Another thing that bothered me about this episode is that it didn't even bother to end with at least a semi-formidable cliffhanger. It ended with some playful crap between Lucious and Cookie. Where was the cliffhanger to rope the audience into next week?

No offense but if Empire is not appeasing you then simply give it up. I thought the ending was cute. I don't need every episode of a show to end in some shocking cliffhanger. That crap gets old. Shock element for an ending is played out. Just the cute banter between Cookie and Lucious was enough for me to come back next week.

No offense but if Empire is not appeasing you then simply give it up. I thought the ending was cute. I don't need every episode of a show to end in some shocking cliffhanger. That crap gets old. Shock element for an ending is played out. Just the cute banter between Cookie and Lucious was enough for me to come back next week.

Sorry, I'm not giving it up just yet, but I'm going to offer my criticisms, which I'm entitled to by the way, until whenever. Shock elements being played out for an ending is your opinion of course. I guess this show can get away with all the shoddiness it wants now that it's already been renewed.

Tiana's looking for a come up. Thats been obvious since she decided to date Hakeem after her dropped her name in his song.

Tiana's looking for a come up. Thats been obvious since she decided to date Hakeem after her dropped her name in his song.

True. She waited to see if he was worth her time and energy. I am not mad at her.

Sorry, I'm not giving it up just yet, but I'm going to offer my criticisms, which I'm entitled to by the way, until whenever. Shock elements being played out for an ending is your opinion of course. I guess this show can get away with all the shoddiness it wants now that it's already been renewed.

No one is saying that you can't offer your criticism. I just think that it is refreshing for a show to slowly tell a poignant story [a la Bill Bell] without relying heavily on tropes. Last night was a good episode as Vee stated b/c we got to see Anika and Hakeem become humanized. They went from being flat to round characters; they became complex like majority of the canvas.

I see why Andre became a Ivy League. Between the drops & hiding guns. He made sure that he didn't have to do that anymore.

I see why Andre became a Ivy League. Between the drops & hiding guns. He made sure that he didn't have to do that anymore.

I think Andre was doing what most rich people in this country do. Connections.

I think Andre was doing what most rich people in this country do. Connections.

I'm talking about when he was young.

I loved this episode. It was chock full of character moments. They peeled back layers on a lot of characters and showed us what motivates them.

We saw that Lucious and Anika truly do love each other. The fact that he told her about his illness was HUGE and her response helping him shave was lovely. It was her way of showing that she's got his back every bit as much as Cookie did back in the day. Conversely, we saw how much Lucious wants to protect her even as she continues to try and prove herself to him. He's trying to do for her what he couldn't do for Cookie: keep her safe.

We got a glimpse of what prison was like for Cookie and how forgotten and abandoned she felt. I love how we got a ton of scenes showing us Cookie's bravado then one quiet one with her just talking to another mother about everything she lost.

We saw how Andre has always been the typical oldest child. The one who handles business and steps up to do what needs to be done. It's part of his wiring. Daddy needs an alibi? There's Dre to give him one.

Involving the Nation of Islam was brilliant and learning that they supposedly killed Lucious' father explains a lot about his parenting style as did his pissing match with Beretti. No wonder Lucious is the type of person who would shoot Bunkie in the face. He's been betrayed over and over in his life first by his church then again by his manager. Remember his reaction at the funeral home when he confronted Cookie about talking to the Feds? Lucious is all about loyalty.

We saw that Tiana takes her career seriously and isn't about to let Hakeem's issues derail it.

They did a ton of character work in this episode. I thought it was excellent.

I'm going to offer my criticisms, which I'm entitled to by the way, until whenever.

You can, but we are not entitled to care.

I still like after Cookie told Hakeem that he needs to stop rapping like he's from the hood & rap about something he knows.

In the next scene Lucious telling Hakeem he needs to start fresh.

Edited January 29, 201510 yr by MoTheGreat

They had a 4.3 demo and 11.3 million viewers!!!

Yay! Congrats to Empire.

I'm sorry but Cheap, Eric, or Prince, y'all gonna need to have a talk with y'all bae, Andre. He's starting to scare me.

I still like after Cookie told Hakeem that he needs to stop rapping like he's from the hood & rap about something he knows.

In the next scene Lucious telling Hakeem he needs to start from fresh.

I liked that too. Cookie is right. Hakeem can't be a gangsta rapper. Period. He aint gangsta. His parents are though. Lucious was on point when he told him that Cookie and lived the life and he could use her by proxy to help his music.

You can, but we are not entitled to care.

I didn't ask you or anyone else to care Boo Boo Kitty, did I? I'm not going to engage in this over a tv show. Have a nice day!

Edited January 29, 201510 yr by Vanguardian