The 'Empire' Cast's Best Season 2 Episodes So Far

The imminent return of Fox’s smash hit series, Empire, has us dancing with ourselves, especially after the show’s crazysexycool fall season, which wrapped up on Dec. 2. It was a wild time for the Lyon clan — and those unlucky enough to be in their orbit on a regular basis — as their personal empire, Empire Records, was beset from all sides by boardroom betrayals, familial squabbling, and even a kidnapping or two. We went ahead and picked each major character’s best episode from the 10-track album that was the first half of Season 2 (listed in episodic order). Bring on the next record.

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Lucious: “The Devils Are Here”
The dethroned Empire Records exec won’t let a little thing like being in jail keep him from controlling the fortunes of his company. Lucious’s strategic mind has been as instrumental to his success as his deft wordplay, and he plays the two games of mental chess that are unfolding in the Season 2 premiere like a master tactician. While he maneuvers Jamal into being his proxy within the halls of Empire, he also ends the reign of jailhouse king, Frank Gathers (Chris Rock), by allowing him to think he has the upper hand until it’s too late.

Signature Moment: When Frank discovers who his prison bodyguards are actually working for. Well played Lucious… well played.

Jamal: “Poor Yorick”
Poor Yorick? Poor Jamal, you mean! First, the soulful singer has to take part in a Rolling Stone photo shoot with a shutterbug who looks like he crawled out of a dumpster. (J/K Adam Busch!) Then those pictures are turned into a horrifying Hypercolor silkscreen. And then that ugly silkscreen is stabbed by his jealous brother, Hakeem, during a music video shoot. It’s a series of multiple tragedies that’s positively Shakespearean.

Signature Moment: The brother-on-brother brawl is pretty great. Hopefully Jamal has learned that you shouldn’t bring your fists to a baseball bat fight.

Andre: “Be True”
The eldest and most neglected Lyon child can at least take pleasure in knowing that God loves him even if his parents don’t. Andre’s born again spirituality inspires multiple confessions to his various family members and then takes him to the baptismal pool. You gotta feel sorry for the guy: He wants to do good, but as Empire repeatedly proves, being bad is so much more interesting.

Signature Moment: Getting dunked in the baptismal waters and immediately triggering another traumatic Lucious flashback. Even Andre’s big moment isn’t actually about him.

Becky: “A High Hope for Low Heaven”
Lest you think that Lucious’s hard-working assistant never has time to enjoy herself, the sixth episode reveals that she’s been making time with one of Empire’s most promising artists: J Poppa (Mo McRae). She also proves that she and Jamal need to host their own morning show, stat, because they’re awesome together.

Signature Moment: Becky’s rooftop sex scene takes Empire to new heights.

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Cookie: “True Love Never”
In case you doubted that the Lyon kids need their mama, Cookie gave both her boys, Hakeem and Jamal (sorry Andre), some much-needed advice. When Hakeem’s handpicked future superstar, Laura (Laura Calleros), was having trouble holding her own in his trio, Menage a Trois, Cookie pushed him to give her a confidence boost. Meanwhile, she lent her experienced ear to Jamal’s latest song, offering advice that flipped his whole perspective and gave the tune the makings of a hit. And because this Cookie can do it all, she also made sure to set aside some “Treat Yo Self” time for her own pleasures…

Signature Moment: Cookie’s lost weekend with Laz, a hilarious three-day binge of take-out, sleep, and sex.

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Anika: “My Bad Parts”
Rejected by not just one, but two Lyon men, Anika “Boo Boo Kitty” Calhoun is reduced to looking and acting like a hot mess. But the discovery that she’s carrying Hakeem’s child gives her a renewed lease on life. Cozying up to Andre’s own expecting baby mama, Rhonda, she learns just how much Lucious values the gestating generation of Lyons. But she doesn’t want to do this thing solo, which means breaking up Hakeem’s current love affair with Laura. Psycho kitty… qu'est-ce que c'est?

Signature Moment: Anika posing as Laura’s Uber driver in a blond wig may just be the single best image of the entire half-season.

Hakeem: “Et Tu, Brute?”
Hakeem could handle being kidnapped. He could handle being dissed by his father’s new favorite rapper, Freda. He could even handle seeing his brother memorialized in terrible art. But he simply can’t abide the return of his old lover Camilla, who reveals how his parents’ ruined their precious, age-inappropriate love. His fury gives the fall finale the perfect cliffhanger.

Signature Moment: Hakeem voting against the family and once again deposing Lucious from his perch atop of Empire’s kingdom. You do you, kid.

Empire premieres March 30 at 9 p.m. on Fox.