Empire Season 2 Episode 5 recap: Be true to the gutter life!

Here comes the statutory warning. If you have not watched the fifth episode of Empire season 2, run away now. This is a spoiler-y post.

So, after the last episode, which had us believe ANYTHING can happen when you are watching Empire, we are now brought back to the genius of the show. Full of drama, coming close to the reality with amazing music in it. And Ne-Yo! I will get to that later.

After that not-so-necessary case is nicely tied up all thanks to Thirsty and Andre, Lucious is back to doing what he does best— running Empire, no matter how he chooses to do it. He signs Freda Gartz for his new record label Gutter Life. He has Andre take full charge of it. He is back in the studio producing Jamal's album with Ne-Yo! (I will get back to it)

But then him being Lucious Lyon and now keeping the company with Thirsty of all people, he wants all the tracks of Lyon Dynasty. Thirsty sends thugs to break into Lyon Dynasty's office in the hoods. They get caught and we are left with the question, has it really come down to this level for Lucious?

Lyon Dynasty is in start-up mode. No matter how much Cookie tries to deny it in front of eye-candy/concert promoter Laz Delgado (Adam Rodriguez of Magic Mike XXL. You can't blame Cookie for making eyes at him. I mean, have you seen the guy?). Delgado comes packing when the thugs Thirsty sent to try and steal the master records. He makes good on his promise to protect her and get his hands dirty after touching Lyon Dynasty. Get it? Get the smart pun writers of Empire made? 

Let's talk about the pawns in this game. Jamal is going on tour with Ne-Yo! (I am getting there). Papa Lyon has made good on his promise and brought in Ne-Yo to produce Jamal's album. Who needs Cookie when you have fedora-clad Ne-Yo preening from behind furniture, doling out sound relationship advice right at the time when you desperately need one. Bonus? You are producing the best songs ever! Hands down Ne-Yo is the best guest appearance on the show so far.

Andre (now this is the funny part, and I absolutely agree with Lucious on this one. Keep reading) is shaken up after what he did to dear uncle Vernon. So, now he wants to make good on his sins and surrender to his Lord. Get baptised. For that to happen, he has to confess his sins to his family. Lucious gets a confession. Hakeem and Jamal get a confession. Cookie gets a confession. Everyone gets a confession! (Cue Oprah!) They all forgive him except Lucious. Lucious knows what his family does. He knows what Andre has done and why Andre is seeking to surrender to the faith in God. But instead of believing in him, Lucious cannot shake off the fact that his bipolar disorder comes from his own mother. Here, Cookie again steals the show. Her words, "God knows your heart... now keep your mouth shut". This is the most honest baptism you can get on Empire!

Hakeem, on the other hand, has found his lead singer in Laura for his Spanish girl band 'Mirage a Trois'. This could be a twist that will put a stop to Hakeem being a brat and take responsibility and be the mogul he claims to be. Laura shuts down his advances and 'no matter how corny it sounds' just wants to sing to please people. (Girl, given that you are in an Empire storyline, it doesn't sound corny. I mean did you not watch Roxanne Ford for four episodes?)

I am going to put the cliffhanger here - at the end of the episode Hakeem gets kidnapped. Now tie all the rogue ones together. The attack on Tiana, attempt to steal the records, Thirsty's shady behaviour, and Hakeem's abduction. It's not Lucious Lyon for sure. Let's wait for the next episode to see who the people behind that masked video are.

Now to the stray points - 

1. Where is Anika?

2. Really? Gay photographer/painter is talking about open relationships to get into Jamaal's pants? Nope, not a stereotype at all. 'A mouth is a mouth' has to be the corniest line of the show. So, Laura, you are safe there.

3. Second 'really?'. Michael, a grown-up, gay man living in New York, doing, pardon my french, gay awareness things and forcing his boyfriend to lend the voice to his causes, has no clue about heteronormativity? You surprise me Empire.

4. Please tell me Rhonda's baby is a lie. I know that look.

5. We all need a friend like Gabourey Sidibe.