Empire Review: Sweet Sorrow (Season 4 Episode 12)

 

I was hoping for a late in life baby, but on Empire Season 4 Episode 12, “Sweet Sorrow,” we get much deeper discussion about medicine and women.

Just give me one second on this baby thing — if Cookie had been pregnant that would have been the best soap opera drama yet. Maybe it could have been a girl and then the Lyons women could run Empire.

Just saying.

But that’s not what’s going on. Way more important things are going on.

Cookie’s health scare is heart-related (it doesn’t escape me that right after Andre ruins everything Cookie’s literal heart literally breaks) and she’s got to fight every step of the way to control her care.

“Sweet Sorrow” is an interesting look into how women are treated when they need healthcare. I don’t know if that’s on purpose or not, but it’s there.

Cookie can’t be trusted to make decisions for herself, despite being the most stable person in the family. Although the point that everyone needs to take time for herself and practice self care is a good one, much of this feels like Cookie’s agency being taken away.

It’s heartening to see Empire allow her to work from home and not give over to Lucious. It’s also heartening to see Cookie and Lucious connect at the end of the episode. Maybe Cookie’s illness will bring the family back together a bit more.

Plus I really hope that if I ever have to go through an illness like Cookie’s that I look half as chic as she does while convalescing. I mean, tell me more about that robe.

The most important thing happening on “Sweet Sorrow,” though, is a direct and frank conversation about abortion.

Okay, so Empire hasn’t gone so far as to say the word, but Becky does say terminate and they do clearly go to an abortion clinic.

Putting abortion in the forefront this way is brave of Empire. It will also require an extraordinarily delicate hand.

Abortion is talked about so little on TV that this can’t just be an episode about Becky and what’s right for her. Whatever ultimately happens will be Empire making a statement.

In fact, statements have already been made. For one, Becky forcefully states “my body, my choice” to Jamal. For another thing, when confronted with why she isn’t telling the father she argues “I’m not keeping a secret, I’m actually just keeping it private.”

Becky (and thus Empire by extension) is clearly firmly of the mind that she alone has agency over her own body.

Whether it should be or not, that’s super controversial. The words Becky is speaking are revolutionary.

But then.

But then Becky does tell her boyfriend. This makes me nervous for a second, but Becky sticks to her decision and doesn’t allow him to sway her.

I am disturbed that he shows up at the clinic for her appointment. How does he know when she’s there? How does he know what doctor she’s going to? Did Jamal tell him? If so, that’s really not okay.

He does, however, tell Becky that he supports her. This, again, feels like Empire taking a stand.

It kills me that “Sweet Sorrow” ends without telling us what Becky ultimately decides. I’m so nervous that she isn’t going to go through with it. That, too, would be Empire making a very big statement.

Empire is on the verge of doing something really bold on TV. I can’t wait to see what happens next week.

 

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

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Empire airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on Fox.

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