(www.playtimecares.com) - I couldn't do a short recap once again!  This series definitely ended with a bang!

Lucious is playing the piano & his ALS is affecting his vision & coordination.  He flashes back in thought to when he was younger and getting stuck on a song, and how Cookie always bailed him out.  Lucious ask Becky to get in contact with Cookie, who is actually out of town with Malcolm.  Lucious is realizing his mortality and his tribute concert is looking like his last performance.  He truly needs Cookie to make a truly remember-able song. 

Cookie & Malcolm are in a snow covered cabin in the woods.  Cookie is working on the Lucious career concert and Malcolm ask her to take a break.  Cookie reveals to Malcolm that she has only been with Lucious.  Malcolm relaxed her mind with one statement "I'll take it as fast you want.  Because you are in charge."  Cookie milked Malcolm.

Jamal is getting mad love and support at his album signing from the gay community.

Malcolm reveals to Cookie that Hakeem's girlfriend didn't take the money as Lucious told everyone.  Cookie then wishes that Lucious would die so they could make more money off a memorial concert and finally be done with him!

Snoop explains that he joined Empire because of the profit sharing offered by Lucious.  Lucious then declares he will be a god after his new sound drops at his concert.  The feeling of immortality was dampened by getting served papers by Beretti claiming the original scores of several pieces of music, so it can't be performed at the concert legally.

Snoop performs and brings Hakeem to do a freestyle.  Hakkem lets Lucious know that he doesn't approve of him as a father, that he is leaving the company, and he is sleeping with Anika.  He then shoulder bumps Lucious as he leaves off the stage.  Lucious catches him backstage and punches Hakeem in the face.


Jamal lets Hakeem know to let go of the hate and think about Empire Records once their dad dies.  Hakeem wants out of Empire and is set on leaving.

Lucious finds out Cookie is somewhere that sparks concern in his psyche.

Andres finds Michelle, his therapist, in church and let her know that he is having trouble going back to work.  Michelle makes him start praying agian.

Cookie is showing her pal Carol around Empire Records & finds out that Lucious took away her access.  Cookie speaks death and loliness into the Luscious' life as she leaves.

Malcolm asked Cookie to come to Washington DC with him and he will support her with his new job.  She declines because she is not leaving the company she built.

Andre meets with Lucious to let him know to find a new CFO and that the void filled with darkness within is starting to get filled with God.  Lucious mocks his new found faith.

Lucious finds Jamal and tell him he believes that he can be the future of Empire.  Lucious also reveals to Jamal that he has writer's block.  Jamal brings Lucious back to his old home and tells him to get back to basics.  They trade insults but get a really nice song together.

Lucious lets Jamal know that he has to get the master copy of songs back from Beretti to showcase he is ready to be the head Lyon.  Jamal gets to Baretti's party, ask him to talk outside, and then threatens to throw him off the balcony if he doesn't sign over the master copies.  Jamal tells Lucious to go find Hakeem and finds Hakeem and Anika in lustful escapades.

Lucious finds out that he has NG and not ALS.  His condition is highly treatable.  A new life resurgance begins in Lucious.

Lucious goes to the church that Andre is at and ask him to ring the bell and the NY Stock Exchange when the company goes public.  Andre tells him a harsh "no" so Lucious signs Michelle to a contract to make Andre squirm.

Treatment of Lucious' new condition begins and comes with a sleep aid.  An unfortunate side affect is talking in your sleep.  Cookies in in the room to scold Lucious about converting Jamal to crazy, and Lucious reveals he is not dying and he killed Bucky.  Bucky is Cookie's cousin!!!

Jamal celebrates life by having sex on Lucious' desk; Hakeem is resting with Anika; Andre is disappointed that Michelle verbally committed to his father.  Cookie is contemplating killing Lucious with a pillow.

Lucious gathers all his sons at a table, after a good rest, and have gifts for everyone.  Lucious lets them all know he was misdiagnosed and not dying.  Hakeem gets a private jet to take him to all his shows.  Andre gets a foundation with an $100 million dollar fund to start.  Jamal gets the company.  Cookie shows up and she has a pillow in her box!

