By ANEESA CONINE-NAKANO – Webmaster
Empire’s combination of clever raps and killer drama make it the premier hit of 2015.
FOX strikes gold with their newest hit “Empire” which premiered on Jan. 7. Empire follows the Lyon family, who reign over the hip-hop industry. Executive producers Lee Daniels (director of Precious and The Butler) and Danny Strong use Shakespeare’s King Lear and James Goldman’s The Lion in Winter as inspiration for this cutthroat musical drama.
In the first episode, viewers are introduced to Lucious Lyon, CEO of Empire Entertainment. He is looking to pass his legacy and company to one of his three sons–Jamal, Hakeem and Andre. Lyon’s ex-wife Cookie and the boys’ mother is released from prison much to Lucious’ displeasure as she holds secrets that could tear down “Empire.”
The plot is intriguing and causes plausible tension throughout the formerly close family. Taraji P. Henson is the star of the show and her portrayal of Cookie outshines the other main characters. Cookie is a mix of good and bad traits and her no-nonsense attitude makes her an audience favourite.
However, the best aspect of the show is its music. Timbaland, who produced hits like Jay-Z’s “Big Pimpin'” and Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me A River”, produces the music for “Empire.” He creates catchy songs and raps that follow and complement the character’s storyline perfectly.
Although the show is definitely one to keep up with in 2015, the characters tend to not be relatable to most viewers. Throughout the show, Lucious makes rash and baffling decisions without a clear logic.
Overall, “Empire” creates and presents a fascinating lifestyle that viewers do not experience firsthand. Its success is demonstrated by the fact after only two episodes, the show has been renewed for a second season. The fanbase for the music and the show is growing rapidly and “Empire” seems to be making it to the top of the TV food chain.
Empire airs every Wednesday at 9 p.m. on FOX.
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