History Series / Empire

The show centers around a hip hop music and entertainment company, Empire Entertainment, and the drama surrounding founder and successful rapper Lucious Lyon (Creator/TerrenceHoward), and his three sons: business-minded but bipolar Andre (Creator/TraiByers), who will do anything to depose his brothers and impress his wife Rhonda (Creator/KaitlinDoubleday); musically passionate Jamal (Creator/JussieSmollett), the black sheep of the family thanks to his homosexuality, and aspiring rapper Hakeem (Creator/BryshereGrey), Lucious' [[Like Father, Like Son favorite because he takes after him the most. ]] Wait, did we say that Lucious was the founder? Turns out that's actually his ex-wife, Cookie (Creator/TarajiPHenson), who's just been released from prison after taking the fall for Lucious during their drug running years and is hell-bent on reclaiming the company she believes is rightfully hers. Rounding out the cast is Vernon Turner (Creator/MalikYoba), Lucious' business partner, and Anika Calhoun (Creator/GraceGealey), Lucious' romantic partner.

The show centers around a hip hop music and entertainment company, Empire Entertainment, and the drama surrounding founder and successful rapper Lucious Lyon (Creator/TerrenceHoward), and his three sons: business-minded but bipolar Andre (Creator/TraiByers), who will do anything to depose his brothers and impress his wife Rhonda (Creator/KaitlinDoubleday); musically passionate Jamal (Creator/JussieSmollett), the black sheep of the family thanks to his homosexuality, and aspiring rapper Hakeem (Creator/BryshereGrey), Lucious' [[Like Father, Like Son favorite because he takes after him the most.]] Wait, did we say that Lucious was the founder? Turns out that's actually his ex-wife, Cookie (Creator/TarajiPHenson), who's just been released from prison after taking the fall for Lucious during their drug running years and is hell-bent on reclaiming the company she believes is rightfully hers. Rounding out the cast is Vernon Turner (Creator/MalikYoba), Lucious' business partner, and Anika Calhoun (Creator/GraceGealey), Lucious' romantic partner.

The show centers around a hip hop music and entertainment company, Empire Entertainment, and the drama surrounding founder and successful rapper Lucious Lyon (Creator/TerrenceHoward), and his three sons: business-minded but bipolar Andre (Creator/TraiByers), who will do anything to depose his brothers and impress his wife Rhonda (Creator/KaitlinDoubleday); musically passionate Jamal (Creator/JussieSmollett), the black sheep of the family thanks to his homosexuality, and aspiring rapper Hakeem (Creator/BryshereGrey), Lucious' [[Like Father, Like Son favorite because he takes after him the most]]. Wait, did we say that Lucious was the founder? Turns out that's actually his ex-wife, Cookie (Creator/TarajiPHenson), who's just been released from prison after taking the fall for Lucious during their drug running years and is hell-bent on reclaiming the company she believes is rightfully hers. Rounding out the cast is Vernon Turner (Creator/MalikYoba), Lucious' business partner, and Anika Calhoun (Creator/GraceGealey), Lucious' romantic partner.

[[caption-width-right:350:The Lyon Family from left to right: Andre, Cookie, Jamal, [[LikeFatherLikeSon Hakeem]]. On the throne: Lucious.]]

The show centers around a hip hop music and entertainment company, Empire Entertainment, and the drama surrounding founder and successful rapper Lucious Lyon (Creator/TerrenceHoward), and his three sons: business-minded but bipolar Andre (Creator/TraiByers), who will do anything to depose his brothers and impress his wife Rhonda (Creator/KaitlinDoubleday); musically passionate Jamal (Creator/JussieSmollett), the black sheep of the family thanks to his homosexuality, and aspiring rapper Hakeem (Creator/BryshereGrey), Lucious' favorite because he takes after him the most. Wait, did we say that Lucious was the founder? Turns out that's actually his ex-wife, Cookie (Creator/TarajiPHenson), who's just been released from prison after taking the fall for Lucious during their drug running years and is hell-bent on reclaiming the company she believes is rightfully hers. Rounding out the cast is Vernon Turner (Creator/MalikYoba), Lucious' business partner, and Anika Calhoun (Creator/GraceGealey), Lucious' romantic partner.

** And also ''Series/{{Dynasty}}'', albeit roughly. Patriarch (Blake/Lucious) whose ex-wife rolls into town and causes trouble (Alexis/Cookie). He has a younger second wife/fiancee (Krystle/Anika) who gets into catfights with the ex-wife. The oldest child is a promiscuous schemer who wants more responsibility with the company except Daddy ignores them for some reason (Fallon [woman]/Andre [not a musician]), and another child is unfavored for being gay (Steven/Jamal). Granted, this doesn't take into account the kids that were retconned into ''Dynasty'' later, but it's an apt comparison for the early seasons.

