Hip-hop artist and CEO of Empire Entertainment, Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard), has always ruled unchallenged, but a medical diagnosis predicts he will be incapacitated in three years, which prompts the sharks to circle.
Without further damaging his family, he must decide which of his three sons will take over. His favorite, young Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray), is a gifted musician but values fame over hard work. Middle son, Jamal (Jussie Smollett), is talented and shy but gay — embarrassing to Lyon.
The oldest son, Andre (Trai Byers), is business-minded but lacks charisma. The reappearance of Cookie (Taraji P. Henson), his ex-wife, complicates things; she says he owes her for taking the fall for the drug-running that financed his early career.
The cast is phenomenal and everyone plays their role exceptionally well. I like the history and depth behind the characters and how quickly we get to know that history. The show has what you would expect of an empire; mainly people fighting, scheming, hurting, hating , and families lying and cheating.
At times, this show reminds me of the film What’s Love Got To Do With It. It’s typical abuse and family drama, put downs, hurting each other, and of course secrets and lies. The fireworks, however (or at least, the hope of them), are just starting, as Lucious’s wife Cookie is released from prison wearing an outfit that makes clear she’s no wallflower, determined to claim a portion of the company she sees as rightfully hers. But securing Cookie’s fortune will require not just reconnecting with her sons, who have grown up without her, but if necessary manipulating them to do her bidding.
Character to watch: Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon.
Journal your answers to the following questions after you watch the series.
- How does this particular character’s journey compare with yours?
- Did the character develop certain characteristics during the movie that you have or that you would like to have? If so, what are those characteristics?
- What obstacles did this character face? What was his or her biggest challenge?
- What would you have done differently if you had been in the same position as the character?
- Is this character the type of person you would be friends with? Why or why not?