Empire

[sugarhigh]

I finally caught up to episode 4. Love this show. That last scene between Lucious and Cookie was HOT, I really like the flirting that was going on there.

[GirlyGhoul]

This episode wasn't quite as edge of your seat dramatic as the past three have been. But there was still lots of information to absorb- and gorgeous set designs to oggle. Hakeem put his bathtub right in the front room... of course he did! And yeah he gave his sorta girlfriend a key so she could walk right in (to his bathtub room!) on his mama!girlfriend. Just like he fell for his Daddy asking to 'just see' his prized tickets. Hakeem is dumb. I can't believe Luscious considers him in the running for his Empire over Jamal or Andre (And yes, *I'd* still like to be in the running for the Empire!!! I wouldn't mind having a luxurious hot tub to step into... directly from my front door!)

I was kind of disappointed in Jamal this week. His need to stay true to himself and his art is admirable... as is his refusal to accept handouts from his Daddy or Mommy. However, living in a closet sized apt. and eating rat burgers with his boyfriend is not going to win him the Empire anytime soon. What happened to his dream of rising up and crushing his Dad? His street inspired 'I don't need money!' song might turn out to be a hit... but I doubt it'll actually crush anything his Dad comes out with, esp. if he gets this Titan 'Next Tupac! WOOOOO!' Guy onto his label. I applaud Jamal for refusing the cash Cookie tried to slip in his pocket... but the check the Leviticus gig was money legitimately earned and could have at least bought him and boyfriend another pizza. (Does boyfriend have a job? Maybe he should at least be the Cookie to Jamal's Luscious and at least help with the funding of Jamal's musical musings until this supposed 'Empire Crushing' actually happens)

But while I was cheering him on before, I'm now thinking Jamal doesn't have the stomach to play with the big boys and girls. Not when some of the big boys are Judd Nelson! Hee!! I love the casting on this show!! Judd Nelson, ironically played a sleezy record exec in one of my favorite silly movies, 'Airheads'. But he was a very different kind of sleezy record exec, so I give him major props for not falling into the same acting pattern. He's definitely an evil type guy, putting his name on the artist's songs and all... but he also seems like he could be evil in the same sense Luscious is. There's probably other bodies floating in various rivers in the name of Judd Nelson!Records. (Does he stutter? Nope...)

Luscious isn't easily shaken though... Although he did give a pretty big candy chomp when the Detective started questioning his whereabouts on the night Bunky bit it. I don't think Andre's belated cover up was at all convincing to the Detective, but he's probably not going to be able to pin anything on him anyway any time soon. Shakespearean Homeless Dudes pointing out the 'Lyon' stalking the jungle probably wouldn't hold up in court. But poor Andre. Not only was he barely in this episode, he's been hiding Daddy's gun in his Lego's from an early age. And still not getting as much attention as Hakeem!

Other than all that, I'm kinda digging Tianna in a way. I think the actress is pretty wooden- but I like that her character is taking charge of her career and realizes that Hakeem is an idiot, but an idiot who can help her career if she's seen with him. I also am finding Anika more worthy of props. She's no Cookie. Not even close. But she's more than just a Boo Boo Kitty... and Boo Boo Kitty may turn out to have some claws yet. Can't wait!!

[save lilo!]

Jan 30, 2015 12:30:33 GMT -4 sugarhigh said:

I finally caught up to episode 4. Love this show. That last scene between Lucious and Cookie was HOT, I really like the flirting that was going on there.

I love these scenes. Their relationship should be more contentious but yet, they clearly still appreciate and respect each other.

I hope Cookie gets some lovin' soon (and not just from Cuba).

[scarletprincess]

OMG that was Judd Nelson??? I didn't realize!! Judd Nelson. Wow.

I still think the background dramatic music leading out of scenes is so melodramatic, like it's from the 70s. Doesn't seem like it fits, but it does greatly amuse me about this show.

[zacandmax]

Cookie has the BEST lines, "If you mistreat my boy..." (pats Chanel handbag) "I'm handling. My name's Cookie, ask about me." Taraji is the show.

[codert]

Yes she does!

"Dead bitch walking, that's me out here right now."

[GirlyGhoul]

Oh Cookie! Don't crumble!! This woman is amazing! How in the world did Luscious allow her to rot in jail for 17 years! If he'd had her around, they not only would have had this IPO or whatever it is by now- they probably would have literally taken over the world. Not just the music world the WORLD. We'd all be bowing to Empress Cookie and loving it!

