S03.E13: My Naked Villainy

[Tara Ariano]

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Hakeem throws an epic 21st birthday party and live-streams it all on Empire Xstream. Meanwhile, suspicions surrounding Anika's motives put the Lyons on high alert and the arrival of Giuliana gives Cookie a run for her money.

[SimoneS]

Wow, I did not see that coming. I thought Lucious would crush Andre in that meeting. I am surprised that Jamal didn't side with his father. It is early days yet though. It does seem like they are finally getting Jamal back into the middle of the business. 

So Philip dumped Jamal. He literally came and went very quickly. Ha. That means Derek just has to be patient.

Cookie is right that "Cucious" sounds like a STD. Lucious was so obnoxious at Angelo's victory party. I did cracked up at Anika pulling the plug on him, only for him to a pull a gun. 

Marry Angelo, Cookie, let Lucious and the past go! 

I enjoyed Nessa telling Andre off. He should have told her up front that he wanted an open relationship. 

I really hope this is Hakeem turning  corner.

Edited April 13, 2017 by SimoneS

[Syndicate]

Did Jamal say that Philip had dumped him? I must have missed that! I do ultimately want Jamal with D-major, but I wouldn't have minded Philip sticking around a bit for more conflict.

[wanderingstar]

This show keeps getting better.

"My Naked Villainy" was such an apt title for this episode.

Andre continued his long game. That board meeting scene was delicious. For a minute, I thought Hakeem was going to second Lucious' firing of Andre. Thank goodness he didn't. Still want to see if Andre will try to kill Lucious. I have a feeling Shine can't be completely trusted by any of the Lyons.

Anika asking Cookie to take care of Bella was a surprise. Still don't think she can be trusted.

So, Lucious and Giuliana knew each other back in the day. This is going to be a mess.

[phoenics]

This storyline with Cookie/Lucious/Angelo feels like a slightly darker, JR Ewing version of the Whitley/DwayneWayne/Byron Douglas triangle on A Different World.  Cookie has already "kissed" Lucious while with Angelo (and originally the script had it where they actually did sleep together).  Whitley slept with Dwayne-Wayne while with Byron.  Byron/Angelo were lauded to Whitley/Cookie as the "better men" compared to Dwayne-Wayne/Lucious.  Now - just like Byron proposed to Whitley right after he "won", Angelo will probably do the same with Cookie.

My guess will be that this will lead all the way up to Cookie saying yes, and an entire wedding, which Lucious will crash and Cookie will end up with him.

My wish would be that this didn't happen - ADW's Whitley/DW stuff should be sacred (even if Shonda ripped it off for Grey's and I'm still mad about that), but this storyline has mirrored that from the start - it's just a darker version.

So now I'm fascinated to see what happens with Nia Long's character and Lucious.  But at the same time, are they going to write Anika out?  I really don't want them to do that - this show does need Boo Boo Kitty - and adding Nia Long just adds yet another woman into this crazy Lucious/Cookie/Angelo/Anika quad... 

But Anika asking Cookie to watch over Bella makes me think Grace Gealy's Anika ain't long for this show.  That'd be a shame.

Also - why is Nia Long's makeup so dark?  She used to be several shades lighter - is that bad makeup or a tan?  Nia and Taraji are the nearly the same complexion - Nia's is just redder.

I hope Hakeem grows up now - it was really hard watching Kennedy get broken down like that.  Hakeem did the right thing.  Victim blaming is never okay and he needed to grow up.  But I hope the show doesn't think this is enough of a PSA - they need to continually show the damaging effects of misogyny in music.

Andre, Andre, Andre - that was a nice stunt you pulled and love that you used data and a solid business plan - but Lucious is coming for you bruh.  Watch your back.

Angelo acting jealous was whack.  Just let it roll off your back - you're making yourself an easy target for Lucious.  Dummy.

I think I missed some parts of the episode - must have been working at the same time and missed stuff. 

