Empire 2×06 Review: “A High Hope for a Low Heaven”

Finding the Way, Empire creators, Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, set precedence in season 1 that is almost impossible to replicate. However, there is a lot more the Lyon family has to offer us in the remaining episodes of Empire.

In season 2 episode 6 of Empire, we find the Lyon Dynasty in its usual battle for power and control over one another and everyone else. Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) receives a ransom video from Hakeem’s (Bryshere Y. Gray) kidnappers. She storms in blaming Lucious (Terrence Howard), only to find out he had nothing to do with the kidnapping. Cookie and Lucious work together to make the ransom drop and get Hakeem back.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch or music conglomerate, Andre (Trai Byers) has taken over Gutta Life Records, the hardcore rap division of Empire Records. Andre flexes his new authority by culling to herd at Gutta Life with an eye for his newfound religious devotion. As he meets with the artist, Andre manages to aggravate Becky (Gabourey Sidibe) and convince her new boo, J-Poppa (Mo McRae), to embrace his Christian roots in his music.

Love and Lust

Our girl, Becky, is moving up in the world. She not only maneuvered her way into an A&R position at Gutta Life Records, but she snagged her a hottie. This episode opens with a little rooftop sizzle with her new boo, J-Poppa. He is all over Becky enticing her to be late for work. Only if…

Our soulful song bird, Jamal (Jussie Smollett) is struggling with Michael (Rafael de la Fuente) cheating on him after he finally decided to take him out on the road with him. Lucious urges Jamal to throw his emotions into his music as with any broken hearted artist. Through his pain, we’re provided with beautiful vocals for “You Broke Love.”

“Stop wallowing in selfpity and bitchassedness!” – Lucious Lyon

Cookie has a breaking point too. With all the drama with Hakeem’s kidnapping and lack of security around Lyon Dynasty, she turns to Laz (Adam Rodriguez), the labels new promoter for advice and a bit of stress relief. Laz guides her to solicit to thugs that took Hakeem to be security for the studio. Cookie takes his advice but has to talk Hakeem out of shooting up the gang. She also reminds everyone that Cookie ain’t the one to play with. After all the madness ends, we find Cookie at Laz’s door needing and wanting a lot more than advice. In the heat of the moment, we see that Laz has the same branding as the gang that took Hakeem.

The Lyons boys finally come together to show support of Hakeem. They try to boost his confidence before his show, telling him he did what he needed to stay alive. The whole family is beginning to mend except Lucious. His games and play for power still cause everyone to tiptoe around him with caution.

Back but Broken

Cookie and Lucious pay $40K to get Hakeem back. During the drop, Hakeem jumps out the van and lands on the doorstep of Anika (Grace Gealey), as known as Ms. Boo Boo Kitty, as she’s in life crisis mode on the phone with her mother on her way back from a workout. They are hot and heavy on the front stoop in Hakeem’s haziness in the aftermath of his abduction. It seems Anika read more into their little bump and grind than Hakeem. She gets disappointed when she shows up at his house later to find him partying with friends and the new lead singer for his girl band, Ménage a Trios. He kindly tells her he’s good and shuts the door on her.

“…with you Dad, there’s always strings.” – Hakeem Lyons

Hakeem struggles with the trauma of his ordeal. Lucious, being Lucious, tries to use the situation to lure Hakeem back to him. He extends an olive branch in the form of a beat made just for Hakeem. Angry, post-trauma Hakeem refuses to give and declines Lucious, creating a deeper void between father and son. Not wasting any opportunity, Lucios uses the same beat he created for Hakeem to woo his young, defiant protégé, Freda Gatz (Bre-Z). Lucious has his hands full with that one. During the Gutta Life showcase, Freda kicks a heckler in the face and runs off until Lucious tracks her down and offers up the track.

Final Verdict: While the upswing has plateaued for the show, there is a lot more the Lyon family has to offer us in the remaining episodes of Empire.

