Empire Review: Noble Memory (Season 4 Episode 1)

On Empire Season 4 Episode 1, “Noble Memory” the soap opera drama is definitely back. But, is anything else there?

I love the drama that Empire brings. I love the glamour (especially Cookie’s outfits) and the music. I love that everything is always teetering on the brink of the absurd.

Okay, sometimes if falls over the brink.

But I also love that there’s more to it than that.

Empire is often soap-opera ridiculousness, yes. But every-so-often something else happens. Every-so-often Empire touches on something real. The show did a brilliant job handling the issue of police violence last season, for example.

That being said, I spend most of the first episode of the season annoyed that nothing real is happening.

Lucious is missing a leg and his memory. Oh, and he’s magically a nice person who hates violence now. Okay.

Andre is still being a jerk. Hakeem is still being a jerk. Angelo’s mom is still being a jerk (get over it, lady).

Jamal isn’t being a jerk. He’s just sitting at his piano writing songs and looking adorable. The usual.

Cookie is trying to run Empire Records, but she’s torn up about losing Lucious four seconds after she finally gets him back.

And Demi Moore (er, Claudia) is legit a bridge too far. A PhD with glasses who puts on a dress and takes down her hair to trick Lucious into loving her? Empire, are you serious right now?

But just as I am ready to walk away, Terrence Howard shows up. Thank God for Terrence Howard.

Amidst all the over-the-top drama, Howard’s portrayal of Lucious trying to find his footing in the insane world that is Empire Records is spot on.

Lucious trying to process all of the information being thrown at him is all of us watching Empire. 

It’s just enough to offset everything that’s going on and bring things back to where Empire is best. When it talks about family.

I have to blink away tears when the boys stop Lucious from jumping in the water and Cookie tells him that his family loves him and has his back.

This is what I want to see this season. We’ve seen the drama with the artists. We’ve seen (and seen) the drama with Angelo’s family. We’ve seen that back-and-forth alliances and betrayals.

Let us see the inner workings of the Lyon family. Let us see Lucious find himself all over again.

Let him be a better man.

Let the Lyons be a family again.

Oh, and while we’re making demands, please let Cookie stay in charge of Empire Records. I’ve wanted this forever, but she deserves it more than ever.

If Empire really wants to say something beyond the soap-opera noise, putting Cookie in charge is the way to do it.

I hope Empire isn’t teasing us by ending the episode with Cookie walking right at the camera.

“I’m Cookie Lyon, baby. I’m unforgettable.”

Yes. Yes, you are.

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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