Empire Recap Episode 10 – Sins of the Father (VIDEOS)

EMPIRE: Jamal (Jussie Smollet, L) and Hakeem (Bryshere Gray, R) listen to Lucious (Terrence Howard, C) make a confession in the "Sins of the Father" episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, March 11 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: FOX Chuck Hodes/FOX

Empire Recap Episode 10 – Sins of the Father – VIDEOS

On tonight’s Empire, Andre forms a new musical relationship with Michelle (guest star Jennifer Hudson), and a woman from Lucious’ past, Angie (guest star Mary J Blige), comes into the picture. Meanwhile, Lucious invites the whole family over to his home. However, everyone arrives with their own agendas. Hakeem, under the influence of Camilla (guest star Naomi Campbell), sets out to show his father that he’s a true artist and a good businessman. Then, Cookie prepares to state her own agenda for Empire and for her family, when Olivia (guest star Raven-Symoné) arrives.

I’ll be back with a recap later. In the meantime…enjoy your Cookie time!

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s Empire:

  • PLOT TWIST! It turns out that Lucious is Lola’s father! No wonder he had no problem taking Lola under his roof when she suddenly showed up on his doorstep. Now that Anika has betrayed him, Lucious is looking to get back with Cookie. He figures they can raise Lola together–a second chance to raise a child before he dies.
  • But Cookie is done with Lucious. Andre is in the hospital being treated for bipolar disorder and Lucious refuses to see him. He can’t deal with any perceived “flaw” in his children. So he keeps his head in the sand. Cookie doesn’t know anything about mental illness. She’s resistant at first, but then sets off to learn as much about it as possible. Andre’s breakdown, and Lucious’ reaction, is the last straw for her.

https://youtu.be/BrBehsxwL34

  • The plot cuts to a flashback of Lucious at a party, with his then girlfriend, played by Mary J. Blige.  Olivia is at the party, married to Jamal. Hakeem is just child. Here’s where we see Andre’s first breakdown, when he was a junior in college. When he’s carted off to the hospital, Lucious warns Andre’s future wife, Rhonda, not to tell anybody what happened.  When Lucious confesses he’s Lola’s father, we flashback to the party as the two make eye contact.
  • Andre is assigned a music therapist Michele White, played by Jennifer Hudson.  The two begin to form a special bond. But just at the point you think she’s coming on to Andre–she’s really leading him in prayer. I think Michelle is meant to open up that emotional and spiritual side of Andre that has been closed off for years. She sings a beautiful song, “Remember the Music.”

https://youtu.be/-6C9zorDO0g

  • When Cookie understands the full extent of Andre’s illness, it’s one more thing to feel guilty about missing while she was in jail for 17 years. During a family meeting with the doctor (Lucious conspicuously absent) Cookie cries as she apologizes to Andre for not being there when he needed her.
  • Cookie and Malcolm the security guy begin a torrid affair. He tries to resist her. He’s special forces! Lucious is his commander, and he must stay professional! But the call of the cookie monster is too strong. They role play via sexts and it’s pretty hot. When she thought he was spying on her via security cam, she was turned on, ready to flash her hoo ha at him. Talk of no underwear and handcuffs. Oh. My.
  • Jamal is falling for his baby daughter, Lola so hard, that he wants to raise her. He writes a sweet little song for the munchkin. It’s the cutest thing ever, he and Hakeem singing her to sleep with “Lola.” Naturally, Lucious believes it’s wrong for gay people to raise children, and will be stopping that if he can. A little heartbreaking–Jamal’s new boyfriend Ryan, respects his decision to raise Lola, but says he is personally not down with taking part. That revelation does not affect Jamal’s decision to take her.

https://youtu.be/H3xSz-0XHas

  • All of the action this week is centered on the signing of the Empire IPO. Although Andre is very ill, the family needs him at a huge family meeting taking place at the house. He decides not to go, sending Rhonda in his place. She is terrified that the this thing–taking over Empire–they have worked so hard for is going to crumble. Andre feels more like an outsider in his family than ever before. He can’t even feel close to his wife at this point.
  • Lola keeps saying she’s scared of a “scary bird” monster. When Olivia’s boyfriend enters the house, he notices tattoos of crows all up and down his arm. That’s the tip off that something really sinister is afoot.
  • In a bid to suck up to Cookie, Lucious gives her Anika’s old job–head of A&R at Empire. But all she wants is for Lucious to be a better father, to stop being selfish and think about what’s best for his sons. And she wants to produce his tribute concert, but under her own production banner.
  • Everything comes to a head at the IPO meeting. Unwanted guests include Olivia and her violent boyfriend, and Hakeem’s girlfriend, Camilla. Andre, the guy who is supposed to run the show, is absent. It’s a recipe for disaster.
  • Both Cookie and Lucious mistrust Camilla, who has taken over Hakeem’s career, from his look to the sound of his music. When Camilla announces he’s got a new song to debut, Cookie asks “Yoko, do you have a tambourine stuffed under that fur?” The song, set to a “Tom’s Diner” riff, is titled “Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number.”  Beyond the obvious nod to the age difference between him and Camille, Hakeem manages to charm his family-even Lucious. “The older the berry, the sweeter the juice,” raps Hakeem.

