Empire Review: Light in Darkness (Season 3 Episode 1)

I have so much to say about Empire Season 3 Episode 1, “Light in Darkness.” I also have some demands. Big spoilers ahead.

I must say that there is a lot to love about this episode.

The fact that the plot is basically that Anika and Rhonda get into a fight that causes Anika to accidentally-on-purpose shove Rhonda off of a building, killing Rhonda and sending Anika into premature labor right after Hakeem gets left at the alter so he isn’t present at the birth of his child, but Lucious is and thus gets recorded as the father (because Lucious and Anika are married for some reason?), tells me that we aren’t even trying to be realistic anymore.

I mean WHAT?!

 First of all, I’m so mad that Rhonda is dead. I’ve said repeatedly that she is the voice of reason for the Lyons. With her gone I honestly can’t even imagine how much more absurd things are going to become. Although, I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if she comes back as a ghost or something.

I mean, after being asked to believe that a baby is born six months prematurely and is totally fine and doesn’t even have to stay in the hospital for more than a few days or anything, nothing would surprise me.

I guess it turns out the adrenaline rush of murdering someone who has just been really getting on your nerves is enough to send you into premature labor.

My heart broke watching Andre make the split-second decision to help Anika mere moments after she murdered his wife. I’m not sure poor Dre is going to be able to come back from all of this.

In fact, all the boys are really suffering.

Hakeem is spiraling after being left at the alter (and then watching his father get married to the mother of his child instead – talk about salt in the wound) and misses his baby being born. I know this is totally horrible, but in his defense it wasn’t exactly baby watch time since Anika was apparently only three months pregnant.

And Jamal. Sweet, sweet Jamal is still my favorite. The poor guy has barely gotten a chance to get over being shot and is already having to be a supportive brother and star performer.

I love that he wrote a song that means something to him.

I don’t love that rock bottom keeps getting deeper for these boys. I think we all can agree that we totally get it that Lucious is a bad person. How much more do we need to see?

Which brings me to what I hope for out of Season 3.

I’m okay with Empire going off the drama deep end. In fact, I’m into it.

If, and only if, that means I get more of Cookie.

I’m into the absurdity. I’m into the guilty-pleasure primetime soap opera. The stories are hilarious but great. The clothes are great. The music is great.

But I’m tired of Lucious.

Lucious is boring.

It was a little entertaining to watch him in the delivery room (not so great with the bedside manner) but he’s gone too far with what he’s done to the boys. If he’s going to be full-on evil (which is basically has to be at this point) than I don’t want to have to hear any more sob stories about him

I want to watch Cookie take over.

It’s time.

Empire is on the brink. Either Cookie finally takes what’s hers and we get to watch how she runs things or things get stale big time.

What did you think of the season premiere of Empire? Tell us in the comments!

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Empire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on Fox.

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