8 minutes ago, Syndicate said:

Did Jamal say that Philip had dumped him? I must have missed that! I do ultimately want Jamal with D-major, but I wouldn't have minded Philip sticking around a bit for more conflict.

I must be the only person who can't stand D-major.  I can't stand down low brothas and I don't think he's really considered the impact of coming out yet.  And he basically did it for Jamal - not himself.  That dooms it from the start.

To compare, one of the reasons Christians are advised not to "missionary date" is because when someone "converts" for you, it doesn't stick and they can't stand up to all of the difficult challenges you face when you devote yourself to your faith.  Same goes for D-major coming out for Jamal.  None of that was about doing it and really understanding the impact or coming to terms with his own gayness and what coming out means for him - I think he thinks that as long as he's with Jamal he will be okay but that's a really heavy burden on Jamal.  No relationship can withstand that.

I hope they don't end up together.  Besides the coming out drama, he also enabled Jamal's drug use.

[Dee]

Andre out playing Lucious during the bedroom business meeting was a thing of beauty.

[Artsda]

"Cucious" LOL They couldn't come up with anything else?

Having the election party at Lucious's club was a dumb decision. Angelo didn't think of the Hakeem party drama plus the fact it was Lucious's club?

I liked hearing 'You're so Beautiful' made me remember great season 1. 

[nilyank]

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"Cucious" LOL They couldn't come up with anything else?

I would have gone with "Lookie"

[Primetimer]

There's a lot of good reasons this episode is entitled 'The Naked Villainy'!

View the full article

[tennisgurl]

I know this show has long since gone past its "Lion in Winter with hip hop" thing from the first season, but that scene where Lucious called the whole board into his bedroom, only to get foiled by Andre, was pure Shakespeare. Or at least some kind of high drama theater. I admit, I laughed my ass off at Lucious yelling about how he can fire Andre because he's his son damn it, while everyone else just fills out totally supporting Andre. I'm sure Lucious will win again soon, but its nice to see him getting knocked down a peg. The guy isn't just evil, he's petty.  

The outfit the singer playing young Cookie in the music video looked like Robin Sparkles from How I Met Your Mother. Also, am I the only one who thinks its a little weird that Jamal is "playing" young Lucious in this Hip Hopera, when he has such a complicated relationship with the guy, and he's romancing a woman playing his mom? Kinda weird.

Cucious really does sound like an STD.

Poor Kennedy. Its not that the entirety to hip hops misogyny issues are Hakeems fault, but he does put out the music he puts out, and it was nice to see him actually try to take some responsibility and show some empathy. I hope they actually keep him on the path to maturity, and he doesn't go back to being an idiot in a few weeks like this never happened.

[thuganomics85]

Ha, "Cucious!"  So dumb, but that would totally happen if Lucious and Cookie exist in real life.  People love mashing couples' names together, no matter how silly the end results end up being.

Andre finally comes out of the shadows and makes his Vegas play, even if he originally tried to do it behind Lucious' back.  Still, he ends up getting the full support of the board, and Lucious has to eat crow for now.  But this is far from over.  And that is not even including all the other obstacles like Nessa not being down with Andre's "methods" of wooing clients like he use to with Rhonda, and especially Giuliana having some kind of past with Lucious.  Can't wait to find out how all that happened!

After all the stuff he has done to protect Lucious, I guess it really isn't too surprising that Thirsty would be cool with tearing into Kennedy and pulling the victim-blaming card.  He sure is a scumbag, but but he does seem to be pretty great at his job.  But Hakeem blew all that up to hell, since he is starting to realize how his sexist songs and behavior can have big consequences.  Maybe he has turned over a new leave, even if a lot of it is coming from having a daughter/Belle.  Kind of reminds me of various politicians who believe one thing, but it suddenly effects a child or family member, they have a "change of heart."

Angelo wins the Democratic primary, so I guess it is now the actual mayoral election going forward.  That's assuming he and Cookie will still be together, by the time the election is done.

