'Empire' S3 Episode 5: One Before Another

Empire: One Before Another

Jamal's newest thundering beat serves as the score for the opening scene of "One Before Another." We see him once again working with D-Major who wants to make more than just music with Jamal. Unfortunately for Danny Boy, Jamal's curve game has improved since last season.

Shyne prepares to carry out his hit on Lucious and Andre while Cookie stops for coffee with Angelo. We learn that Angelo has yet to have any of Cookie's cookies with his coffee...oh shucks!

Hakeem, once again surrounded by strippers...blegh attempts to text Nessa but gets no response because she is *ahem* otherwise engaged.

Cookie's walk through New York City with Angelo is cut short as she is surrounded by security men retained by Lucious who is aware that Shyne will want revenge after their disagreement over Nessa's contract. Shyne reaches his first target, Andre, but proves that he may still be more brawn than brain when he attempts to shoot Andre and gun is unloaded. Shyne switches weapons but stops Nessa who talks him down from his vengeful rage. Shyne leaves, not wanting to do dirty work in front of Nessa. What a gentleman.

The Lyons reconvene in Lucious' office to discuss their plan of action now that Shyne has made it known that he intends to clapback. Lucious insists that everything, including Hakeem's scheduled livestream performance will go as planned.

Jamal attempts to use his new track to bribe Hakeem into making his livestream event a split bill performance with him so that he can show the fans he is alive and well. They announce the livestream event at Leviticus but Gram crashes the announcement to challenge Hakeem to a battle. Hakeem is furious but Jamal gets Hakeem to see that Lucious is the one fueling the rivalry.

During an A&R meeting, Cookie is trying to decide which single Tiana should record. Becky is pulling for a new song "Starlight" which Tiana wants to record, but Cookie and Xavier (a.k.a. Fiddler on the Roof--which proves that Boo Boo Kitty wasn't just a fluke, Cookie really is the queen of nicknames) want Tiana to record "Me," the song she sang at Leviticus. Becky is outvoted by Cookie's bottom line and Xavier's mansplaining.

Andre meets Nessa at Leviticus to try to convince her to bring Shyne to a sit down with him and Lucious. Nessa is furious with Andre for not telling her that he had an altercation with Shyne and warns him not to screw Shyne over because he's all she has. Andre continues to insist that Nessa deserves better than Shyne.

Jamal surprises Lucious at his office and tells him that he convinced Hakeem to squash his beef with Gram. Lucious tells Jamal that instead of trying to continue his "end the cycle" campaign, he should accept that he truly is like Lucious.

Cookie goes to see her parole officer, Sharlene,  but is surprised when her P.O. and the rest of the staff react coldly to her behavior. Sharlene tightens the reins on Cookie and increases her visits to three times a week.

At the recording studio, Becky lies to Tiana and tells her that Cookie agreed to let her perform "Starlight," because she's got Tiana's back like her nonexistent bra straps...No seriously, her top was backless, there were no bra straps in sight.

During rehearsal for their stream, Hakeem tries to use his verse on Jamal's song as a clapback to Gram and his haters, but Jamal doesn't like the idea. Hakeem reminds Jamal that he's the one who needs the livestream, so it should be done under Hakeem's terms.

Shyne arrives for his sit down with Lucious.  Things get heated until Anika arrives and gives Lucious the impromptu idea to offer Shyne a stake in Empire and the chance to work with Freda Gatz. Shyne seems pleased with the deal and all is right, for now.

Cookie goes to see Angelo and accuses him of talking to her P.O. to keep her in check. Angelo insists he didn't and tells Cookie she has unresolved issues that cause her to put up emotional walls. Angelo leaves and Cookie continues to fume.

Tiana records “Starlight” and Xavier seems impressed. Becky is convinced that once Cookie hears the song she’ll overlook the fact that Becky disobeyed her and lied to Tiana. I personally like “Me” better.

Jamal goes to Cookie to mediate his and Hakeems disagreement over their livestream. After a very childish argument where the Lyon brothers stop short of singing “Baby, baby stick your head in gravy” to one another, Cookie reminds them that they can’t come between her and her money. She instructs them to do the song as Jamal arranged it and reprimands Hakeem for the state of his apartment. Because you’re never too old to have your mom tell you to clean your room. Hey, at least she didn’t try to sweep for him…

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The livestream starts off going according to plan. Lucious isn’t happy that the numbers for Empire Xtream are remaining steady and decides to do something to spike them. Noticing that Hakeem is into Tiana, Lucious shows Hakeem that Andre and Nessa are canoodling and tells him to get his girl back (you know, the girl that was never his). Hakeem goes from zero to 100 and performs an aggressive rap that disrespects both Andre and Hakeem. A shouting match ensues between the three Lyon brothers, and Lucious has the camera crews film the whole thing. Empire Xtream’s numbers spike but the peace between the Lyon brothers is gone.

Side note: Usually I don’t comment analytically on the episodes but I just wanted to take a break and commend the writers on a job well done with this storyline thus far. It is said that there is no reality, only perception, and that rung true here. There was never anything concrete to suggest that Nessa was interested in Hakeem. Yes they recorded a duet and yes there was chemistry, but it never went any further than that. But like Hakeem, our perception was that there was going to be something between them because that seemed obvious. That’s why I--and I’m sure a lot of other people based on my recent interview with Sierra McClain--was so shocked at the beginning of Nessa’s relationship with Andre. We thought that there was something concrete with Hakeem but really all there was, was a vibe. Which reminds me, this scene also gave us one of Jamal’s greatest lines. “Oh my goodness, a vibe,” might actually replace last season’s “you smell like stripper ass,” quip as my favorite Jamal clapback.

Anyway…

Cookie calls a meeting with Becky, Xavier and Tiana to let Becky know that they’ll be postponing the release of her album because she recorded the wrong song. Becky admits to lying to Tiana to get the song recorded because she knew it was a better song but Tiana is angry and wants Becky off her team. Cookie tells Becky she needs to learn how to listen and Xavier claims that business is business. I feel bad for Becky, but if you really think about it, her listening skills have always been a problem.

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Again, at least Cookie doesn’t throw things.

Angelo meets Cookie at Empire headquarters and explains that he got her parole requirements changed. Cookie’s P.O. apologizes to her and Angelo explains to Cookie that after seeing her family on Empire Xtream he realized that “fighting is [her] family’s way of life.” He says that he’s willing to go against Lucious to fight for her.

Shyne takes his dog on a walk and Tariq just happens to be in the neighborhood. He points Tariq to Freda Gathers and tells Tariq that her father Frank Gathers got killed in prison at the same time as Lucious even though, he’s not sure if that’s a coincidence or not.

Lucious begins teaching Hakeem how to be a father and how to hold a baby in a non-cringeworthy way. Lucious tells Hakeem that embracing his darkness and getting his swagger back is what’s best for him as a man and as a father. Lucious also offers to produce Hakeem’s music and turn him into a “destroyer of souls,” a reference to a book by Khalil Gibran that Lucious had used to explain to Hakeem why his nature wasn’t peaceful and loving.

RETWEET if you're still in shock from last week's #Empire. pic.twitter.com/ulDJhsBhab

— Empire (@EmpireFOX) November 15, 2016