Empire Season 1 Episode 7 Review & After Show | AfterBuzz TV

AFTERBUZZ TV — Empire is a weekly "after show" for fans of FOX's Empire. In this show, hosts Emile Ennis Jr., Bamm Ericsen, Sofia Stanley, and Erica Green discuss episode 7. A unique family drama set in the world of a hip-hop empire. It centers on Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard), a charismatic, savvy music superstar who is about to take his company, Empire Entertainment, public. Raised on the streets, he has never backed away from a fight and will resort to any measures, fair or foul, to defend his beloved Empire.

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[Summerbeeuty]

I believe the security guard told Lucious, look back at the scene when Lucious was talking to Camille. He came over and signaled that he needed to talk. I also believe that he deliberately choose Cookie because he knew she would do a good speech but to also get back at Anika for drugging Elle. Not to mention sleeping with Cookie in her bed, Lucious is disgusted with Anika. Trust me, he knows. All the more reason to display his emotions and how he feels about Cookie.

[TheBraveIntrovert]

Hakeem is like 18. He was a baby when Cookie went away 17 years earlier.

[pallie]

I love the discussion and the points you guys bring up in your after show

[KellieAlston]

I am so elated about this panel. I actually did not want this analysis to end. I had vowed not to watch this after the very first one. Had no idea that the fabulous Scandal panel was together again minus one, until last week. Erica, you are doing great and THIS is what makes for an amazing review. Thank you, After buzz for getting it right. I can't wait to watch again, next week. Intelligence is so sexy!

[Sil_P]

I don't think Cookie is taking Jamal's side in his "beef" with Hakeem, I think at this point, she is giving Hakeem a form of "tough love." He calms his antics down when she gets in his face. That is the only way he essentially listens to her, is when she is putting him in a "child's place." Hakeem doesn't know Cookie and didn't grow up having her in his life like Andre and Jamal did. So he never had that mother figure in his life (even though the other two were still young when she went away). 

And am I the only person that thinks Lucious may NOT possibly have ALS? I'm starting to think that Anika is poisoning him with something which is displaying symptoms of ALS. It seems as if Andre, Vernon, and Anika have their own agendas regarding this company (which hasn't been revealed yet). Look how easy it was for her to drug Elle Dallas during this episode and to knock her off "her game." 

[NBAgladiator]

I agree w/ Bamm on the ALS scene. Bryshere's bad acting messed up the scene. Hakeem is entitled (and annoying IMO), but one thing he is not, is heartless. He has serious mommy issues w/ Cookie, but he has something between a decent to pretty good relationship with Lucious. He does feel it. The most telling line is "He's dying and you're worried about a IPO?" And the "then why we even doin this?" line seemed to come from an 'I thought this was all for you' mentality. He was supposed to appear sadder than Bryshere acted. He's a first time actor so it isn't blasphemous to recognize that he isn't perfect at it. As we know acting is hard and takes a lot of training, so this isn't a knock on him but merely stating that the correct message wasn't necessarily portrayed. He does plenty of other scenes justice so I'm not saying he's a bad actor, just bad in this scene.

[paulaclay]

I don't think Cookie took Jamal side, but Hakeem did need to put in his place. If you notice Hakeem did respond to Cookie, by shaking his head yes. There was respect there. Keep in mind, probably nobody speaks to Hakeem in the matter that Cookie does, showing him tough love. In fact, it's what's been missing in his life. He craves structure and balance all kids do, although he's 18 or 19 young adults still need some of that, especially entitled ones.

[MrWinter]

If Hakeem was a baby when Cookie went in...then he's 17 or 18 yrs. old.  And I predict that Cookie is going to find out that BooBoo Kitty drugged El and it's going to be brawl.

[marilynlogan]

Love the family dynamics of the Lyon family. Unfinished business with Cookie and Lucious.
3 sons of Cookie & Lucious. I noticed when Andre' was a child. Andre' was singing and his dad was playing the guitar. When the police came, Andre' hid the gun to protect Lucious. He has continued this pattern starting way back in childhood. Andre wants approval and validation from his dad. That's why he lied to the detectives to cover his father. Andre wants recognition from Lucious. Now on the other hand, Jamal, wants his dad to SEE him for who HE IS, Lucious REALLY does not UNDERSTAND Jamal. If you notice every song Jamal writes, Not Good Enough, Tell the Truth, Money, the lyrics revert to his dad. 
Hakeem is acting out, because he had no mother figure, growing up, thus the Naomi Campbell character. If you really pay attention to his insecurities, he has a void in his heart for HIS mother. Jamal has been the ONLY real nurturing person in his life. Did you notice the hurt in Hakeem's eyes when he pleaded for Jamal's help in Episode 6. Hakeem wants to perform with Jamal, and he always wants support from Jamal. The bond between Jamal and Hakeem is tight, and now that Cookie's home, Hakeem's hurt, and his jealosy of Jamal 's relationship with Cookie is going to unravel him. Just wondering, if any one else had some thoughts of the characters. Vernon is getting ready to reveal himself, Lucious is very vulnerable right now. Cookie has her eye on the New Head of Security Derek Luke.

