Empire Review: Rise by Sin (Season 2 Episode 17)

Since day one my love for Lucious Lyon has been what’s kept me invested in Empire. This week, I think I’m finally done with him. In fact, I found a lot to be disappointed in in the much-hyped “Rise by Sin.”

But hey, at least the ASAs are over. Spoilers ahead.

I know what Empire is trying to do here. Jamal getting shot after being told by Lucious that he would be happy when he died of AIDS is clearly rock bottom. It’s a way to shake Lucious to his core and shock him into changing his ways.

But it’s just too far.

I know I’ve managed to keep loving Lucious even after repeatedly watching him kill people and say horrible things to every single member of his family but this time it’s different. I think the problem is that he’s apologized one too many times.

If Lucious had stuck to his cruelty to Jamal (and everyone else) and then this tragedy took place and he changed, I’d buy it. But if Jamal lives (which, let’s be honest, I’m assuming he’s going to) and Lucious apologizes again, it’s just going to fall flat.

Even though Freda shot Jamal because of Lucious. It’s just too little too late.

But it’s more than that, too. Empire has spent so much time hammering in this idea of family. The idea that no matter what, in the end, family comes first. Family is most important.

At this point, that’s a toxic message. It’s time for Empire to address that there is a line. Telling your son that he is disgusting and that, again, you’d be happy if he died of AIDS is not okay. It’s not okay even if something horrible happens and you regret saying it.

Sometimes you shouldn’t forgive your family. Sometimes you have to put yourself first.

If Jamal lives, I hope he puts himself first.

My love for Lucious died this week because in 2016 I just don’t think you can come back from that level of homophobia.

Something else died for me this week, too. I don’t want Lucious and Cookie to get back together. Cookie deserves better.

Which brings me to my next disappointment: women in the empire.

Something that really sucked me in from the start was that it seemed that, at some point, Cookie would dethrone Lucious. Cookie is clearly the brains of the organization but more and more it is becoming clear to me that she will always be forced to take the sidelines.

Which makes me sad. Cookie is so close to being such a powerful, inspirational female TV character.

Which got me thinking. Is any woman on Empire a positive representation?

Anika is crazy. Grandma is crazy. Carol is crazy.

Frieda could have been but then she shot Jamal and is obviously not going to be able to come back from that.

Laura, when told that her career probably wasn’t going to take off literally said that’s okay, my dream is to marry you.

Rhonda could be close, but she is also constantly forced to the side.

Don’t even get me started on the smaller female roles. Maybe, Becky. Maybe. But we hardly even see her anymore.

Everything is broken down. I think it’s possible for Empire to rebuild in the last few episodes of the season, but it won’t be easy.

What did you think of this week’s episode of Empire? Let us know in the comments below.

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Empire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on Fox.