ajsp35801

Something else I am interested in...Vernon and Cookie. He cares about her but she seems to have nothing for him. Wonder what happened there?

I could definitely see this happening.

Right now to me it seems like Andre is kind of being isolated from the other members of the family. Most of his interactions are with Rhonda. We really haven’t seem interact with his younger brothers at all, which I think is interesting. I want to find out what exactly his relationships with his brothers are like. Does he get along with one better than the other? Does he look down on both of them? I get the sense that he’s not really close to either one of them. I remember him brushing Jamal off at the dinner table, in the first episode.

It would help the character if he interacted with other people and had another character in his corner besides Rhonda. Jamal and Hakeem have one parent that favors them and they have each other. Andre doesn’t even have that. Heck he doesn’t even seem to have friends, which I think is sad. Jamal has friends, and Hakeem has a crew of friends, none for Andre so far.

I am interested in learning more about Andre and his backstory. Maybe we will get to see some flashbacks of him as a kid, giving us more insight about him.

I feel the exact same way. I noticed Andre's isolation. I chalk it up to him being "difficult" to deal with because of his illness or being introverted.

Yes, he was around that age. But remember Cookie & Lucious had a lot of things going on back then. That's why I bring up after Lucious got big, you should had a steady person around the kids.

You know that lady that he mention when talking to Hakeem at the club. & Hakeem ask what happen to her & Lucious said she got killed, I wonder did she mention something to Lucious about Andre. & Lucious had her killed or he killed her. Or Andre did something to her, & Lucious cover it up.

Hmmm. This is interesting. Andre kills her for taking his mother's place? I put nothing past this show. Nothing. But I don't think that Lucious would kill her for saying something about Andre. He'd kill her for other things though.

Bunky and Vernon raised the kids. But mostly Bunky it seems.

Good point because when Luc asked him if he was ok, Andre said he was. Luc left it at that. There's no way he would have been as non chalant if he was aware of Andre's condition.

Forgot to add. I know folks were worried about how well Empire would do in week 2, especially since shows usually drop in the second week. But how many folks realize that Criminal Minds was an all new eppy and Empire did better than just maintain?????! I know CM was a concern for many. Empire looks to have loyal viewers already and it will continue to get better

I want to give Trai Byers props. I knew right away that something was wrong with Andre in that scene. He played that perfectly.

NO. The simplest thing is to stop writing his name as if it means: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/luscious

Thank you very much,

A person whose OCD is KILLING him.

OK. For you, I will make the effort.

How she knows that Andre sick in the head, when she was in jail. Lucious or one of the nanny should have told Lucious. Lucious the one who should know.

Andre was older when she went to jail. He had to be at least 8 or 9. Right?

Lucious. LuCious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL...get over it.

LOL Maybe he'll strangle Rhonda to death. He looks like he has the strength.

I hope he does and I hope he gets away with it.

Of course Cookie knows. When she hugged him last week and told him she's glad he made something of himself? Why was she shocked? Because they thought his mental illness would hold him back. Cookie went to jail, so she possibly didn't know about the advancements in medicine for the mentally ill.

Not they...Just Cookie. I don't think that Luscious knows. If they all know then Andre wouldn't be hiding it from them. Andre hides it because he knows that if Luscious knew, he'd rate even lower.

I feel bad for him too. Lucious is all about the musical talent. I think even Jamal rates higher with him than Andre.

Jamal does rate higher. Luscious would not constantly hound Jamal about being gay if he didn't

a) Love him to pieces

b ) see his talent and potential

c) want the best for him

d) want to leave him his empire, pun intended.

Stop it! Now all I want is to take Andre in my arms and tell him it's going to be OK...

I explained where that was. It was a small moment -- but VERY clear. This is going to happen, trust.

LOL..Andre needs that hug...and he needs a more compassionate woman in his bed than that hard witch Rhonda. I saw the previews that he would have scenes with JHud. Do we know if she is playing herself or a scripted character. I want! lol

There's no meat in that. I think Andre while being ignored by his parents, Andre will go completely off the rails and it will not be pretty. I'm expecting some sort of tragedy.

