“Unto the Breach”
photo credit: Fox
Over the past three episodes we’ve been treated to more of a
family versus business dynamic and I realize that’s the story I prefer to see.
“Unto the Breach” felt just like that, where is the story going? Empire is like
pizza, even when it’s bad it’s good. There is nothing that this show can do
that will make me stop watching, short of firing the cast, BUT this episode was
disjointed with sweet or fun moments sprinkled here and there.
This week’s episode was frenetic from the beginning: Cookie
busting in the house yelling for Lucious, bypassing the grandbaby (when will
there be a DNA test?) and then blowing up the spot about Anika’s Billy Baretti
ploy. I’m team Cookie all day, but her lines were a series of rapid fire,
ghetto one-liners that made her seem like a cast member on Bad Girls Club. The
scene just didn’t ring true. Regardless, Anika’s being found out by Lucious was
satisfying.
It was nice to see Anika get her come-uppance for once, but
I did find it strange that when she left Lucious’ house, Billy was sitting in
the backseat of the car. How did Anika call Billy to pick her up when Porsha
confiscated the phone? Also, she was ostensibly at home with Lucious to plan
their wedding so how Billy just pops up doesn’t make sense.
Let’s move on to Jamal. I guess now that he came out he’s
comfortable enough to film a D’Angelo “How Does it Feel” knock-off video. I did
LOL during this scene. Aside from Cookie, Jamal’s my favorite developed
character but I couldn’t get with his “I’m too sexy for my shirt” vibe. In
typical Empire flash forward mode, it appears Ryan and Jamal are now a couple.
Remember that guy Jamal was dating before? Nah, didn’t think so.
Dear Dre, as a viewer seeing you lose is fun to watch, but
then I feel guilty because people in real life are bi-polar and it’s scary and
the people around them realllly want them to just take their pills. I would
really like to see you win, so can you listen to your darling wife Rhonda and
take your damn pills?
We all knew it was coming. Dre has been maligned and
side-lined from the pilot episode and yet, he still shows up for work and keeps
hoping maybe, just maybe Lucious will appreciate the fact that he has book
learnin’ and therefore should run the company. Sadly, it’s not to be. Between
his craven behavior and his bipolar
diagnosis everybody but him seems to know he will never run Empire, and yet he
persists. My favorite emotional moment on this episode was when the brothers,
including Dre, sing “Lean On Me,” an apt song for the situation.
The rest of the episode is all of Empire staff working
diligently to keep their artists from fleeing to Baretti’s camp. We have Jamal
singing with Miss Delphine (the lovely Estelle), then trying to sign her and
per usual being ignored by Lucious. We have Cookie trying to compel one of
Empire’s big ticket rappers to remain with the company by drinking him under
the table. We even have Hakeem, setting up Anika so Cookie can meet with Tiana,
who says she’ll return to Empire if she can have him back. I was pleased to see
some growth in Hakeem, but a little disappointed that he’d pick Camilla. Notice
Cookie’s face when he said he was in love with Camilla?
Random Thoughts:
·
“That’s the trouble with these THOTs” says some
cornball to Cookie in the studio. I didn’t use to know what that meant, thanks
for the definition Blaire. If you don’t know it Google it. I just aged myself.
·
Jamal is actually quietly building the business,
which leads to…
·
“Put aside your played out homophobia unless
it’s more important then Empire.” Thanks Jamal
·
“You’re so Beautiful” again? How much mileage
are they going to wrench out of this song? Although I liked this version the
best. Weird to see Lucious and Cookie harmonizing on the piano bench? This show
has a short memory or just gives up making sense to move the story forward.
·
Dre slipping under the basketball stand made me
hysterical; had to rewind.
·
Who called the psych ward to come pick up Dre?
Did you catch him reminding his father that he knows he’s a murderer?
Wondering what will happen next week? Will the murder of
Bunky by Lucious be revealed to Cookie or is that storyline retired? Will
Cookie ever be confronted with her murder-for-hire mistake? Only two more
episodes left.
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