S05.E09: Had It From My Father

[Dee]

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The financial security of the Lyon family is on the line as their LFM showcase quickly approaches. Kai's research for an expose on Empire uncovers some dirty activity within the company and causes conflict with Jamal. Meanwhile, Hakeem and Tiana finally reach an agreement on how best to move forward with their relationship, Andre struggles with his decision to let a new love interest in and Kingsley strikes a deal with Giselle.

[SimoneS]

Nooo, not my baby Andre. You better be killing Kingsley, show.

As usual, a Lyon event turned into a scandal filled drama. That family. I actually felt for Lucious.

Poor Becky. Thirsty better save her from Kingsley.

Oh, I hope that was last see of Kai. London can keep him.

Kudos to Hakeem for making peace with Tiana and that guy. 

Edited December 6, 2018 by SimoneS

[Dee]

This season has been consistently GREAT.

[vibeology]

How did Kingsley have a microphone?

[calibabe]

3 hours ago, SimoneS said:

Nooo, not my baby Andre. You better be killing Kingsley, show.

As usual, a Lyon event turned into a scandal filled drama. That family. I actually felt for Lucious.

Poor Becky. Thirsty better save her from Kingsley.

Oh, I hope that was last see of Kai. London can keep him.

Kudos to Hakeem for making peace with Tiana and that guy. 

I just don’t think it’s going to be Andre...just a hunch...the show runner said that we won’t really know who is in the casket until the last episode of this season. If that’s the case why would they telegraph it now?....I think they bring Andre back and possibly Kingsley winds up dead, hence the “You couldn’t have known” from Becky at the start of the 2nd episode this season and why no other family is seen around Lucious because of what Kingsley tried to do to the family. However that might all turn on it’s head if Kingsley really isn’t Lucious’s son. My theory is that Shine is actually the father of Tracy’s baby boy Jeffery. That is why Giselle has said to Lucious that she doesn’t think Kingsley is his son. I think it will fracture the family though and strain Cookie and Lucious’s marriage. 

Thirsty will save Becky. He’s got a soft spot for Grasshopper..

When the Lyon’s have an event it’s best to stay the hell away. There is always some crazy ass drama that screws up the success of the event. It’s kind of like their family dinners. You know the shits gonna hit the fan you just need to position yourself behind the fan to not get hit.

Yeah, I’m over Kai and have been since the whole kidnapping thing. I think there is more to that whole story that Jamal needs to find out. I think Bryson and Kai played fast and loose with the truth. 

Glad that Hakeem and Blake finally buried their foolishness. I was afraid that the writers were going to try and make it a triangle of Tiana and Blake with Hakeem on the sidelines and that wouldn’t have worked..

overall an excellent season 5 with twists and turns. We still need to know the Damon Cross connection to all of this and Lucious needs to know that Diana Dubois was behind pushing Kingsley as revenge for Angelo’s death. 

[SimoneS]

4 hours ago, calibabe said:

However that might all turn on it’s head if Kingsley really isn’t Lucious’s son. My theory is that Shine is actually the father of Tracy’s baby boy Jeffery. That is why Giselle has said to Lucious that she doesn’t think Kingsley is his son. I think it will fracture the family though and strain Cookie and Lucious’s marriage. 

I like this! I never occurred to me that Shine could be Kingsley's father, but it would explain why Shine was included in the flashback. It would be a great twist.

[Vixenstud]

9 hours ago, calibabe said:

Giselle has said to Lucious that she doesn’t think Kingsley is his son.

I could have sworn that was confirmed when Giselle was given the information by the informant before confronting Kingsley.  (scratches head)

I knew Andre would be in that coffin the minute he told Terri he wanted to be with her/the touching talk he had with Lucious.

LOL @ Cookie calling Lucious 'Nubby' and their back and forth when he was eating snacks.

Glad that Blake and Hakeem made amends, now can we fucking get rid of Tiana already?  Lee Daniels, I watched TWO eppies of Star, you...owe...me!!

Loved Becky's skirt when she was being escorted out of Empire.

[Racj82]

Young Shine preaching about being with one woman. Hilarious!

[Neurochick]

7 hours ago, SimoneS said:

I like this! I never occurred to me that Shine could be Kingsley's father, but it would explain why Shine was included in the flashback. It would be a great twist.