Please let the tragedy be Rhonda!

Jamal came to see her, fine. However, Andre has a mental illness that Cookie is more than aware of. Right now, she doesn't need him for anything, so she is ignoring him. If any one of these guys need her right now, Andre is that person. He's doing too much to win that company, and its clearly not good for him.

Besides CookieLu being at odds, I'm really intrigued by what will happen with Andre. This will get really bad, and I can't wait.

I also think that Cookie knows that Andre has a mental illness just like she knew Jamal was going to be gay. Her words about being proud of him making something of himself and the way she said it made me think that she didn't expect it because she knew something wasn't right.

I don't see Hakeem being jealous of Jamal. He wouldn't ask Jamal for help. I see Hakeem as Lucious & Jamal as Cookie in that they have an understanding of each other.

I haven't seen the jealousy either. Andre is the jealous one IMO. And, I understand why.

Andre is being horrifically ignored by both parents, and Cookie is the worst when it comes to parenting. She is worse than Luc. Luc is about business. Cookie is about Jamal and using him against Luc. Meanwhile, to make things happen, Andre has gone off his meds [because he probably feels stifled by them] so that he can win this contest and run that company.

My heart goes out to him.

Me too. I feel bad for Andre as well. The audience thinks that Jamal is the one being mistreated. He is. But so is Andre. it seems that no matter how successful he is, he doesn't get respect and is of little worth to his parents because he has no musical talent. That's sad.

The girl said she watch the show twice. Andre stare at Lucious like your're not going to do nothing. Then once things got messy. He goes in the corner, like he's a scare child. Or he's literally trying to restrain himself from actually from doing something.

She mention that he seems detach maybe because his bipolar. The first child will kill for his mother. He condition himself because where he at, to not react off basic instinct.

Ah...I noticed that death stare too along with how he was gripping the railing. At the time I chalked it up to his mania. But I wouldn't be surprised if he goes off the rails and Cookie shows him the same compassion that she has always shown Jamal, thereby, strengthening the bond he has for his mother. And yeah, he might just kill someone before the show ends.

I don't think she'll lose her spunk though. I think she'll just be more cautious and slicker. I don't see Cookie as being one who'll lose her spunk. Just selective when she chooses her battles. Taraji somewhat implied that Cookie becoming refined is her way to appeal to Lucious and stick to Anika.

But I am wondering if this change will backfire and result in her losing Lucious because he seems to prefer her the way she is.

Yes, I figured this was going to be about appealing to Luscious. He seems to feel he needs to put forward a certain public persona and needs a woman by his side that carries herself the same way and understands the need for it. I can't say that it is not the wisest choice as a businessman. However, it's not about who you really are, moreso, it is about the face that you show the world. When Cookie starts using some of her smarts to figure out how to cultivate the right perception in the media whether she has changed or not, Luscious will see her as an asset. I don't think it will backfire at all.

I'm guessing with Cookie saying the f-word that rhymes with maggot. But Shonda failed to realize that Cookie is supposed to be politically incorrect as she has been incarcerated for 17 years. Times changed from when Cookie was last out. Taraji said on Wendy Williams that a part of Cookie's arc is for her to become refined.

Sometimes I get the impression that Shonda does want to be #1. She does not feel threatened by Tyler b/c his material is pure garbage and everyone knows that Tyler relies heavily on tropes and he can't tell a proper story beat to save his life. Plus, Shonda knows that Tyler will destroy himself overtime, which he is doing now. Go and look on his Facebook for Have and Have Nots and you'll see that 90% of the comments are of people saying they are over the show. Shonda knows that with Lee, who has an academy award under his belt, she is going to get a run for her money.

Furthermore, Lee is already appealing to people because he acknowledges his show is a soap. Shonda, on the other hand, can't. She refuses to acknowledge that because she views soaps as being low brow entertainment. Sad because without soaps, there would be no ABC. Hell, GH singlehandedly funded ABC all throughout the 80s.

I agree it was the gay slurs. But my points was that she had no problem with Cookie referring to herself as a B.

