Empire Review: A Rose By Any Other Name (Season 2 Episode 12)

OMG, you guys. So many shocking twists on Empire’s “A Rose by Any Other Name.” Major spoilers ahead.

Okay. Let me see if I can get this straight: Hakeem is CEO of Empire Records, Cookie is head of A&R, Andre is CFO, and Jamal is… focusing on his music? Oh, and Lucious is also…focusing on his music?

Also, everyone is crazy.

Let’s begin with Cookie. She’s a far cry from last season where she drew a clear line that made family come first. Now she’s openly threatening Hakeem’s life. She’s also being completely brilliant. I mean her plan to send Laura on tour with Tiana is genius. Plus it seems like she and Lucious are getting along which, I think we all know, if basically my dream come true. But to be serious for a second, Cookie’s shift away from family is concerning to me. Is Empire loosing track of who she is for the sake of drama? I hope this doesn’t become her new personality.

I am glad that we get to see Lucious making music again. I’m also glad his initial music video plan got derailed (someone found a history book). I’m guessing that he is going to win this spat with Jamal by a long shot. I’m dying to know the Dwight Walker story even though I’m pretty sure I already know the Dwight Walker story. It’s going to be epic.

Speaking of Jamal… what is even happening? I’m still feeling like we’ve seen this storyline before. And I am sorry but there is something very, very odd about the gay revolt that occurs when he is potentially linked to a girl. I mean, one, are we really being fair to gay people here? I’m pretty sure bisexuality is acceptable. Two, choreography and rainbow flip-flops? Yeah… we definitely aren’t being fair to gay people here.

That whole thing makes me uncomfortable, so let’s move on. Hakeem seems to be taking his new job seriously. He might even be kinda good at it. That logo though. He’s his own biggest fan for sure. I was also so nervous that he was double-crossing his family. I actually feel like he was a little bit grown up this week.

Poor Andre, on the other hand, is still in desperate need of medical help. His pastor is not a doctor. I almost thought Hakeem and Jamal were going to step in and insist that he see a doctor. But then they just played him a, um, special song. Songs, by the way, are also not medicine.

You know what? I lied earlier about everyone being crazy. Rhonda is not crazy. Rhonda is my new hero. Her “accident” seems to have made her super sarcastic and it is fantastic. She knows that Dre needs a doctor. Too bad no one ever listens to her. She’s also my hero because she’s really the one who takes down Camilla when you really think about it. Good work, Rhonda.

But, of course, Lucious gets all the credit. Camilla is dead. I mean, right? Is anyone else very nervous about the fact the Lucious did not stay to watch her die? Come on, Lucious, I feel like that’s a rookie move. I just have the worst feeling that we are going to see more of her next week.

Other random things we need to discuss:

• Is Thirsty just an advisor now? He has way too much input in what Lucious is doing.
• It’s sad that Tiana had to borrow Britney’s glittery bodysuit. I assume that’s thanks to Camilla’s budget cuts.
• Jamal sure can write response songs fast.
• The way Lucious describes prison to Camilla is so LOL. “Rape, murder, and general unsanitary-ness.” I guess that pretty much sums it up.
• Is it Cookie’s turn to be CEO yet? I need it to be Cookie’s turn.

What did you think of this week’s episode of Empire? Be sure to 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