For those who do not know, “Empire” is an American drama series starring Jussie Smollett, Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Trai Byers & heartthrob Bryshere Y. Gray. The show airs every Wednesday at 9 p.m.
The show first aired on Jan. 7, 2015 just in time for the new year. It revolves around the Lyon family, and their billion dollar hip-hop music and entertainment company, Empire Entertainment. The show also highlights the drama within the family as they fight for control of the company.
Here is a little recap on the show so far: Luscious Lyon (portrayed by Howard), how now turned into a hip-hop icon, and CEO of Empire Ent. after a life full of hardships. He recently finds out that he has Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ‘ALS’. Following his diagnosis, his past crimes come to haunt him and his family. Therefore, he must choose one of his three sons Andre (Byers), Jamal (Smollett), and Hakeem (Gray). This then brings the brothers against each other, causing some horrible events to happen within their brotherhood. Another one of the shows main characters, Taraji P. Henson, plays Cookie Lyon, the mother of the three boys and also ex-wife to Luscious Lyon, who was just released from prison after a seventeen year sentence.
Want to know more? Here is some inside dish on some of the main characters.
Cookie Lyon: Cookie plays an extremely important role on the show. After being convicted and sent to prison for a total of seventeen years, she is determined to bring the Lyon family back together and reclaim her share of Empire Entertainment.
“I think she is everybody’s spirit animal,” Henson told a small group of reporters following an Empire press conference this summer in Los Angeles. “Or their alter ego. She lives in truth. One thing she’s not is politically correct.”
Jamal Lyon: Jamal is an aspiring, talented, gay singer-songwriter who despises the corporate side of the industry. He’s only in it for the music and he has some amazing raw talent. In the beginning, Jamal is alienated by his homophobic father, Luscious. However, he is considered to be his mothers favorite son and has a deep and strong relationship with his brothers.
“It’s a pretty hard pill to swallow, but they’re going through a rough patch. This is a very different type of dynamic. This whole power struggle between the family, it’s not the norm. They’re all changing, and they’re all becoming better and worse people,” says Smollett.
Hakeem Lyon: Hakeem is a cocky, arrogant, fame-obsessed, “hottie”, and the youngest child of the Lyon family. He is considered to be Luscious’ favorite and let’s be honest.. most of the fans favorite, too. In the beginning, Hakeem feels very hostile to his mother, but then slowly, but surely starts to find his soft spot for her.
“You can expect Hakeem coming into his own, getting wiser and making boss moves. Not making those childish, idiotic moves he made in season 1. He’s gonna surprise you. He’s coming into his own. Trying to take the Empire from his brother, but it’s gonna get messy. It’s not going to be that easy,” says Gray on season 2.