Lucious showing Jamal & Cookie bedroom survilence footage

Jamal is put through a minor leadership test by his brothers and passes.  Jamal finds Cookie and Lucious and reveal his plans, but Lucious let him know not to include Cookie in the plans because Cookie tried to kill him.  He reveals that he has cameras in every room and shows Jamal the footage.  Cookie is escorted out the building and then forced in a car by familiar faces to her.

Lucious gets Vernon Turner from rehab and ask him to keep an eye on Cookie.

Cookie was taken by special agents of the FBI.  The FBI revealed that had evidence from a snitch named Shine that implicated Lucious in the murder of Bucky.  They needed Cookie to corroborate the claims.  Cookie refuses.

Anika is talking to Hakeem about getting Andre to do a hostile company takeover with them.  At the Epic Empire press conference, Black Rambo, a rapper, said he wasn't rapping for a homosexual head.  He also stated that Jamal is disrespecting hip-hop by being gay.

Cookie lets Hakeem know they could start a new company, and Hakeem let Cookie know they have another way to get the company back.

Andre comes home to see his wife packing and leaving because of his lack of fight for the company.  Andre decided the takeover was worth it.

The takeover brought  Cookie, Andre, Hakeem and Anika in one room.  Words were exchanged between the ladies which prompted Cookie to throw alcohol in Anika's face and then smack it.
  A fight ensued and Cookie prison training kicked in and she was well into choking Anika before her sons pulled her off her.  They eventually agree to work together to smite Lucious.

Black Rambo is having a rap battle at a club and Andre challenges him to one.  Rambo make homosexual jokes towards and Jamal. Jamal countered with a song that his sin wasn't any worst than Rambo's sin and left the stage.

Tricky, the hostile takeover specialist, reveals it takes $500 million to take over the company, and that he would put up half if Empire record would drop an album for his rapping grandson, who is horrible!  They agreed and Tricky let them know that they just needed a scandal on the CEO and the takeover could commence.

Cookie asked Vernon if Lucious killed Buckey and Vernon confirmed the fatality and explained why it happened.

Vernon went to talk to Andre about supporting his father, but things got of hand because of some rough words. Vernon and Andre started fighting with Vernon eventually getting the best of Andre until his wife, Rhonda, comes in and hits Vernon in the back of the head with a candle holder.  Vernon dies and Andre is about to call the professionals, but Rhonda said it was too much stress to get questioned because she is pregnant.

All the sons are with Lucious when it is time to make the company public and Lucious is looking for Vernon.



The achievement concert for Lucious is commencing and going over well.  Jamal goes to find his father sitting down and staring in the mirror.  Lucious reveals to his son that his real name is "Dwight Walker" and that Cookie doesn't even know that.  He goes on to explain that he was orphaned at 9 years old and he made up the Lyon name to survive in the street.  He tells his son he loves him and always loved him. The FBI barges in and arrest Lucious for Bucky's murder.   Lucious believe Cookie told on him.  Lucious yells to Jamal to do their song for the concert.  FBI reveals that Vernon is their key witness in their trial against Lucious!  Rhonda unknowingly helped Lucious!

Show ended with Lucious claiming to be unstoppable and that he will be back soon.

(www.playtimecares.com) - I didn't realize it, but I made a long recap!  I really was into this week's episode.  I still will not watch the previous episodes! I will give you a much shorter version to read!

You find Andre (Trai Byers) and his family is in his therapy session waiting for one seat to be filled...Lucious (Terrence Howard).  Lucious decided that he didn't want to see his son in a messed up condition, so he opted to not join the rest of his family while they try to heal Andre through positive comments and positive reinforcement.

Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) is having a hard time understanding how Michelle's (Jennifer Hudson) music therapy can help her son, and is also having a hard time believing that her son has bipolar disorder.  Cookie feels as though things of that nature, those type of weaknesses, afflicts only White people.  Once Cookie is informed that during her time in prison, Andre suffered an episode, it reduced Cookie to apologies of not being their to help her son.

Lucious reveals to his lawyer that he wants to marry Cookie again, and that he will take shares of the IPO from his sons and give it to Cookie so she would be more inclined to sign a prenuptial agreement.  He also let his lawyer know that they did not come up with the IPO, but only Lucious came up because he built up the company, which obviously shook his lawyer up.

Malcolm (Derek Luke) lets Cookie know that he can not be around her because he has fallen for Cookie.  Cookie decided to test that theory by allowing Malcolm to test some Cookie!


