Empire Review: Death Will Have His Day (Season 2 Episode 11)

Empire is back with “Death Will Have His Day” and life is as dramatic as ever. The thing is, I’m starting to get the feeling that I’ve seen this all before. So many spoilers ahead.

I mean, did Rhonda really just fall (or get pushed, whatever) down the stairs and lose the baby? I honestly tried to think of something more cliché and I couldn’t. Empire has always been teetering on the soap-opera side (and I’ve, more than once, defended it despite this) but now it feels more like veering than teetering.

I get that Rhonda and Andre’s unborn son is the presumed (eventual) heir to the throne and thus an obvious target, but really? An unborn baby? This isn’t an actual kingdom. It would have been 18 years before he could take over. Eighteen.

I was looking forward to Andre finally having a positive storyline and a baby could have really changed things up for the family. I feel like Empire cut this thread way too soon. Plus, the whole seeing the moonlight through the window and thinking it was God thing? I just can’t.

But at least there’s some mystery there. Or was. I appreciated that something new might be being introduced with the shadowy figure who presumably pushed Rhonda. But the scene between Anika and Rhonda in the hospital pretty much told us what happened. That could have been saved until at least next week.

In fact, everything is moving a little too fast. I understand that dramatic things need to happen in a premiere episode, but it feels like at least thirty plans are hatched between various Lyons to get Empire Records back. It kinda makes me feel like no one really has a plan. It also makes me feel like we might not even be pretending to run things even remotely like a real business anymore. Even actual gangsters sometimes have a regular work day.

I also feel like we’ve seen this all with Jamal before. It is honestly that dramatic that he hooked up with a girl? Haven’t we analyzed his sexuality enough? Do we really need him to sing us a ridiculously pointed song to explain himself? Complete with boy and girl dancers?

On the other hand, Lucious is more evil than ever and I love it. His means of intimidating Hakeem are epic. Taking him to the special underpass where he killed Vernon and confessing to the crime? Brilliant.

Giving him a gun and telling him to shoot his own father or die trying to steal his throne? Emotional terrorism at its absolute best. I cannot get enough of this guy. Plus, we get a scene with him and Cookie cuddling. All of my Lucious dreams are coming true.

I’m pumped to see Lucious (and the rest of the Lyons) fight to get their empire back. I just need things to move a little more slowly.

Other random things we need to discuss:

• Did anyone else catch that Lucious and Thirsty passed out folders on how to take down Empire Records board members? Office supplies for the win.
• Hakeem could not have been more literal with his wardrobe choices. At one point he wore a money-patterned suit and a gold hand mirror to stare at himself in. Honestly.
• Are all of the songs about kings and crowns now?
• How old is Laura? Was anyone else seriously creeped out by the love scene in her childhood bedroom? Is she 15? I need answers.
• I’m confident that no one at Empire Records or Lyon Dynasty completed their required sexual harassment seminar.

What did you think of this week’s episode of Empire? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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Empire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on Fox.

Amanda Coyne

Amanda is an associate editor for Tell-Tale TV. She is a writer, teacher, and pop culture enthusiast with a love for 30 Rock and The Mindy Project. She is also the proud mother of two orange cats. Follow @amandarcoyne