[[caption-width-right:350:The Lyon Family from left to right: Andre, Cookie, Jamal, Hakeem. On the throne: Lucious.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:From left to right: Andre, Cookie, Jamal, Hakeem. On the throne: Lucious.]]

* YouJustToldMe: [[spoiler: Within earshot of Cookie, Lucious admits to killing Bunkie while talking in his sleep. She then attempts to suffocate him.]]
* YourCheatingHeart: Lucious with many women, according to himself and Anika.

The show centers around a hip hop music and entertainment company, Empire Entertainment, and the drama surrounding founder and successful rapper Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard), and his three sons: business-minded but bipolar Andre (Trai Byers), who will do anything to depose his brothers and impress his wife Rhonda (Kaitlin Doubleday); musically passionate Jamal (Jussie Smollett), the black sheep of the family thanks to his homosexuality, and aspiring rapper Hakeem (Bryshere Grey), Lucious' favorite because he takes after him the most. Wait, did we say that Lucious was the founder? Turns out that's actually his ex-wife, Cookie (Creator/TarajiPHenson), who's just been released from prison after taking the fall for Lucious during their drug running years and is hell-bent on reclaiming the company she believes is rightfully hers. Rounding out the cast is Vernon Turner (Creator/MalikYoba), Lucious' business partner, and Anika Calhoun (Grace Gealey), Lucious' romantic partner.

* EvilVsEvil:

** A mutual case between Hakeem and Tiana. For Hakeem, Tiana is a "proper" girlfriend close to his age as opposed to the much older Camilla. For Tiana, Hakeem is a man as opposed to her [[BiTheWay secret girlfriend]]. Interestingly, while Hakeem views the relationship as purely a PR move, Tiana genuinely likes him and is not opposed to polyamory.

* FirstEpisodeSpoiler: [[spoiler: Lucious kills Bunkie]], setting off a steadily growing subplot underneath all the family drama.

On April 30, 2019, Fox renewed the show for a sixth and final season, due to the scandal involving former Empire star Jussie Smollett.

* SlapSlapKiss: Jamal has this dynamic during his brief relationship with Warren in Season 2.

** In keeping with the "''Film/Lion in Winter'' at a record label" pitch: Lucious is Henry II, Cookie is Eleanor of Aquitaine, Andre is Gregory, Jamal is Richard, and Hakeem is John.

''Empire'' is an American musical drama television series which debuted on Creator/{{FOX}} on January 7, 2015. It's produced by Lee Daniels and features music composed by Timbaland. Pitched as ''Theatre/TheLionInWinter'' at a record label.

On January 17, it was renewed for a second season after only two episodes aired. The ratings, which had already been strong in those first two episodes, have only further justified this seemingly early decision, as ''Empire'' has continued to grow every week and is the biggest breakout hit on any broadcast network in several years.

** In 2009, there was a rumor floating around that Creator/RavenSymone was pregnant and had given birth to a child conceived with her long time friend Jussie Smolett.[[note]]Ironically, both would later come out as gay.[[/note]] Cue her guest appearance as Jamal's ex-wife and the mother of a 5 year old girl whom her character claims he's sired.

* LoveFatherLoveSon: After ending her engagement with Lucious (due to his affair with Cookie), Anika sleeps with his son Hakeem to spite him [[spoiler: which results in her getting pregnant with Hakeem's child]].
** After Jamal and Olivia's marriage ended and she had his child Lola, it's revealed that [[spoiler: Lucious actually slept with Olivia before she and Jamal divorced, making Lola his half-sister instead of his daughter.]] [[spoiler: Then its revealed she's not actually related at all.]]
* LoveTriangle: A lot of them in the show.
** Anika/Lucious/Cookie
** Lucious/Anika/Hakeem
** Tiana/Hakeem/Anika
** Valentina/Hakeem/Tiana
** Hakeem/Tiana/India
* MalignedMixedMarriage: {{Subverted}}. Initially, it seemed as though Lucious didn't have problem with it, while Cookie thought Andre was an idiot for marrying a white girl. Jamal and Hakeem are fine with it, they just don't like them because they're both {{jerkass}}es. It turns out that this is reversed in terms of how Lucious and Cookie truly felt about the situation. While Cookie busted Andre's balls about marrying a white girl, she ultimately has no real problem with Rhonda. Lucious, on the other hand, despises her for this very reason.

** When Cookie [[spoiler: sleeps with Lucious a second time]], it seems she is oblivious to Lucious's subsequent commitment to Anika. Turns out [[spoiler: she no longer wanted to be with him anyway; it was mainly to show Anika that Lucious [[{{Casanova}} would still sleep around even after promising he wouldn't]] and get Anika to leave him for good]].