Jamal (Jussie Smollett), after recording a nice track, tells his lover that he wants to take care of his daughter, Lola, and his lover is not 100% sold on the idea.  Jamal said that he wants Lola to move in with him and be a father to Lola.

They flash to Olivia (Raven-Symone)trying to get on a bus, but a guy name Reggie grabs her and tell her its time to get Lola!  Reggie and Olivia ends up at a bar/club that Lucious lawyer is, with cocaine in hand, and let him know that they want Lola back.

Olivia calling Reggie a "Little Nasty" in her mind!

Lola is having trouble falling asleep in because she says that the "scary bird" will get her, but Jamal promises her that there are no monsters, scary birds or anything that he would not be able to protect her from.  He even pulls out the singing skills, and help from brother Hakeem, to help serenade Lola to sleep.

Rhonda (Kaitlin  Doubleday) is trying to convince her husband, Andre, to get up and to get ready to sign the IPO paperwork.  Andre is hurt that his dad did not come see him while he was in need, so he gave Rhonda power of attorney and sent her as a proxy to sign the paperwork.

Lucious tries to tell cookie that he wants to marry her, but is interrupted by Jamal letting him know he wants to raise his daughter and take him from Lucious' house.  Lucious is not a fan of his gay son exposing his granddaughter to that type of lifestyle.  Jamal reminded Lucious that his daughter may end up like him, or even like Andre, and asked if he could accept Lola in such a state.
Lucious comes up on Cookie to let her know about Jamal's request, and Cookie happened to be on the phone with Malcolm letting him know she wasn't wearing panties!  Cookie hangs up and let Lucious know to support his son's decision.  Lucious tries to propose to Cookie again but is interrupted by Hakeem and Camilla.  They want to show Lucious the photos of Hakeem from a photo shoot Camilla just did of him, plus introduce the new sound of Hakeem.  Hakeem belts out a track sounding like Drake and the style is well received. 

Lucious brings Camilla to his office, locks her in, call Malcolm to escort her off the property and gives her a check to leave his son alone.  Camilla rips up the check and wishes a hurtful death on Lucious and promises that she will be back to be with Hakeem.  She is escorted out quietly and seen crying in the limo with Malcolm.

Time to sign the IPO, but Rhonda sees that the shares weren't given as previously promised.  Cookie is irritated with the notion that Lucious would steal from his own sons, but is subdued when Lucious stated that he gave extra shares to her.  The lawyer burst into the room with Olivia and Reggie and things gets interesting.  Lucious ask for an explanation of bringing them into his home, but realizes his lawyer is high and sends him home so he can deal with the 2 new additions to his day personally. 

Reggie takes off his jacket and Cookie ask him about his tattoos.  Cookie figures out that one tattoo is a raven, which is a bird...which triggers thoughts of Lola saying that she was scared of the "scary bird" from Jamal.  Jamal then ask Olivia if Reggie has been hurting Lola, and Olivia just simply stated, "Help me."

Reggie impatiently asks for Lola and Jamal approaches his abruptly, which causes Reggie to pull out a gun.  Reggie explains that Jamal took his lady and impregnated her, and he wants to kill Jamal for doing so.  Jamal gets closer to the gun to call Reggie's bluff.  Lucious steps in and tell Reggie to shoot him because no one in the room would mind him getting shot and killed, for various ills he has done to the all. One more thing of why he should be shot, he was the one that impregnated Olivia, not Jamal!

Lola is Lucious' DAUGHTER, not GRANDDAUGHTER!!!

A confused Reggie grabs Cookie by the throat and threatens to shoot her, but is quickly shot in the forehead by a Malcolm.  Cookie tells Lucious that she wished that Reggie would have shot and killed him.

The next day Lucious reveals to Cookie that he wants to be a union once again with her.  Cookie declines and tell him that he only does not wish to be alone while he is dying.

Olivia reveals that Reggie threatened to kill Lola and herself, so that is the reason she went to Jamal.  She knew Lola would be safe with him.  Olivia never wanted to give up Lola, and now wants to be a great mother to her stress free and feeling safe to be with Lola.

Cookie ended the show by asking Malcolm to take her some place private with him...


Great episode!  I could not make this recap any shorter!

One question:  Is Olivia and Lucious certain that they created Lola?  That chocolate cutie from those two seems improbable!  Genetics are tricky though...

