire’ Returns
March 22, 2017  | By David Hinckley  | 4 comments
 

About the only way things could have gotten hotter on Fox’s Empire would be if they set the whole thing on fire.

When Season 3 resumes Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, they set the whole thing on fire. Well, Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard, top) does, as part of his high-profile promotion for a new album.

So the return of Empire becomes either a glorious explosion of heat and light or another devil dance, depending on how you feel about Lucious.

It won’t be any big spoiler to say he does little to make himself warmer or fuzzier as the season’s second round of episodes launches.

Neither, for that matter, does his ex-wife Cookie (Taraji P. Henson, top). They declare war on each other, which also won’t be any big spoiler since they do that as often as most couples make a pot of morning coffee.

At stake, nominally, is control of Empire Records, since they recently were named co-CEOs. Yeah, that’ll work.

The first victim of their crossfire is son Jamal (Jussie Smollett, left), and we can be quite sure he won’t be the last. Jamal spent the first half of the season slowly cracking up from PTSD, from which he has suffered ever since Freda Gatz shot him when she was trying to shoot Lucious.

There’s minimal gunplay in Wednesday’s episode, though that doesn’t measurably decrease the level of violence that hangs in the air of Empire.

Let’s just say, for one thing, that even though Cookie doesn’t have great form swinging a baseball bat, she compensates with enthusiasm.

The show also tends to its various subplots, including the rivalry between female artists Nessa (Sierra McClain, below) and Tiana (Serayah).

They’re each part of an intramural team in the Lyon family. Nessa is the girlfriend of Andre Lyon (Trai Byers, below), who is officially aligned with Lucious in wanting to feature Nessa.

Tiana is the girlfriend of Hakeem Lyon (Bryshere Y. Gray), who is aligned with Cookie in wanting Tiana featured.

In fact, there are several deceptive appearances in those lineups, but whatever the backstory, Wednesday’s episode sets up a public showdown between Nessa and Tiana that should make all the highlight reels.

As Empire approaches the 40-episode mark, it does run into a familiar issue. With only a finite number of core characters, more of its mix-and-match clashes become repeats.

So far, however, it has come up with enough variations that viewers don’t feel like they’ve seen the whole dance before. It also spins a number of subplots from odd acquaintances and past misdeeds of the dysfunctional Lyon family.

Lucious’s loose cannon mother Leah (Leslie Uggams) is back, the scheming Anika Calhoun (Grace Gealey) steps forward again, and we definitely haven’t reached the peak of the drama with Cookie’s boyfriend Angelo (Taye Diggs), whose campaign for mayor Lucious would love to torpedo.

The Empire fire is still burning.

 
 
 
 
 
Leave a Comment: (No HTML, 1000 chars max)
 
 Name (required)
 
 Email (required) (will not be published)
 
JVFDJ
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 1  | Go to page: 
4 Comments
 
 
We shares the passion for this industry in the most advanced way. We provide machining inserts and other products that match the ambitions and goals of your company. We assures you that our machining inserts are tested carefully in quality, repeatability, customer service, and production versatility.
May 31, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
We wins a good reputation in the market for providing the highest-quality cutting tools. When used for threading, milling, turning, boring, or facing, our lathe inserts leave better finishes on metal parts surface, activate high efficiency. We have plenty of options for you to choose from., welcome to our website to learn more about carbide inserts:https://www.estoolcarbide.com
Mar 7, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Estool machining inserts will showcase your brand images and will increase your market. We created these products with the ability to withstand high temperatures during the machining process. We produce a variety of sizes and geometries of these products to fit with existing tool holders. Therefore, no matter where you use it, you can guarantee it perform and work better., welcome to our website to learn more about carbide inserts:https://www.estoolcarbide.com
Feb 28, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Moreover, Estool cutting inserts have high brittleness. There's no need for other processes such as regrinding and cutting after metallurgy sintering and forming. It enhances the cutting smoothness and service of the blade., welcome to our website to learn more about carbide inserts:https://www.estoolcarbide.com
Jan 29, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 1  | Go to page: