Co-creator Danny Strong wrote and directed the March 30 spring premiere of “Empire” entitled “Death Will Have His Day.” Strong is gifted and the opening scene is cinematic and lush. It made me ponder, and I think that Alfred Hitchcock would approve and might have also executed the same moves, taking delight in using a hip-hop soundtrack to underscore the intrigue that lives in every frame of this episode.
In Strong’s directing choices, there are further nods to master filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese, especially in the use of layering beautiful music over disturbing acts of violence and mayhem. It’s simply smashing to watch Strong as he develops into a film director.
As a screenwriter, his story structure does move the drama deftly and keeps it “urban cheeky,” with enough “sound bites” that will translate into the social network fabric also known—to the old school crowd—as the “water cooler” crowd, sharing “those pearls” that turn into brandable catchphrases via social media with the speed of a single well-timed tweet.
His structure injects the drama with something more, and the new season music absolutely is moving this series into the “legend” category.
Strong opens hard, taking no prisoners, as the saying goes, with the next chapter beginning with family troubles that might reach a murderous end.
After losing the empire he built, the deviously cruel and complex Lucious (Terrence Howard) announces he will stop at nothing to regain his power, but the shrewd Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) has her own underhanded way of handling the big things.
Back at the massive mansion, Rhonda (Kaitlin Doubleday), Andre (Trai Byers) and the rest of the Lyon family come to terms with a horrific, life-changing tragedy. The question looms heavy in the air: Was it an unfortunate accident?
Most of the actors are gifted, which makes the weaker performers stand out and not in a positive way. The casting of Doubleday to play the well-layered character Rhonda is (in my opinion) a misstep that can’t be retracted. Her performances, when wrapped around a strong cast, are not as noticeable, but Rhonda and her plight has become an A story and (sadly) the acting chops don’t match the writing or direction.
“Empire” keeps getting better, so set the DVR for Wednesday, April 6. “It’s never a pleasure to see you,” is one of the many great lines that Empire’s CEO, Camilla (guest star Naomi Campbell), hurls at her rival Cookie, and those are the polite slurs!
The second episode, “A Rose by Any Other Name,” is written by showrunner and creator of “The L Word,” Ilene Chaiken.
There is something delicious about watching wealthy people fight over money and perceived power. You almost want to scream at the screen, “Money is the root of all evil!” or if that falls on deaf ears, maybe they can hear, “You can’t take it with you.” But then you remember that what you’re watching is pure entertainment and does not mimic the real intrigue of the ruling 1 percent. Right?
Chaiken’s writing style is distinctive and character driven, with very little atmospheric setup for setup sake. The big issues of trust, distrust and raw ambition are made to feel personal and therefore relatable. Youth being the “burden of the young” is in full display as the baby mogul Hakeem (Bryshere “Yazz” Gray), who is now Empire’s CEO, tries to survive the desperate clawing of “mama bear” Camilla, who is thirsty for his full attention. As she sinks her well-manicured claws further and further into the “young billionaire and heir apparent,” the puzzle intensifies. Someone is not going to make it, but who?
The rest of the Lyon family tries to get him to rejoin their side, but Hakeem has his own youthful plan.
Meanwhile, Jamal (Jussie Smollett) receives comical, musical and creative backlash from his gay fans and Andre and Rhonda’s marriage is tested.
The “A Rose by Any Other Name” episode of “Empire” is shown Wednesday, April 6 (9-10 p.m. ET/PT) on FOX.