I didn't know that this was going to be one of Cookie's story arcs. I should have known since Luscious made a comments about how she behaves. Hmmm. I see why they would go this route but I am kinda sad too because changing her kinda implies that there is something wrong with her. I think she's flawless as is! I wonder if code switching will come into play here.

And I also think that Shonda might be a little threatened. Lee's show is good and has brought in great ratings. And he has something that she doesn't and I don't know whether she is uninterested in having it or the network won't allow it....A majority black cast.

Shonda questioned some of the dialogue on twitter. I am sure it was the gay slurs ONLY that she cared about.

I wondered what point Shonda was making by complaining about the dialogue on twitter. Why do that?

MoTheGreat...the battle is about who will lead the company. I suppose that the person who has the biggest star will take the reins.

I think Anika is supposed to be the stuck up ice queen to Cookie's warm down to earth mother. I think the actress does fine. I am only minimally interested in her just because I don't think she is a worthy adversary. If she was the mother of one of Luscious children and they were married then I would feel differently. But as things stands, she is just a warm body waiting to be removed

I love Hakeem referring to his mother as Satan's kid. That was hilarious.

Not sure why folks are slobbering over Jamal. He's quite dull and the actor has very little presence. What's so complex-he's gay? Hakeem is more complex. He has no clue who he is and is trying to live up to what his father wants him to be. His anger with his mother seems to be the only thing of value he truly has.

The elevator scene still has me reeling. When Fofo opened his mouth, Lucious turned to him and said nothing. Just the look! Terrence knocked my sox off!

I, too, was scared for FoFo in that moment. I knew he was a goner. And FoFo looked very unsure under that gaze.

Folks love Jamal because Jussie is adorable and Jamal's daddy put him in a garbage can when he was a little boy. That sealed it.

But you never know Hakeem can be very childish (based on the past two episodes) and it may reach a point where he reaches for the one thing he knows can hurt/weaken Jamal in his father's eyes and in the world of music...his sexuality. And while Hakeem personally may not care about that, the fact that he's willing to use it or may use it could severely damage their relationship.

True. Damaged relationships and betrayal are the thing of soaps. Here for it all. Loving their relationship now will make me care that much more when it is severed.

I know what you said. All I'm saying is, it didn't come off that way at all, which is why the theory was ignored. All I saw was a man excited to be getting a blowjob. What man (especially one in the beginnings of a manic phase) wouldn't be excited about that? Granted, that Rhonda chick hasn't exactly put herself on the track for an Emmy yet... but still... I just don't see how fear or S&M factors into this at all.

Okay...maybe my eye is jaded. LOL

Thanks!!

Hey Mo./..here are the symptoms of a manic phase

Manic phase of bipolar disorder

Signs and symptoms of the manic or hypomanic phase of bipolar disorder can include:

• Euphoria
• Inflated self-esteem
• Poor judgment
• Rapid speech
• Racing thoughts
• Aggressive behavior
• Agitation or irritation
• Increased physical activity
• Risky behavior
• Spending sprees or unwise financial choices
• Increased drive to perform or achieve goals
• Increased sex drive
• Decreased need for sleep
• Easily distracted
• Careless or dangerous use of drugs or alcohol
• Frequent absences from work or school
• Delusions or a break from reality (psychosis)
• Poor performance at work or school

Got this link to read more if you are interested. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bipolar-disorder/basics/symptoms/con-20027544

Not yet, but I dont trust that they wont have Hakeem throw his sexuality back at him in a heated moment to hurt him, especially if he has Lucious in his ear hyping him up

Of course he will. Just as Cookie called him a stupid sissy. That's what you do when you are angry at someone and want to hurt them. You use the weak spot. You hit them where you know it will hurt. But just because he does that doesn't mean that he cares that Hakeem is gay. It obviously doesn't. No more than than it bothers Cookie.

Why do the two have to be related? It seemed to me she was using sex to convince him and later took harsher actions! LOL

Because as I said, it didn't come off as sex as manipulation. It seemed more fear of her doing. That could just be the acting choices though.