Wait, Phillip dumped Jamal?  That was quick.  At least Jamal is trying to get it through Derek's thick skull that their issues are just about him being in the closet, but I don't think Derek is quite understanding his reasons.

Oh, Anika.  Next time you want to screw with Lucious medical equipment, make sure he doesn't have a gun first!

[wanderingstar]

Forgot to add, Lucious tapping out his instructions on the tablet was too much. But that was topped by him having a gun to pull on Anika when she took away his oxygen. 

[mtlchick]

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I liked hearing 'You're so Beautiful' made me remember great season 1. 

It's still probably my favourite song from this show, though the music has been pretty good this season. 

Lucious should never forget that Andre is the son that has the business savvy.  And yet he continues to forget that Andre is also the son that is most like him. The boardroom in the bedroom was epic. 

[Margohill]

Very good episode indeed! I really enjoyed it so much I had to watch it again. I will have to start by giving a big applause to Cookie's wardrobe this episode. I loved everything she wore in this episode. I would kill for that red dress she wore in that studio with Jamal and Estelle. If anyone knows where I can get that red dress please kindly share.

1. Seeing Lucious so sick was a downer for me but I am glad the writers decided to remind us of his illness. It was almost never mentioned in S2. Lucious despite being the villain, is larger that life and breaths life into the show (along with Cookie). I'm glad he wasn't down for too long.

20 hours ago, iheartET said:

The song that Jamal and Estelle’s character did was good. It had a Michael Jackson sound to it.

Agreed. The flashback to Cookie and Lucious's past was very good and it was quite shocking to see how and why Cookie started doing Lucious's drug runs for him. Quite touching. 

Cookie struck again with her one-liner; "Coocious sounds like some d@ STD." That got me laughing really hard. I would have gone with "Luookie"..LOL!!

Anika tried to strike again but this time she was messing with the wrong villain. I like how Lucious always thinks ahead. When he told Thirsty to watch his family because they are "snakes", I couldn't help laughing. I guess it's how someone like Lucious always thinks and the way he stopped Anika was quite unexpected and smart. That was good.

Hakeem needs to learn. Cookie dragging him out of the room to go meet his father after watching the video of Kennedy threatening to sue Empire was epic. His redemption song about women was very good. The pep talk Jamal gave him about his disrespect of women in his songs was also good. I liked that.  I felt bad for Kennedy though when Thirsty tore her down. That's probably why some victims of abuse don't want to come forward especially if they have some skeletons in their closet.

Andre stole the show. So impressed to see his educational/financial skills put to good use. He is a sleek, smooth operator but he gives me the creeps. I sense some deadliness about him.

1 hour ago, mtlchick said:

The boardroom in the bedroom was epic. 

Totally agree. Poor Lucious. Never seen someone so beaten. Not even Cookie, Hakeem or Shine could second him. Andre crushed him hands down and took control...LOL!!!

Nessa shutting Andre down was golden. "I don't do arrangements." Well take that Andre. I think even Andre was impressed by her toughness. Great scene. I applauded.

Leave it to Lucious to "leave his coffin" (according to Cookie..LOL!!) and crash Angelo's election party.

22 hours ago, Artsda said:

I liked hearing 'You're so Beautiful' made me remember great season 1. 

Absolutely!! I just mentioned this song in one of my recent post and I was so happy to hear Lucious remind us of this song again. Poor Angelo. When will he ever wake up and smell the coffee? Even Anika knows the truth about Cookie's feelings for Lucious...

Overall, great episode which I really felt good about and reminiscent in quite a few ways of S1. Even the ratings ticked up a bit. I'm sure it will go up from here till the end of the season.

[Mojoker]

I know they film in Chicago, but it seemed like a kind of a lazy mistake to have a Chicago newscaster giving the mayoral race updates.

