BWW Recap: Move, Snitch, Get Out the Way on EMPIRE

The Empire is still split in two as Cookie, Hakeem and Andre break out on their own to try and take down Jamal and Lucious. Will Lyon Dynasty even come close to Empire? If Lucious keeps dropping singles like he is, they don't stand a chance.

Cookie visits Jamal (literally) in the middle of an interview to ask him to release Hakeem's album, but he refuses. As Cookie, Hakeem and Andre begin to form their own company, their family troubles are unavoidable. Hakeem wants to start a girl group and instantly falls for a Latina singer, Valentina (Guest Star, Becky G) during auditions. Dre thinks it's a mistake and Hakeem needs to record a new album since Jamal refuses to release his previous one from Empire. Dre and Hakeem are fighting to get Cookie to let Anika be a part of the company, but she will not relent. (Although, I do feel as though these two are going to become allies whether they like it or not). When Jamal asks Hakeem back to Empire, Hakeem refuses and leaks his album online. This is the last straw for Dre and he goes to prison to beg Lucious for forgiveness and to let him back into Empire. Lucious refuses. Rhonda begs Jamal to take Dre back since she is pregnant and Jamal agrees. Cookie and Hakeem are left to the Dynasty and hear Lucious' single on the radio. They know they have to get Dynasty off the ground before Lucious gets out of jail. And clearly, they have to work pretty fast.

In prison, Lucious is having trouble receiving his meds for his ALS as the DA, Roxanne Ford, has employed her own special prison guard who looks a LOT like Ludacris (Guest Star "Luda" Chris Bridges) to mess with Lucious inside. Thankfully, Bubbles, Thurston "Thirsty" Rawlings (Guest Star Andre Royo) shows up and offers his services as Lucious new counsel. He proves his worth by not only getting Lucious his meds, but also providing recording equipment for Lucious to record a single in prison. Ludacris confiscates it, but Thirsty's goons attack Luda in the parking garage and recover it to get Thirsty to release it. Thirsty also shows up at Lucious' bail hearing with incriminating photos of the Judge and therefore gets Lucious released from prison.

At this point, I am fearful of Dre's mental state. He is at his breaking point and is really not getting the support he needs from either Mom nor Dad. Maybe Jamal is his only hope at this point. Was Rhonda being genuine in that meeting with Jamal or was she just up to her old tricks again? I can't quite figure out Hakeem's game here. He seems loyal to his mother, but his eyes do light up every time someone mentions Empire. Is that the fire that will fuel him to beat them out or does his loyalty to his father lie deeper than we all realize.

I nearly jumped for joy at seeing Andre Royo. Does anyone play shady better than that guy? And Thirsty Rawlings is not only shady, it's one of the best names for a lawyer I have ever heard. Clearly, Lucious needs someone like that on his side as he had Lucious out of jail pretty quickly after meeting him. Don't get me wrong, I think Jamal is correct to be skeptical, but at the same time, you can't argue with his results. I wonder at what price those results will come.

Also, was Tiana wearing, um, anything in her dance scene? Was it my imagination or was there a part of her anatomy blurred out? Just curious.

And lastly, what was with the odd flashback of being serenaded with Mama Lucious serenading and losing consciousness midway through the song? Did I miss something? What is the reason Lucious doesn't hate Andre and why in the world couldn't he tell him? Is Lucious actually protecting Dre in the long run? And from what?

Regardless, the guest star parade didn't stop this week so I can only imagine what we are in for in the coming weeks.. One thing is for sure, whether it be Empire or Dynasty, this battle isn't slowing down for a second.

Here's a preview for next week's all new episode:

Photo Credit: FOX

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