Countdown to ‘Empire’ season 2

Season 2 starts Wednesday at 8 p.m., right here on FOX 32. “The bad part is that people that did me wrong in the past now try to reach out to me like we are friends”.

Empire is back and firing on all cylinders in the season 2 premiere, which continues to focus on the backstabbing, deceit – and, yes, love – in the Lyon family. And that included not overdosing on big-name cameos.

That’s the critical juncture, Doubleday suggests, where “Empire” stops being a black show and becomes a show that obviously has assembled a large coalition of multi-ethnic viewers. We are comparable in the best way that we’re smarter than individuals assume we’re, however I assume she works so much more durable than I do. “It’s a tight-rope walk”. It’s the drama of it all. “There will definitely be some hurdles that they may or may not get through”.

What do we know about Lucious Lyon? Jussie Smollet, Bryshere “Yazz” Gray and Trai Byers portray his three sons, all of whom have separate ambitions. “He’s navigating through this new life and it’s not always easy”. But Lucious spots Cookie talking to Mimi during the Free Lucious concert and brings her to Jamal’s attention.

The only balm to this acrimony is “Empire’s” obligation to deliver the beat, with musical numbers (produced by Timbaland, Ne-Yo and an array of other talent) that offer a sort of “Glee”-like respite to the snitchin’ and slappin'”.

This is what makes Empire magical, not to mention wildly popular: its ability to be so many seemingly contradictory things at once. Rather than just expect things to be handed to him, Hakeem begins working toward earning respect – including by forming his own girl group to produce. It is typically in a corner or out of the way so it is hard to see. But sadly, reconciliation won’t come so easy with Jamal. “And there’s a strain created by the fact that Jamal got the throne”.

Rumors that Lucious and Howard were being deemphasized in some way this season immediately prove laughable. Can Cookie Lyon, played by Taraji P. Henson, finally take the crown? I will say this. “It just reinvigorates him for the fight”. The battlelines have been drawn, and mother and son are on opposing sides.

“It’s family dynamics”, she says. Now that’s not good for her anymore. And the narrative trajectory of its second season suggests that Lucious’ hunt for a successor was only the very beginning – this story has years and years of twists left in it, and characters captivating enough to carry off every last one of them. She talked about that and “Empire” in a recent interview with The Associated Press. G told Entertainment Weekly that her character is so feisty, crew members called her “baby Cookie” on set. “Luscious Lyon came from the streets, but he has been far from the street”, Chaiken said. Much of the industry is drowning in pointless Twitter feuds, songs about making money, and little attention to the artistry that made it so great in the first place. “I’m the lion / You the cub / Ain’t no stoppin’ me”, Hakeem sings at one point, eyes locked on his father, and it’s advice “Empire” has taken to heart. Do they have an understanding? “Empire” returns to the airwaves Wednesday night bigger, brasher, and better than ever, a populist mic drop in an age of prestige.