[Kwintessential]

Hakeem is embarrassed or very about Camilla. Either she has done something or she isn't who she claims to be. I also noticed this is the first time we see them standing face-to-face.

[TigerLIL-yogq]

Great review kinda enjoyed it too.  A few points the, poisoning of the artist gave us a look at how far Anika is willing to go to possess the man and what he has to give her for her future, money and power.  Shows malice of forethought, premeditation or mens rea the mind set of a crime, that was callous and foul.  I said before the episode aired during the previews that I thought Anika's father may have sent the doctor to poison Lucius, I'm sure he recommended the doctor to Lucius. Then she does that to an artist who is attempting to recover from an addition, to get back at an ex-wife that was weak as hell.  Cookie better watch her back and Anika's back too, now that is a bonafide snake.  Anika loves Lucius for what he is a billionaire that can provide her a life style and social standing.  Cookie loves Lucius for who he is a man with a dream and talent and the love of the art he created to make his millions, big difference. Now that they are reconnected it's going to create a new dynamic of problems.  I think it was Sofia Stanley that predicted a split between Jamal and his mother I now see it too.  Unlike most kids Jamal doesn't want to see his mother and father back together when he finds out they are kicking it again cause they are actually having a full blown affair he is pissed and fears that his father selfishness may wind up destroying his mom again.  This is a mess but the story is compelling as hell...its going to get complicated and juicy...STAY TUNED...LOL

[dp]

Here's something to think about regarding Boo Boo Kitty-Kat spiking Elle's tea; something a co-worker brought up during our post-Empire talk.  Remember when Elle got up to take a picture with a fan.  That was about the time Anika spiked Elle's tea.  What if the picture was taken right at the exact moment the tea was spiked and it was caught on camera?   Think about it.  Also, did you notice how the camera cut to the security chief, whose name escapes me, when Anika did that, as to imply that he saw what she did.  I can't wait for Cookie to find out because that was sooo foul of Kitty-Kat.  Plus, c'mon people.   You know we're going to get a Krystle/Alexis Dynasty like catfight between Cookie and Kitty-Kat.

[CeeCee]

I love them taking in the baby girl. It's almost a juxtaposition of new life in the family against Lucious' dying. Also the idea of bringing innocence into their lives when they have so many demons especially Lucious having lost that part of himself a looong time ago. I duno maybe she'll have a real effect on their hearts.

[Kwintessential]

Anika came back because she didn't forget the rose situation, the "I love you at the Empire event", the lingerie at dinner. 

[maajuub]

Great scene for Andre you can see him being ripped apart not just because his idol/ father is dying but his life is in danger too andre had dedicated his life to this company going to school specifically to help grow the company and his fathers dreams in his mind he is scheming to get what is rightfully his and he deserves but with his father dying he knows that on a business level that throws a wrench into the ipo which he was worked the hardest to make sure it goes through because he knows the owner has to be in good health and now that hes not evertyhing he has worked for can go down the drain so you litterally see this playing out in his head and trying to cope with this stress he is a person who likes control his job is to punch numbers and make 2 and 2 work and make things add up (control) he only bows down to his dad and in fact i think the reason he stopped taking his meds was because he believes he can control it but now with all these things happening thats out of his control it will drive him insane his character is representation of his father controlling nature but his fatal flaw is that condition (bi polar) makes him unable to control himself.

[zomi]

Hakeem has to be about 18 since the show mentioned earlier that Cookie went to jail when Hakeem was only a few months old.

[honeyluv]

Am I the only one that thinks Hakeem is only 18 or 19? Lol cuz he was a baby in the flashback, and I assume Cookie went to jail right around that time. She was in for 17 years so...

[MrFanomusic]

'I'm excited to see Jamal with a "new boo". I'm most excited to hopefully see a "black on black" relationship. A gay one at that! It's my main criticism of all these new crop of shows not showing a "black on black" relationship. I hope they do it well.

I actually teared up when Andre broke down (or broke-through?). I don't have bipolar, but it seemed like he has been controlling his actions, his emotions, his words and his reputation for such a long time. He even seemed like he was trying to control how much control he was releasing within himself. He's losing all control now. There are many black men who are viewed as successful & do this (or have done this...including myself). We feel the need to maintain our blackness (+ manhood) and how we are viewed by the world. But as time goes, we realize that this behavior has been eating at our soul making us feel lonely. In reality we have actually been hiding ourselves from ourselves all to be accepted by the mainstream (aka the white world). I wasn't feeling Andre, but I am looking forward to seeing what becomes of him now. 

[qqrk]

It's SO obvious that Lee Daniels was a true fan of the show DYNASTY! LOL The rich patriarch with a new quiet wife, sassy trouble making ex-wife, and gay son that he is at odds with. Even the title of the show is an "homage". Can't wait to see the Cookie BBK catfights! ;-P

[jenowens]

My prediction is that Lucicus will leave the company to Cookie!