
Empire Review: More Than Kin (Season 2 Episode 15)
I have some bones to pick with this week’s episode of Empire, “More Than Kin.” Spoilers ahead.
The Lyons now spend more time in the hospital than any straight up soap opera family. Anika’s visit is even more dramatic than Rhonda’s fall down the stairs because we literally don’t even know what she’s in the hospital for. A panic attack? I think? Empire doesn’t even bother to include a doctor this time around.
But let’s back up. The episode begins with Hakeem going off the rails. And Hakeem’s version of going off the rails is everything to me. I mean, is he just lying on the floor of a strip club lip syncing to his own songs? That’s pretty fantastic. Also, the strip club’s name is “Chubs” so… yeah. This whole opening scene is pretty much my favorite. But it is really kinda down hill from there.
Boring old Laura has to break up all the fun. At least she knows that the best revenge when your fiancé is acting like a complete child is letting a little sunshine into the room. Oh, and by giving the ring back.
It seems like the drama between Hakeem, Anika, and Laura should be enough for one episode. Plus the whole thing with Lucious threatening Anika’s life if she has the baby. But, no. We have to go to the hospital. And then after like two seconds (and a call from Lucious Lyons – which just, how is that persuading anybody?) later Laura takes the ring back. I think we could have given that one another minute or so.
But what I’m growing even more tired of is Jamal. It’s unclear, at this point, if we are supposed to actually believe that every. single. song. that Jamal writes is about his father or if this is more of a musical theater thing where the songs are telling us part of the story. Either way, I’m over it. At this point it seems like Jamal has the least to be mad at his dad about but he’s the most mad. It’s kinda like Empire just can’t come up with a better story for him. Michael being back isn’t really helping either.
I’m also a little bit over this whole award show thing. I feel like we’ve been working up to it for awhile now. I’m not sure how it’s going to manage to live up to the hype at this point.
What I do like is Lucious basically coming right out and saying that he wants Cookie back. We’ve danced around this long enough. I’m hoping that they will be official next week. Although I’m guessing that them working together as “co-CEOs” (is that a thing?) isn’t going to go so well. We’re so close to Cookie being in charge. Just give it to Cookie already!
Other random things we need to discuss:
- Is it possible that Becky is Becky with the good hair? Is this a way to get Beyonce on the show? I would die.
- I know I’m supposed to be curious about this grandma-might-be-alive thing, but really? Really?
- Hakeem’s baby proofing is amazing. I mean, the gate around the hot tub is one of the best things I’ve ever had the privilege to see.
- Anika’s mom seems way too reasonable to be Anika’s mom.
- Please tell me we are done with Harper. Cookie scooping her was pretty great.
- Is Laura going to be able to handle all this? I feel like she needs some kind of Cookie bootcamp.
- Has anyone else noticed that the boys call their parents by their first names a lot? Isn’t that a little odd?
- Michael and Jamal’s causal cup of coffee slash serenade is hilarious.
What did you think of this week’s episode of Empire? Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments below!
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Empire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on Fox.