Empire Review: Absent Child (Season 3 Episode 16)

Empire Season 3 Episode 16 “Absent Child” is full-blown soap opera drama.

As the last episode before the (two part) season finale, “Absent Child” is mostly working to set things up. And, to be honest, a lot of the time I was bored. The rest of the time I was confused. I basically feel like this:

I’ve talked about this before, but Empire tends to walk the line between reality and absurdity. This week we’ve fallen off the deep end.

I just kept finding myself saying “that’s not how this works! that’s not how any of this works!”

For one thing, I’m not sure how the meetings between the families are being lined up. The opening scene feels like a formal mediation, but I’m not sure what the legal issue would be, so I guess it’s just a weirdly formal brainstorming session?

The Lyons certainly know how to walk into a meeting, but beyond that everyone seems lost and confused. It’s not a good sign that Anika has to be the voice of reason. The whole scene feels like it is meant to show a pretty room and some dramatic stares and just doesn’t do a lot for the plot.

This opening scene sets the stage like the entire episode is going to be about the family getting back Bella, but thirty seconds later it seems like no one is really working on that anymore.

It feels weak to assume that everyone would go about their business and just let Thirsty handle things. Also, Thirsty is out of his league here.

If your baby gets taken it’s time to handle a whole team of lawyers.

I’m also baffled with what’s going on with social services. Did they say they lost Bella? Again – that’s not how any of this works.

It also feels forced to try to make all of this suspenseful. Obviously Angelo’s mom has the baby. Wouldn’t you just step one go to her house? Cookie seems to be the only adult trying to do something.

Meanwhile, Hakeem is getting involved by live streaming? Doesn’t seem like the most proactive approach when your CHILD is missing.

Aside from Cookie and Hakeem working on getting Bella, most of this episode is tying up lose ends and setting up the finale. Of course the divorce has to be expedited. Of course Andre is going crazy again. Of course this Vegas thing is still a thing.

It just feels like so much could be done with the Bella situation and instead not much is being done with it at all.

Other thoughts:

• Lucious and Jamal are still being cute together and I’m all for it.
• Shine’s snake shirt is really distracting. And a little scary.
• Am I hallucinating or does some random rapper start bleeding in the studio? Soap. Opera. Drama.
• Cookie is fierce and I love it.
• That thing when you ask your mom if you’re a good father and she tells you you’re a terrible person.
• Angelo’s mom is crazy.

I’m really hoping that things start to come together again in the final two episodes. The drama is there, but we need a little bit of logic to keep us grounded.

What did you think of this episode of Empire? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Empire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on Fox.

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