Kingsley is an idiot.  Why didn't his mother TELL LUCIOUS that Kinglsey was his son?  Because he's not, that's why.  I mean she just stood there like a food and then started using again.  No Kingsley, Lucious didn't fuck up your mama's sobriety, go to Al anon and learn something, asshole.  Yes you were the "dirty little secret" but that's because Mom wanted it that way.  

Edited December 6, 2018 by Neurochick

[Empress1]

50 minutes ago, Neurochick said:

Kingsley is an idiot.  Why didn't his mother TELL LUCIOUS that Kinglsey was his son?  Because he's not, that's why.  I mean she just stood there like a food and then started using again.  No Kingsley, Lucious didn't fuck up your mama's sobriety, go to Al anon and learn something, asshole.  Yes you were the "dirty little secret" but that's because Mom wanted it that way.  

Yeah, Kingsley's mother's life is not Lucious's fault. Lucious has done a lot of foul shit in his life but him not knowing about Kingsley is on Kingsley's mother, not him. I highly doubt Lucious was the only person Tracy was having sex with, especially if she was trading sex for drugs. She could have told Lucious about Kingsley at any time and gotten a paternity test; she didn't. Her relapse is on her too.

4 hours ago, Vixenstud said:

LOL @ Cookie calling Lucious 'Nubby' and their back and forth when he was eating snacks.

I cracked up! I love banter. But first I was like "Nubby?" because I always forget Lucious is missing a leg.

13 hours ago, calibabe said:

When the Lyon’s have an event it’s best to stay the hell away. There is always some crazy ass drama that screws up the success of the event. It’s kind of like their family dinners. You know the shits gonna hit the fan you just need to position yourself behind the fan to not get hit.

You need to either stay away or make sure your phone is charged and live-tweet that shit because you're right, drama is inevitable.

I don't think it's Andre in the coffin. Too convenient at this point in the (excellent) season.

[Neurochick]

43 minutes ago, Empress1 said:

I don't think it's Andre in the coffin. Too convenient at this point in the (excellent) season.

See, I thought that was interesting because we see him flat lining, but we never actually see him in the coffin; it would be a shame though, becaue Andre is the most interesting of the Lyon brothers at the moment.  

Does Kingsley know for 100% that Lucious is his father?  

[tennisgurl]

No way show, you better not be thinking of taking down Andre! You dont wanna pull that shit on me, show! On the other hand, maybe this means that this is all a red herring, and the actual dead person will be a big shock...which means Andre is safe! I mean, it seems weird for them to give away their big secret so early on. 

Lucious is generally a terrible person, and has a long track record of being a crappy father and husband, but I dont think Kingsley can really blame him for what happened to his mom, or him not knowing he was his son. His mom never told Lucious, how could he have known?! And, while selling drugs is certainly not a good thing by any means, he didnt force Tracey to do crack. I am sure if she didnt buy from Lucious, she would have gotten from someone else. Its a sad situation, but its not on Lucious. Kingsley is just an asshole. I did love the 80sness of the flashbacks. 

Shine being Kingsleys real dad is a great theory, it totally lines up! I am sure that Tracey wasn't just hooking up with Lucious at that time, and he sounded like he was into her when he saw her with Lucious. Also, LOL at young Shine talking about settling down with one woman! 

Thirsty will help Becky, she is gonna be fine. Hopefully. Asshole dont mess with Becky!

No matter whos kid he is, Kingsley sure does have  Lyon style flair for the dramatic! I would totally try to get tickets to every Lyon function I could afford, there is always dinner and a show! I want a front row seat to the constant drama, with a side order of actual music. 

Hi there, random drunk Santa! And Blake and Hakeem made up! An episode filled with Christmas miracles. 

I dont see Kai and Jamal lasting. 

[Athena5217]

The Kai and Jamal storyline is so annoying. If Kai was really concerned about his journalist ethics, he would not be reporting stories that involve the Lyons because he can’t be objective.

I liked Lucious’s speech to Hakeem about guns. Nice contrast between their motivations. Cookie needs to get the broom out again and knock some sense into Hakeem.

 

i have not been able to find the age of the actor who plays Kingsley, but he looks younger than Andre.

[Dee]

I appreciated that Cookie comforted Tiana in this episode.

Cookie has been so wrapped up in getting LFM off the ground, that she's hardly had a chance to spend any quality time with her daughter-in-law (who she's always been close to) and her beloved grandchildren.