But she believes she has a hit man stalking her- and yet she still manages to get help her son finish his hit recording (and offer advice to what it needs/ doesn't need), fix her other client's PR boo boo, and hire a hit man to off her hit man- and almost all within the same taxi ride! Really, instead of trying to marry Anika in order to get her father's fraudulent medical exam, he just needs to go to Cookie. She'd either scare the stock holders into giving Luscious what he wants even if he were on his death bed... or else she'd knock the ALS right out of his body with her shoe-letto (heh) and still have time to set up a photo shoot for Jamal's album cover and arrange Tiana's marriage to her now not so secret girlfriend (for the PR!).

Except, I guess technically Cookie is kinda screwed right now. Not that I don't have faith she'll find a way out of it. But yeah, she pulled a bit of a Sons of Anarchy there by arranging to gun down an 'innocent' guy. Although, it sounds like this guy was bad news anyway so maybe its not so bad. Unless it turns out that he'd turned his life around completely and was at that moment delivering food to starving orphans and about to donate his kidney to a sick child. And on this show, I'd expect nothing less! LOL!!

I gained more respect for Jamal's musical genius and Cookie-like ability to rise above the obstacles put in his path. However, I've given up on his declaration to overthrow his Daddy's Empire. That's just not going to happen the way he's going about it. He's still too squeaky clean, and Daddy's Empire was built on very devious actions. Unless his boyfriend is willing to start selling drugs to fund Jamal's studio time and also willing to go to jail for 17 years for him, it's not going to happen. He still might become a big star in his own right- but he won't be the next Luscious. And that's OK, if that's what he wants. It's just, that's not what he said he was going to do a couple weeks ago.

Hakeem is still so dumb! He has good ideas how to strut and show off (which, hey, that does work to garner media/ fan attention) But just about everything else has to be spelled out for him, spoonfed to him and he needs constant hand holding. He can't deal with Tiana's side piece... but HE has his own side piece... and even his side piece has to hold his hand and mother him through the world. He's just a baby with bling!

Andre, is pure evil genius. I think he's my new favorite bad guy. I don't cheer him on for hurting people... but I do kinda love to watch he and his wife's scheming teaming ways. ("First we shall expose Tiana's secret love affair! And now in the same breath we will send Hakeem's thug buddies to break up Jamal's studio session! And then, let's kick a puppy! MOO WA HA HA HA HA HA!! TO EVIL!!") I know this is supposed to be based on King Lear- but Rhonda gives off very Lady MacBeth vibes. And ironically, Andre is acting more like Iago. So the show is mixing it up all over the place with the Bard!

It's also fun to watch the music come together throughout the course of the episode .Although, the less I think about what ever's going Drip Drop Drip Drippity Drop on the floor, the better! It's even more fun to hear Luscious intone so gravely about what this single/ or video will mean TO THE WORLD!!!! He delivers his lines in the same way he would if he were the President and a giant meteor was heading straight for the Earth... 'Unless you Drop this Drippity Drop, Hakeem WE! ARE! DOOOOOOOMMEDDD!!!' (And then he just randomly paints on the backs of random dancers! Who does that? Luscious Lyon, that's who!)

[Mutagen]

Even though he was totally wrong for doing it, I laughed so hard watching Andre troll Hakeem's friends. He's been in the background too much before this episode and I liked seeing him step up as a devious bastard.

I wanted to throw something at the TV when Anika's dad gave in to Luscious. DUDE. You don't throw away your career until you see a ring on your daughter's finger and a notarized marriage license, and you know for damn sure she's inheriting the empire! Both Anika and the dad need to listen to Anika's mom, who seems to have Luscious' number.

[MrsOldManBalls]

Feb 6, 2015 10:35:07 GMT -4 Mutagen said:

I wanted to throw something at the TV when Anika's dad gave in to Luscious. DUDE. You don't throw away your career until you see a ring on your daughter's finger and a notarized marriage license, and you know for damn sure she's inheriting the empire! Both Anika and the dad need to listen to Anika's mom, who seems to have Luscious' number.

I was expecting Daddy Boo Boo Kitty to wrestle with his conscience a little, or hem and haw longer than he did. I was disappointed in him.

[Atreides]

'Empire' breaks 23-year-old ratings record.

Amazing. It's kind of a perfect storm of timing. This show is clearly finding an audience that is starved to see something more relatable on network TV. #TeamCookie!