[Happytobehere]

Surprise, surprise when Lucifer, the man who runs Empire and his family like a dictatorship needed support, no one had his back. Different kind of surprise, I wonder if Lucifer peeped that only Jamal and Cookie seemed concerned about him.  He reached out to Cookie and she pulled away when Honey Boo Boo made her treacherous appearance. I'm sure Hakeem cared, but he's Hakeem, and reacted like Hakeem does in this type of situation.

Speaking of Honey Boo Boo, what hustle is she working now. I wouldn't believe her if she said piss was wet.  I hope the show does something with her character, she has remained stagnant and watching her has become tedious; but then again, I was over her character in season one.  I'm still waiting for the reveal that Bella is not really Hakeem's child, but that is rooted in my lack of interest in the HBB character.  I'm sure a paternity test was the first thing Lucifer had done the minute Bella was born.

Thristy seemed all too eager to be the man behind the man, who now gets to be front and center.

Andre truly feels nothing for Lucifer (wonder if he has any feelings for Cookie, or is he that far gone).  You could see the wheels turning in his head, hoping that old boy died so he could complete his coup ahead of schedule.  Did love that he had more than one plan in his pocket when Lucifer thought he had the jump on Andre and planned to fire him.  I think Lucifer realized for the first time just how much of a threat Andre could pose to him.

Hakeem continues to not know.  He didn't get the problem he created when Andre payed it out to him last week, and he still doesn't get it.  As evil as Andre has become, he was right about the mess Hakeem keeps making in his petulant bratdom.  While I appreciate that Hakeem wanted to do the right thing, he needed to go about it differently because his stupid equals monetary liability to Empire.  I loved Jamal and Cookie calling Hakeem on his ish as much if not more than his hearing them and trying to rectify his mess, even though he didn't rectify in the business-smart way.  But really Jamal, the only way Hakeem is going to become woke will be if "woke" is spelled "stay being stupid", cause that's Hakeem.  At least that is Hakeem for now, he can grow, but it will take time.

UO -- Nia Long Can.Not.Act. And I say this as someone who has been a fan since her Guiding Light days.  On that soap she was a breath of fresh air, but she hasn't grown nor has she done anything to hone her talent in the years since and placing her in scenes with TB, who is one of the strongest actors on the show is doing her no favors, her lack of skills is painful to watch.  As a result , I can't get into any of her scenes because she can't sell them.  Too bad because I was excited when I saw she was joining the show. 

[Margohill]

On ‎4‎/‎12‎/‎2017 at 9:02 PM, SimoneS said:

So Philip dumped Jamal. He literally came and went very quickly. Ha. That means Derek just has to be patient.

Why am I not surprised? Jamal had developed a bond with D-major but he didn't help Jamal kick his drug habit, Philip did. I just saw Philip as more of a counselor and he really didn't seem to be in love with Jamal as D-major did. I guess I must be the only one who didn't care for Philip. Now Jamal has to run back to D-major eventually..LOL!!!

On ‎4‎/‎12‎/‎2017 at 9:23 PM, Gillian Rosh said:

Anika asking Cookie to take care of Bella was a surprise. Still don't think she can be trusted.

That scene seemed forced to me. I just didn't feel it. Cookie asked the right question;"So you want the woman you hate to take care of your daughter?" I guess there must be a reason she did that but after killing Rhonda's baby i.e. Cookie's other grandchild, she really has some nerve.

On ‎4‎/‎12‎/‎2017 at 9:02 PM, SimoneS said:

Marry Angelo, Cookie, let Lucious and the past go! 

Well, it seems like Angelo will be proposing but I have a feeling that this will the "mother of all dramas". Ain't no way that's gonna happen. Lucious will SHUT IT DOWN and I hope he does because it's obvious Cookie is still in love with Lucious. You've got to fight for the one you love. I am waiting for this drama to happen. Bring it on Empire!!!

Edited April 15, 2017 by Margohill

[Dee]

I totally believe Anika would ask Cookie to take care of Bella.

Hakeem is a sweet kid but he's still nowhere near mature enough to assume full care of an infant, and no one in their right mind would want to leave a child in Lucious nefarious clutches.