[crowceilidh]

I can see no discernible reason for the Shine flashback that does not involve Shine being Kingsley's father.

[ahpny]

If I were writing the show, I'd keep Kingsley around. He's great for ramping up the drama. I'd firm up his paternity and confirm him as being Lucious' son.  Kingsley's mother seemed pretty confident when offering a DNA test, so that suggests the "Shine is daddy" theory may be a distraction. But still a worthy theory given the Shine flashback. I can't see them offing Andre, however. He's too good a character with more stories to tell.  Indeed, why introduce a new girlfriend for him - with a ready-made family - if they're just going to kill him off? I see the Andre coding scene as another distraction. Also, of the Lyon son's, for my money, he's the best actor.

Maybe the body in the coffin is Kingsley's mother. While Lucious professes to have no feeling for her now, and that would be inconsistent with his grieving expression at the coffin later, maybe he suppressed those feeling and they come back after the reveal of Kingsley being they're son sinks in.

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The Kai and Jamal storyline is so annoying. If Kai was really concerned about his journalist ethics, he would not be reporting stories that involve the Lyons because he can’t be objective.

Also, they went from being fully committed to needing a break in the course of one or two episodes. Not all that realistic. I thought the mention of Jamal's prior boyfriend Michael several times in recent previous episodes was a bit odd, and maybe foreshadowed Kai's exit. However, Michael's return (at least by the same actor) would seem unlikely given that actor now being a central  character in Dynasty. 

[mtlchick]

12 hours ago, crowceilidh said:

I can see no discernible reason for the Shine flashback that does not involve Shine being Kingsley's father.

Now that you mention it, I have a feeling you're on to something.  I think Tracy did a lot of drugs and had a lot one night stands while strung out so she may not be 100% sure WHO it is.  Either she really thinks it's Lucious or told Kingsley that out of weird sort of revenge tactic.  That being said and unless I missed something, there's been no DNA test to prove it.  Someone should be calling Maury!

 

The show is not near the dizzying heights of its first season but it's one of the few dramas where I still consistently watch after 4.5 years, which says a lot.  I think trimming some of the fat of a lot of the recurring characters outside of the Lyon family has helped.  

[Dee]

Shyne has previously been in Lucious flashbacks without provocation.

[Lovecat]

On 12/6/2018 at 11:32 PM, Athena5217 said:

i have not been able to find the age of the actor who plays Kingsley, but he looks younger than Andre.

He’s Colin Hanks (son of Tom Hanks, which is why he looks exactly like Big-era TH!).  According to IMDB, he was born in November 1977, so he just turned 41.

ETA: I’m an idiot.

Edited December 10, 2018 by Lovecat

[AsiagoSauce]

2 hours ago, Lovecat said:

He’s Colin Hanks (son of Tom Hanks, which is why he looks exactly like Big-era TH!).  According to IMDB, he was born in November 1977, so he just turned 41.

Actually, the actor's name is A.Z. Kelsey. No relation to Tom Hanks that I could find.

[Dee]

2 hours ago, Lovecat said:

He’s Colin Hanks (son of Tom Hanks, which is why he looks exactly like Big-era TH!).  According to IMDB, he was born in November 1977, so he just turned 41.

Tom's other son, Chet, plays Hakeem's friend, Blake. He's 28 years old.

[Jeopardy15]

Tom Hanks’ son plays Blake, not Kingsley. 

Edited December 8, 2018 by Jeopardy15

[MonicaBang]

On 12/6/2018 at 11:32 PM, Athena5217 said:

The Kai and Jamal storyline is so annoying. If Kai was really concerned about his journalist ethics, he would not be reporting stories that involve the Lyons because he can’t be objective.

I liked Lucious’s speech to Hakeem about guns. Nice contrast between their motivations. Cookie needs to get the broom out again and knock some sense into Hakeem.

 

i have not been able to find the age of the actor who plays Kingsley, but he looks younger than Andre.

A.Z. Kelsey went to Yale Drama with Trai Byers (accordingly to Instagram, they are close friends) so I assume they are the same age or close in age.

Edited December 9, 2018 by MonicaBang

[Margohill]

This finale left me torn. I still don't know what to think of it.

The most touching part was when Cookie had the pep talk with Tiana while Lucious did the same with Hakeem. They both gave advice from the heart and you could almost feel that they were talking to them based on their own past experiences. Cookie almost sounded regretful for Tiana having stuck with Hakeem for so long. Lucious sounded fearful, worried that Hakeem shouldn't let things become a vicious cycle....like his. 