  • Lucious politely invites Camille into his study. But he literally locks her in there until she agrees to go back to London on a plane that very night.  You see. There’s only room for one Svengali, and it’s going to be Lucious. “You know how God made man in his image?” says Lucious, “I’m  making Hakeem in my image. God didn’t need no help. Neither do I.” Lucious writes a big check for her but she rips it up and throws it in his face. The minute Lucious is dead, she’s coming back to the states for Hakeem.  She calls him a disgusting human being and wishes him a miserable death. On the way to the airport she cries in the car. Malcolm hands her a tissue. He’s got a look of slight disgust on his face, and it ain’t directed at at the woman sitting in the back of his car.  As controlling as Camile was, she really did love Hakeem. It wasn’t entirely about money for her.
  • Lucious is pissed when he finds out that Rhonda is signing for Andre. When he calls her a “country club queen,” she reminds him that she’s not from a rich background. She had to work her ass off to attend Penn. She’s clawed her way to the top, so don’t even eff with her. “Where do I sign?” she asks coldly.
  • It turns out that Lucious took company shares away from all three of his sons to give to Cookie. Rhonda is pissed. Cookie is pissed. Then a very high “Uncle Vernon” shows up with the unwanted guests.
  •  At about the same time, Cookie and Jamal figure out that Olivia’s boyfriend is a very bad man. Olivia asks him to help her. He moves toward the boyfriend who pulls a gun on him. MAJOR standoff ensues. Hakeem offers him his watch. But he wants Olivia and Lola. And to maybe kill a Lyon. He resents the entire family. As he’s about to pull the trigger, Lucious confesses to being Lola’s father in s bid to  get the gunman to make him the target.
  • But it’s true. You can tell by the look on Olivia’s face. When the young and closeted Jamal was married to Olivia, he wouldn’t touch her. Lucious took advantage. Cookie, taking advantage of the stunned boyfriend, tries to grab the gun, and suddenly it’s pointing to her head. Lucious says “Shoot me, I’m a horrible person. I’ve made everyone’s life in this room miserable. You’ll be doing them a favor.” Lucious is willing to give up his life for the woman he let rot in jail for 17 years. Just sort of a horrific tragedy, Malcolm enters the room and shoots the boyfriend right in the head. He’s dead.  “I wish he would have shot you,” Cookie spits in Lucious’ face.  Lucious looks at the rest of the room, agape at him. “What are you looking at? I saved your asses.”  Once and always a self serving jerk.
  • The next day, Olivia and Lola leave New York City for Florida. The abusive boyfriend is dead, allowing Olivia to resume her life as Lola’s mom. She had abandoned Lola because she knew Jamal would take care of her. Cookie understands that Olivia was just trying to protect her child, and respects that. Jamal forgives her for cheating on him. But it was a sham marriage in the first place. He’s not going to be mad. It’s sad for Jamal, saying goodbye to, in reality, his half sister. His dreams of daddyhood are dashed.
  • The episode ends with Lucious more or less asking Cookie to marry him.  But she’s finally over him. “You don’t care about nothing but yourself,” she says. “Everything you touch, you destroy.” She adds, “You just don’t want to die alone.”  You know she’s right.
  • Cookie rushes out of Lucious’ office,  right to Malcolm. She asks him to take her away to a place where they can be alone together. “Ok,” he says, “Let’s do that.”

Photo Gallery

  • EMPIRE: Jamal (Jussie Smollet, L) and Ryan (guest star Eka Darville, R) chat in the "Sins of the Father" episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, March 11 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: FOX Chuck Hodes/FOX
  • EMPIRE: Jamal (Jussie Smollet, L) and Hakeem (Bryshere Gray, R) listen to Lucious (Terrence Howard, C) make a confession in the "Sins of the Father" episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, March 11 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: FOX Chuck Hodes/FOX
  • EMPIRE: Hakeem (Bryshere Gray, L) and Camilla (guest star Naomi Campbell, R) chat show up at Lucious's house in the "Sins of the Father" episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, March 11 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: FOX Chuck Hodes/FOX
  • EMPIRE: Lucious (Terrence Howard, L) and Cookie (Taraji P. Henson, R) have a meeting in the "Sins of the Father" episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, March 11 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: FOX Chuck Hodes/FOX
  • EMPIRE: Mary J. Blige guest-stars as Angie in the "Sins of the Father" episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, March 11 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: FOX Chuck Hodes/FOX
  • EMPIRE: In a flashback, Lucious (Terrence Howard, R) and Angie (guest star Mary J. Blige, L) perform in the "Sins of the Father" episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, March 11 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: FOX Chuck Hodes/FOX
  • EMPIRE: In a Flashback, Lucious (Terrence Howard) performs in the "Sins of the Father" episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, March 11 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: FOX Chuck Hodes/FOX
  • EMPIRE: Hakeem (Bryshere Gray, L) and Jamal (Jussie Smollet, R) have an agenda in the "Sins of the Father" episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, March 11 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: FOX Chuck Hodes/FOX
  • EMPIRE: Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) watches her family in the "Sins of the Father" episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, March 11 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: FOX Chuck Hodes/FOX
  • EMPIRE: Rhonda (Caitlin Doubleday, R) takes care of Andre (Trai Byers, L) in the "Sins of the Father" episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, March 11 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: FOX Chuck Hodes/FOX

About mj santilli 34859 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!