Also, for all their initial animosity and ongoing sniping, Cookie and Anika are fairly chill with each other as long as they are working toward the same purpose. In this case, each woman prioritized Bella's needs, before their own need to be hateful, which is quite admirable considering the circumstances.

[darkestboy]

Nice return for Delphine and You're So Beautiful. Little bit weird seeing her and Jamal play Cookie and Lucious for a music video though.

The show is signposting Cookie and Angelo's inevitable break up that I just wish they'd get on with it now.

Not surprised that Lucious and Giuliana have a past. Was a little surprised with Anika asking Cookie to look after Bella though. 

Good to see Nessa not taking shit from Andre. Also seems inevitable that Jamal and Derek will reunite though.

I liked Hakeem's moment of clarity in relation to the impact his music tends to have and wanting to do something good with that song he did, 7/10

[Jeopardy15]

I am not here for Cooshious or Lookie. I can't stand the whole "if I can't have you no one can". Does Lucious even want Cookie? He has been so cruel and petty. That is not love. 

[Margohill]

On ‎4‎/‎15‎/‎2017 at 0:12 AM, Dee said:

Also, for all their initial animosity and ongoing sniping, Cookie and Anika are fairly chill with each other as long as they are working toward the same purpose. In this case, each woman prioritized Bella's needs, before their own need to be hateful, which is quite admirable considering the circumstances.

The truth is, Cookie doesn't know that Anika pushed Rhonda down the stairs otherwise she would have dealt with Anika in a major way. Anika would never have been able to face Cookie if Cookie knew the truth. Maybe that's why the writers have not been clear about whether Cookie knows about what Anika did otherwise this scene would never have happened.

There's a difference between Cookie and Lucious. Cookie is very protective of her kids/grandkids; so protective that she can kill to protect them and Anika knows that. Lucious could care less. For a man who was so ecstatic about Rhonda's pregnancy that he bought them a magnificent home, but the  again just didn't seem to care that the grandchild he was so excited about was killed by the woman he is sleeping with?  Lucious is truly Lucifer but he is great for the show, I'll give him that. Anika needs to pay for what she did.

Looking forward to seeing the Cookie vs. Giuliana battle. Can't wait to see how Cookie will take her down because we all know she will. 

Edited April 19, 2017 by Margohill

[Keepitmoving]

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I am not here for Cooshious or Lookie. I can't stand the whole "if I can't have you no one can". Does Lucious even want Cookie? He has been so cruel and petty. That is not love. 

 

Exactly, he called her a gutter rat that said it all. That definitely confirmed that he's ashamed of her, which is what I've long thought. He has the nerve to be ashamed of her and she was dumb enough to fall for the trash that he is because his music was that alluring, please. I still can't understand how a girl who had a father who loved her and was so close to him ended up hiding drugs under her bed for the love of some low life thug. I'd get it more if she didn't have the father figure she had in her life, but I'm not buying. Her father didn't seem abusive, he seemed to have high hopes for her, expectations, maybe it was too much pressure because it seemed like it was put on her more so than her two sisters. But still, he seemed like a really good father, so I call bullshit Lee Daniels, sorry.

It was a big mistake to focus so much on Cookie still being hung up on Luscious. Instead of having Cookie going around reminding everyone she did seventeen years, she should be written to show how much more tougher than Luscious those seventeen years made her. Her heart should be colder toward him, not her kids, but definitely toward him. But I can't stand Luscious, and I don't like TH. I can pretty much only stand him in the Best Man movies. I watch this show for Cookie/TPH and she should have had a competing business instead of being drawn back into the "family" business and groveling at the feet of a man who is her equal. She should be ordering hits on people who get in the way of her business. This is the main reason I don't watch the show like I use to. I don't care that much about Angelo, although I do want Cookie to find love. But I first want her to get a business of her own.