The most distressing part was Lucious getting addressed on stage as "Dad" by Kingsley as Cookie and his sons walked away in shock. I really felt for Cookie who had just sold her apartment to help support them both and as a gesture of her love for Lucious only to find out this "secret" in public. However, one of Cookie's greatest weaknesses is that she doesn't listen. Lucious tried to tell her but she was just over the top with her attitude again.

Kingsley I felt really played his part well. He comes across to me not as tough as Lucious but more "eerie" or "sinister" which made my blood run cold especially when he was addressing Lucious on stage all battered and bloodied. Good acting.

Becky getting dragged out of Empire was horrible. I hope Thirsty comes through for her. This Kingsley guy may be more dangerous than we thought.

I hope to God Kai doesn't return. That guy is as infuriating as anything, almost like a spoiled brat. If he doesn't want to hook up with Jamal, let him leave. He has no business digging into the Lyon family business and getting mad at Jamal for it. I wonder why he got with Jamal in the first place. His whiny attitude gets on my last nerve. I don't see how this pairing advanced Jamal's plotline apart from dealing with HIV.

Whether Andre dies or not or whoever is in the coffin surprisingly doesn't intrigue me much at all. I am more interested in if at all Kingsley is really Lucious's son and how that revelation will impact his relationship with Cookie and his sons.

[Dee]

Cookie does listen. Very well, in fact.

It's not her fault Lucious refused to control himself long enough to complete their current project (LFM showcase) leaving her to do much of the grunt work as he put himself and his needs first. Again.

 

I LOVE Kai & Jamal together. Kai challenges Jamal and refuses to allow Jamal to walk all over him. Also Kai, didn't dig into the Lyon family business voluntarily. The information was given to him as a result of a project he worked on via a request from Jamal's father. If Jamal wants a partner he can steamroll, then he needs to be honest about it, instead of playing the victim.

 

I like Andre interacting with Jeff. A huge part of Andre's personality is based around being the oldest, in relation to both his parents, and his siblings. It will be interesting to see how he deals with no longer being the 'only' super-intelligent Lyon.

Edited December 9, 2018 by Dee

[sadie]

Here’s my theory. Andre is a red herring, he won’t die (he better not!) and somehow it will be Kingsley’s life in peril, they will need an organ or blood and Lucious will offer but once they test him it will come out he is NOT his father and Kingsley dies with Lucious being cleared. This season has really been excellent! I especially love that they have Cookie and Luciuos together, they really are a great couple and prefer this than them being at war with each other.

[Lovecat]

On 12/8/2018 at 1:05 PM, AsiagoSauce said:

Actually, the actor's name is A.Z. Kelsey. No relation to Tom Hanks that I could find.

 

On 12/8/2018 at 1:30 PM, Dee said:

Tom's other son, Chet, plays Hakeem's friend, Blake. He's 28 years old.

Holy shizz, you guys, the actor that plays Kingsley looks so much like Big-era Hanks to me I just assumed he was the Chet (not Colin, derp) Hanks I saw in the credits! 

I swear I’m not on drugs...

[luckyroll3]

On 12/6/2018 at 9:20 AM, Racj82 said:

Young Shine preaching about being with one woman. Hilarious!

I had to do a double take during that scene, cause I was like, "Don't Shine have 5 baby momma's?!?"  Lol!  Maybe 6 now with White Tracy?  

Kai is a little self-righteous.  He needs to bounce.  

Andre better not be the one in the casket.  He's the only brother that ever does anything interesting.

[crowceilidh]

Lovecat - it's true, I knew exactly how you'd made that error - I was with you on it.  And Blake does not look reminiscent of Tom Hanks in any way, shape or form.

[Athena5217]

On 12/8/2018 at 7:26 PM, MonicaBang said:

A.Z. Kelsey went to Yale Drama with Trai Byers (accordingly to Instagram, they are close friends) so I assume they are the same age or close in age.

Great find! Trai is 35. I don’t recall Andre’s age being mentioned on the show, but I think it would have to be at least that since he has an MBA and seems to have been married to Rhonda for a while when the show started.

So I’ll guesstimate that Kingsley is supposed to be 38.

[Dee]

Trai is 37.

[phoenics]

I did not know Colin Hanks had a brother!