As your regular writer, Ryan Eakin, recovers, I am back to give you the lowdown on last night's episode of "Empire": "Cupid Kills."
The show opens up as Lucious and Andre arrive at Shyne's recording studio to sign Nessa to Empire. The tables are quickly turned as we see Shyne has invited the heads of every other major label to create a bidding war over his prized possession. Somewhere in all the commotion, we see the beginning attraction between Nessa and Andre. We also see that Lucious still has yet to decide on a suitable hairstyle. Wet curls? Is this the '80s?!
Lucious blames Becky for not sealing the deal with Nessa weeks ago, but she's quick to remind him that she doesn't have the power nor position to do so. Cookie further crushed Becky's rise to power by informing her that the new A&R hire, Xavier, would be starting on Monday. In Lucious' frustration, he does what he does best — ask for new content for Empire Xstream.
As Cookie walked out of the office, she is musically assaulted by three kids with instruments. This setup was produced by Angelo in an attempt to ask Cookie out on an official date. What's more surprising is that she fell for it, hook, line and sinker. Lucious rains on Cookie's parade by letting her know that Angelo has political aspirations. He drives the point home by saying, "A mayoral candidate wouldn't want a convicted felon his arm."
Hakeem decides to step up and suggests that he try to sign Nessa to Empire. Andre suggests they team up to close the transaction. Hakeem ends up throwing a lavish a party for Shyne and Nessa, including a roasted pig with the Empire logo seared into its flesh. The events are being live streamed as Shyne says he'd sign a contract that night if the money was right. He uses the opportunity to share the $2.5 million price tag camera so the other record labels would have to increase their bid. Rookie move, Hakeem. How do you get punked on your own streaming channel?
Jamal, armed with his PTSD counselor Phillip, goes back to see Freda Gatz in prison. She walks out and we see that her face is swollen and beaten. This attack "by his fans" has Jamal concerned for her safety. She again apologizes for shooting Jamal and he quickly goes into action, trying to get Freda a transfer or even bail. At an emergency bail hearing, the attorney blamed Freda's actions on a fugue state and bring up a past of psychological issues. Jamal testifies and tells the judge that Freda is more a victim of circumstance than an actual threat. Due to his support and the immediate risk to her life while in prison, the judge agreed to grant her bail. Later, Jamal finds out that Lucious was behind Freda's prison beatdown. Lucious intentionally played him, as he does so often with his beloved sons.
Andre meets with Nessa and informs her Shyne has been manipulating her, and that in all reality, she should be running Shyne's company. Apparently there was a deal with her slain brother that Shyne has completely abandoned. He later confronts Andre while in Lucious' office. The two start to fight, ending with Shyne pulling a gun on Andre. Lucious, armed with a bat, cracks Shyne in the head and later (at gunpoint) forces him to sign Nessa's contract.
Cookie has a spectacular outfit scene as she gets ready for her date with Angelo. There were definitely a few times I had to put my eyes back in my head as I was watching. Whew, that body! Anyway, she arrives in a stunningly tight, short red dress and discovers the event is a black-tie fundraiser.
She's instantly mocked by two of Angelo's female associates. In an attempt to put Cookie in her place, the two begin talking about summering in various parts of Martha's Vineyard. Without missing a beat, Cookie fires back that she summered in Connecticut — more specifically at the Danbury Correctional Institution! Later in an awkward bathroom moment, Cookie hears the two women bad mouthing her. She confronts them in true flawless Cookie fashion and walks out with head held high.
Angelo shows up to a live-streaming session for Tiana's new song. Cookie incorporates some of the opera she heard the other night with an empowering song for Tiana's situation with her battling man trouble. Angelo insists that he and Cookie should have no problem working out their differences. As usual, Lucious comes in to spoil the moment. He throws a wrench in the works by mentioning his and Cookie's past, even to the point of disclosing that he gave her the name "Cookie" in the first place. Angelo, unimpressed with Lucious' resolve, lets him know only time will tell his future with Cookie.
The last moments show Shyne arming a squad with an arsenal of weapons. He intends to go to war with Andre and Lucious. He asks them as to the location of Nessa, but little did he know that she was across town with Andre. They started out hesitantly, but Andre starts feeling the moment, hikes up her dress and throws her on the desk. Then he stops. He can't go through with it until … Ghost Rhonda! He literally starts to hallucinate and continues a threesome between himself, Nessa and his dead wife.
While I consider this week's episode of "Empire" more filler than substance, it was still able to deliver a few scintillating scenes that will obviously have us tuning in next week.
Favorite outfit: Everything Cookie tried on in the outfit montage. Great clothes and a phenomenal body are always a win in my book.
Least favorite outfit: Any and everything Porsha was wearing. I understand the look and persona they're going for with her character, but it does absolutely nothing for me. Oh well.