Episode 6 gives us a closer look into the relationships of the characters. Some are changing and growing while others, like Lucious, will always be the person they are meant to be. Beck’s growth in the show is positive. Her character has always had strength even in the background as Lucious’s admin sidekick. Her new story arc and love interest adds an interesting respite to the non-stop crazy of the major characters.

Lucious continues to play with people like pons on a chessboard. His inability to maintain a stable connection with his sons, but desperation to keep Freda in his hold shows us the complexity of the inner working of Lucious. He’s someone we’ll always examine under a microscope. Looking at the cast, Lucious’s character has grown the least this season. We want understand who Lucious truly is. The cat and mouse games to control the family bring us back each week like a detective uncovering a mystery. Yet, his relationship with Cookie and his strength as the head of the Lyon Empire makes him the one we love to hate.

Understanding Jamal is the face of LGBT on the show, him wanting to be a singer that is gay not the gay singer makes total sense. This season has focused so much on this topic it’s watered down Jamal’s character. He’s almost slipped into the background and the only place he shines is in the music. Hopefully, the writers will build a stronger arc in his storyline as the season continues. Jamal’s character had more depth in season 1. His journey from being the black sheep to being the favored son engaged us and kept us rooting for him. The writers need to take us back to embracing Jamal for more than just his beautiful vocals. Perhaps, the interplay of the boys and their contention with Lucious is what keeps us connected.

Writer and co-executive producer, Robert Munic whose writing credits include Murder in the First, Gang Related, and the Cleaner, has begun to build a foundation to move the cast forward in their arcs this episode. Although Munic has produced several episodes of Empire, this is his first episode as a writer. His writing has brought a layered dimension to many of the characters. Bringing in William Finchtner as Jameson, a former record executive and now LGBT advocate, introduces a new aspect of conflict into the relationship between Jamal and Lucious.

Hakeem remains most like his father, womanizing, angry, and stubborn. We’ll continue to monitor his progress with the symptoms of the trauma of his kidnapping. Anika continues to get played by Hakeem. Seems she never learns. In the same vein, Andre continues to hold on to extremes. His new religious enlightenment is impacting his business decision and his relationship with his father. Once again he travels down a slippery slope.

What to say about Cookie? She’s loud, crazy, badass and still vulnerable. This is a deadly combination in any woman. The smoking hot Laz maybe short a few essential body parts when Cookie finds out he’s the one crossing her. It will not play out well for him. He’ll soon learn what the full wrath of Cookie Lyon looks like. A female lion is never more vicious than when she’s protecting her cubs. Beware pretty Laz, beware.

Director, Mario Van Peebles, was skillful guiding Hakeem’s psychological progress through the episode. Building on the damage to his manhood and his already defunct view of relationships and women. This is his second episode of Empire. Van Peebles directing credits include New Jack City, Being Mary Jane, Sons of Anarchy, Last Ship, Law and Order, and much more.

Empire creators, Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, set precedence in season 1 that is almost impossible to replicate. The show was groundbreaking, edgy, and entertaining. The characters were over the top with strong emotions and convictions. Cookie was like none other female lead on television. Lucious was a delicious combination of villain and hero wrapped in pretty paper.  The brothers, tortured and intriguing, sucked you in. The music was genius, almost like a secondary character. So how do you grow from there?

Season 2 thus far shows that struggle to regain momentum when you’ve flown to close to the sun. The story arcs for many for the characters have flattened, but not enough to not hold our attention. We’ll continue to wait to see where the writers take us next. It’s time to fortify the plot and character development to bring us back to that sweet spot of season 1. While the upswing has plateaued for the show, there is a lot more the Lyon family has to offer us in the remaining episodes of Empire.

Questions, Comments & Concerns:

• Who else is loved Becky’s hotness on the rooftop with her new boy toy?
• “You Broke Love” is my next download!
• What’s with Cookie’s new look?
• Does Hakeem pick a name from a hat to decide which girl he’s going to have for the day?
• Boo Boo Kitty, just stop.
• Laz will sorely regret his choices when it comes to his dealings with Cookie.