[Dee]

Lucious and Cookie have both had less than flattering things to say about each other during the run of the show. Yes, he's called her a gutter rat (with no real heat behind it), but she's (repeatedly) referred to him a tampon (with no heat behind it). That's just a part of their relationship.

Is it toxic? To a large degree, yes. But when it really comes down to it, despite all the insults they sling and the blows they throw, they truly have each others backs.

Also Cookie has never wanted to be a 'God' like Lucious does. She's only ever wanted the music, respect as a mother, and to be recognized for her efforts and sacrifice in building Empire.

The show has gone to great lengths to show how Cookie has, and hasn't, grown from her experiences in prison; how bitter she still feels, rightful or not, about 'missing her chance' at the life she feels she should've had and how much of a toll it still takes on her trying to maintain a family that loves and, consciously or not, resents her in equal measure.

That is a way more interesting track to take, from a character standpoint, than the show fashioning Cookie into an Alexis Carrington knock off.

[Keepitmoving]

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Also Cookie has never wanted to be a 'God' like Lucious does. She's only ever wanted the music, respect as a mother, and to be recognized for her efforts and sacrifice in building Empire.

Which was my point, it was a big mistake, she should have been written to want the power not pathetically seeking some respect from anyone, this would keep me as a viewer. She should be written to be smarter and more ruthless than Luscious instead of whining about seventeen years in prison to anyone within an earshot, SHOW what seventeen years in prison looks like. It sure as hell shouldn't look like weeping and whining over some shitty man like Luscious and some hold he supposedly has on her, give me a break. At any rate to each his own. I actually didn't tune into this show from the beginning, I watched season two and then went back to watch season one. Like I said, I don't like TH and my dislike for him took over my need to tune in for TPH. Now I'm back to dropping this show off my watch list indefinitely. I guess I'm still hoping they take Cookie in a more power like direction, but Daniels is stuck on this bullshit STD nickname for Luscious and Cookie, which when I think about is an appropriate name, since I don't see this as any grand love story. 

Edited April 19, 2017 by Keepitmoving

[Dee]

That's the thing, Cookie HAS power. Andre helped see to that when Cookie was first released. Since then she's been using her power with the intention of uniting the family, instead of tearing them apart (like Lucious misguided efforts).

When she and Hakeem created Lyon Dynasty, their intent (despite Hakeem's sour feelings) was never to crush Empire, they just wanted to make music on their terms. And when Lyon Dynasty was brought under the larger Empire umbrella, it remained a functioning independent label. That speaks a great deal to Cookie fighting for, and being prescient enough to maintain, her own space without having to separate herself from her family; which is something she has in common with every other member of her family.

Cookie has never whined about her prison stint. She has to constantly remind all of the men in her family (not just Lucious) of her sacrifice because they don't exhibit the proper respect for all that she gave up, and the hell she had to endure, for them to flourish. Yes, they love her, but they were also as a (dysfunctional) family unit in her absence. She is constantly readjusting to the contours of a family who have have no problem hitting each other where it hurts (when she isn't putting out fires Lucious has created).

From the time she was released until the end of last season Cookie has, intermittently, had brief romantic interludes with Lucious, but she was far from pining over him. In fact, as much as she hated Anika prior to engaging any of her own independent relationships, she was fine with letting Anika have Lucious until Anika compromised the family's best interests. And at the end of Season 2, when Lucious made it abundantly clear to Cookie that he would likely never put her above his own self preservation, she's been resolutely done with him.

All during Season Three it's been Lucious, not her, harping on their past relationship; while Cookie has busied herself with working, dating Angelo and taking care of her family. Has she sometimes felt wistful (as she did during the filming of Jamal & Delphine's video), and/or experienced the occasional jealousy pangs (Limeade) about Lucious, during the course of the season? Sure. But that's inevitable given their past, and the complex manner in which their current personal and professional lives remain deeply intertwined. But even through all of that she's stuck to her guns and consistently paid Lucious dust.

