If “High School Musical” had dope, gangster older cousins, who occasionally dabbled in cold-blooded street crime, and were run by a pride of ruthless lions, then “Empire” would certainly be it.
The notorious rebel couple from “Hustle and Flow,” Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard, are back at it again, but this time in a regal yet urban way. Lucious, Cookie and their three sons all make up the clan that is bringing us excellence every Wednesday night at 8 p.m.
Empire shows the ins and outs of the drama that comes with running a record label, and how one dysfunctional family handles it. Terrence Howard plays the rap mogul Lucious Lyon in this Fox series. He has three talented sons Andre, Jamal and Hakeem who contribute greatly to help Lucious’ reigning Empire Entertainment.
Season one opens up Pandora’s Box of pandemonium. In 12 episodes co-creator Lee Daniels managed to fit in a multitude of jaw-dropping moments. Cookie Lyon, played by Henson, is released from prison after 17 isolated years of taking the blame for an illegal scandal for her former husband Lucious. After she’s released, she has one goal and one goal only: to get half of what is rightfully hers: Empire. However, this goal isn’t easily fulfilled. She’s got a lot of manipulating to do when it comes to her three sons, ex-husband and his new wife Anika Calhoun, played by Grace Gealey.
In the first episode, Lucious is fatally diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Because of his sickness he begins to groom one of his three sons to soon become the head of Empire. While this good-natured idea seemed pleasing at the time, the three brothers eventually begin competing with each other, secretly planning each other’s demise to secure their position as CEO. Cookie and Anika are also going head-to-head competing for their entitled positions at Empire, as well as Lucious’ love and affection. But the drama doesn’t stop there; this love triangle eventually adds another person.
Though this pride of Lyons may have the desired disposable income many people seek, what makes them no different from others is the family drama that infiltrates their business. This show manages to cover an array of controversial topics including politics, race, infidelity, homosexuality, incest, mental illnesses and much more. “Empire” is full of mind-boggling moments that will leave you completely speechless after each episode.
“Empire” also brings a much needed rawness to the stereotypical Fox network. It’s fresh, unfiltered real-life episodes are brought together by a talented cast of seasoned and upcoming actors and singers. The characters allow you to identify with them through their ups and downs throughout the season; it’s easy to build a relationship with this family. This show truly is for everyone, and its ratings prove it.
Since its January debut, the show’s viewers have risen each week according to theurbandaily.com. It has beat out popular shows like “Scandal,” “The Walking Dead” and “How to get Away with Murder.” Social networks are buzzing each Wednesday night about the drama that has unfolds in this royal family. The season finale alone had an estimated 16.7 million viewers. This has been one of the greatest first seasons for a show since Shonda Rhimes’ “Grey’s Anatomy.” It’s a musically inclined “Glee” meets “Scandal,” and even has its own soundtrack, which is available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon can be streamed on Pandora and Spotify.
“Empire” has reminded viewers of the emotional rollercoaster a well-written TV series can bring. For a while, we’ve been consumed by the false reality of the typical reality TV shows and have been guilty of making insignificant people famous through mere discussion. Fortunately, “Empire” is worth talking about, and the promotion around it definitely reflects that. If you’re looking for a raw, scandalous show that features an unpredictable storyline, with a revolving door of A-list celebrity appearances and an incredibly talented cast, then “Empire” is undeniably for you.
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