(www.Playtimecares.com) - I finally have decided to bend, not break, and watch "Empire" on the Fox Network. Being that I am Playtime, I am going to recap based off just seeing the most recent episode!  Crazy?  Possibly!  Yet, that is what Playtime is all about!

First off, I must admit, I can see why so many people watch this show.  From the intro alone, I see that I missed much action and drama with this show.  From the intro, I see that the main character, Lucious Lyon, who is the CEO of Empire Entertainment, has gotten back with his Ex-wife, Cookie Lyon, for a night of passionate and familiar play!  Only problem with that is Luscious is engaged to Annika!  She is seen going towards a mansion and pulling off her engagement ring and stating she is seeing someone named "Baretti."

I also see from the intro that Luscious has sons that are complicating his goal of turning over the company to one son.  One son, Jamal, is gay, and Lucious is not graciously handling that.  The other son, Andre, is battling severe mental illness, which is demonstrated in clips of him being forced to take medication and him playing Russian Roulette with himself!

Remember, ALL THIS HAPPENED IN JUST THE INTRO/PREVIOUS EPISODES RECAP!!!





I must admit, I am already intrigued by the show with just an awesome intro.  You find Luscious and Annika planning for their wedding with a wedding planner and Cookie, with a friend in tow, walks in and completely ruins that event.  Cookie lets Lucious know that Annika was going to scoop the company up from underneath him once he got married, a fact that Annika could not deny, and then starts to forcibly remove all of Annika's possessions from the home she was sharing with Luscious.  Cookie even had her friend take Annika's phone when she called for Baretti to come pick her up.

Lucious tried to sway Annika to stay...didn't work.
Lucious tried to sway Annika to stay because his sickness with ALS made him weak with his ex wife...didn't work.
Lucious tried to sway Annika to tell him what information that she leaked to the rival record company, Creedmoor Records and owner Baretti...didn't work.

Annika simply got into a limo with Baretti, which was followed by an intense stare down between Baretti and Lucious!

Now it is a mad dash to save Empire Entertainment.  Lucious & Cookie are assessing damage to the company with the help of his sons.  Introduce a third son, Hakeem, into the mix...and he seems mentally unstable as well.  He asked his dad if he wanted him to put C4 around the Creedmoor Records building...let that sink in for a moment...C4...why does he even have C4?  Lucious denies that request!

Creedmoor Records and Empire Entertainment must be the only 2 major record labels because ever artist is deciding where they will now go.  In an attempt to get the remaining, undecided artist, members of the Lyon's family go work on their ties and relationships with the free agents.  Even with good connections, Lucious and Jamal are still at odds because dad is not accepting of his son's lifestyle...but you see dad is starting to soften his stance a tad bit.  Dad is also noticing that Andre is starting to lose mental grips with reality.  Dad also has to deal with Hakeem feeling like he isn't getting enough attention and respect in the race to own the company!

The Lyon's family was able to get 3 major artist because one liked the voice and talent of Jamal, which Jamal reminds his dad that sexual orientation aside, he is talented.  Another signed because she dated Hakeem and the Lyon's family treated her well.  The other was signed because Cookie, who stated she did 17 years in the federal penitentiary, out drunk several men to win their respect.  As Cookie was leaving from her drinking exhibition, someone tried to purse snatch her, but her security team hopped out the car and beat the assailant up.  While trying to put the inebriated Cookie into the vehicle, she made very strong advances to one guard in particular who proclaimed his loyalty for Lucious.

The show ended very strongly with Lucious having security force Andre to stay inside of Empire Entertainment while everyone else did artist procurement.  When Lucious came back to the office, Andre was bugging out big time.  Andre exclaimed that he should be given the company because he knew Lucious was a murderer!  Where did that come from?  EMT workers came into the office and sedated and removed Andre before anything else could be said.

What did I truly miss with this show?  Andre told his dad he is a murderer...who did he kill...darn it, may have to watch all the other episodes!  Why are both record companies pulling guns on each other during the show?  What did both of the record executives do before they were into music?  Why is their only 2 major record labels?  Will a son eventually start a company and try to divide the empire?

All in all, this show has enough hooks and intrigue to have this on my DVR from this point forward.  I have missed many episodes, and now there are only 2 weeks left to view a really well written show.

Audio File for your listening pleasure