Empire Review: What We May Be (Season 3 Episode 7)

Empire’s season 3 episode 7, “What We May Be” is all about Cookie. Finally.

After last week’s high tech episode, Empire comes back down to earth and family this week with a moving (if a bit slow) episode dedicated to digging deeper into what makes Cookie who she is.

Angelo is back in the picture, but, unfortunately, so is his mama. And she is… special.

Last week Angelo showed strength and kindness by putting Cookie above his political career and public image. Too bad he is terrified of his mother.

Watching Cookie deal with how to impress her is humanizing for Cookie as a character, and the show as a whole. Although there are outlandish moments (like changing out all the paintings), overall this episode is measured and quiet.

In a good way.

I love seeing Cookie share some of her past with her family. Her relationship with her father is something we haven’t seen before and it sheds a lot of light into why she can’t shake Lucious (even though she says she has).

It’s especially moving that she chooses Jamal to open up to. Jamal’s strength is in his softness and he demonstrates this by ultimately saving the day with a beautiful song to his mother.

In fact, Jamal’s song may save more than a dinner party. 

It’s been so long since Lucious has done anything that I’ve even remotely respected or connected to at all. His choosing to leave the party while Jamal sings his song speaks volumes. We haven’t seen this side of Lucious in so long. Is he accepting that the Lyon family may be a family that doesn’t include him?

Will we finally see Cookie claim her position as head of the family?

I almost feel bad for Lucious and almost understand why he’s looking at Anika the way he is.

Just when it seems that Lucious is unredeemable, Empire gives us a sliver of hope. Lucious is lonely. Maybe that loneliness will push him to change.

There’s one problem with that theory, though. Andre.

Andre is noticeably absent from Cookie’s dinner party. He’s the rightful heir to the Lyon throne, but if he’s choosing Shine’s family instead I think we all know Lucious will retaliate viciously.

Frieda is a ticking time bomb, too.

Not much happened this week, but so much happened this week.

Empire is, maybe for the first time, dealing in nuance and I’m loving it. It is always the quiet moments in life that make the most lasting impact.

It’s hard to say if Angelo is around for good. As Cookie reminds us, “all roads lead to Lucious.”

But maybe, also, all roads lead to Cookie. After a lifetime of hardship, she deserves some space.

And I think she’ll take it. I agree with Angelo’s mother. Cookie’s got fire in her.

Cookie is fire.

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

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Empire airs Wednesday at 9/8c on Fox.