Also why wouldn't she want respect from the men in her life? After her father kicked her out, Lucious, and later her sons, were all she felt she had and the show has gone to great lengths to show that the eventual hope of reuniting with them was the only thing that helped Cookie survive her time in prison. Everyone else in her family (including Lucious) is striving for respect, and to be recognized as worthy of love, why should Cookie be any different?

Edited April 20, 2017 by Dee

[Margohill]

11 hours ago, Dee said:

Is it toxic? To a large degree, yes. But when it really comes down to it, despite all the insults they sling and the blows they throw, they truly have each others backs.

IMO, I think this is what keeps this show going i.e. the dynamics of the Lucious-Cookie relationship and I totally agree that despite all the animosity they SEEM to have for each other, when it comes down to it, they have each other's backs. They seem to have this deep-rooted bond that that makes them inherently protective of each other and it's what a lot of people seem to be drawn to and it is good for the show. I believe that the show will be over if that relationship between the two of them ends.

11 hours ago, Dee said:

Also Cookie has never wanted to be a 'God' like Lucious does. She's only ever wanted the music, respect as a mother, and to be recognized for her efforts and sacrifice in building Empire.

So true. I don't know if I am the only one who feels this way but I don't think Cookie can ever REMIND the world or anyone else enough about her 17 years in prison. To me, that is the ultimate sacrifice a mother of 3 little kids can make. Who in the world does that? In S1, I cried at the scene when Cookie was sent to jail leaving behind Hakeem who was only a few months old and her other 2 little baby boys. That was heart breaking and to imagine that she did this deliberately so Lucious can make a better life for her kids is just unimaginable. IMO, Cookie should mention this EVERY FREAKING chance she gets because she missed out on her boys growing up and she is still paying the price for that. The 17 years she spent in jail to me is a HUGE deal and should never be undermined. Empire was built because of Cookie's sacrifice and that is a FACT.

12 hours ago, Keepitmoving said:

It was a big mistake to focus so much on Cookie still being hung up on Luscious. Instead of having Cookie going around reminding everyone she did seventeen years, she should be written to show how much more tougher than Luscious those seventeen years made her. Her heart should be colder toward him, not her kids, but definitely toward him.

IMO, this argument is subjective because it depends on what we as individuals value in life. From S1, I believe the main reason Cookie decided to take the fall for Lucious and sacrifice 17 years of her life away from her kids was ONLY because she saw that Lucious was a rising star and will make a better life for her children, not because she wanted an Empire for herself. Of course things changed while she was in prison but she valued her family and their well-being more than anything else. I don't see her as being hung up on Lucious. They had a relationship, had children together and made sacrifices together. Her 17 years in prison was a sacrifice she made for Lucious. Too bad Lucious didn't keep his own end of the bargain but deep down, Lucious appreciates what she did and will always be indebted to her. 'Love is blind' as they say so I can't judge her for not being cold towards Lucious because realistically, he is the father of her sons.

IMO, the writers should keep the story centered around the Lyon family. Cookie is all about the love for her family and bringing them together. The 17 years of her life that she sacrificed in prison so her kids can have a better life, is a great testimony of what a great mother she is and how much she has contributed to building The Empire. Don't forget that she also made Lucious a star.

[Dee]

And the thing is, as I've said, Lucious is not the only Lyon male who takes Cookie's sacrifice for granted.

Andre feels such a tremendous amount of resentment, anger, embarrassment and shame about his mom that it's kept them from fully reconciling, Jamal was willing to work against his mother as soon as he ascended to power and became his father's (temporary) favorite, and Hakeem referred to Cookie as everything as a child of God when they were reunited and made their relationship virtually untenable for the first few months of her initial release.

She occupies a supremely complicated space (for good reason) in each of their lives, and as much as they sometimes hate to be reminded of Cookie's sacrifice, it's something they need to hear. Just like when Lucious has to repeatedly remind his sons their world of privilege does not eradicate their blackness.

Edited April 20, 2017 by Dee