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Season 1 – Empire

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Empire Jan 2015 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
82% Tomatometer 153 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Hip-hop artist and CEO of Empire Entertainment, Lucious Lyon, has always ruled unchallenged, but a medical diagnosis predicts he will be incapacitated in three years, which prompts the sharks to circle. Without further damaging his family, he must decide which of his three sons will take over. His favorite, young Hakeem, is a gifted musician but values fame over hard work. Middle son, Jamal, is talented and shy but gay -- embarrassing to Lyon. The oldest, Andre, is business-minded but lacks charisma. The reappearance of Cookie, his ex-wife, complicates things; she says he owes her for taking the fall for the drug-running that financed his early career.
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Empire — Season 1

Empire — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Though heavy on melodrama, Empire elevates the nighttime soap with its top-notch cast, musical entertainment, and engrossing plots.

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Critics Reviews

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Aya de Leon Bitch Media 01/25/2021
The drama is fun, even when it's ridiculous or predictable. Go to Full Review Nicole Vassell Daily Telegraph (UK) 04/29/2015
3/5
Fox's glossy hip-hop drama Empire has surpassed the hype to become a genuine TV event. Go to Full Review Steve Macfarlane Slant Magazine 02/04/2015
3.5/4
Empire coasts with the chutzpah of a series that knows exactly what it wants to say and how to say it. Go to Full Review Clover Hope Billboard 01/26/2024
There are a lot of moving parts – and not all of them work – jammed into the vibrant and entertaining Fox pilot Empire... Go to Full Review Mara Reinstein Billboard 01/26/2024
The oversimplified portrayals of the industry could be the drama’s biggest falling. Even a non-insider would cringe at Lyons’ archaic speech about the dying biz... Go to Full Review Randy Dankievitch TV Over Mind 03/12/2020
Empire rings incredibly hollow. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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10/10/2020 This series is a waste of time, the writing is embarrassingly bad and the characters and situations are corny and melodramatic. See more 10/05/2020 A soap opera story with soap opera acting. See more 02/17/2020 The season ending was very atypical for a drama. Kind of a let down when your hoping for something different in a world that keeps giving you the same thing. See more 04/04/2019 Its just trash to me See more 02/28/2019 Surrounded Terrence with a week cast only one on the show with any talent See more 01/07/2018 This was absolute crap. I heard such good thing about the show and I felt as though I should be sueing my cable provider for allowing the disgusting violent filth on my DVR. If you want to watch this cause you heard it was good or because you heard it had attractive people in it don't, you'll waste time when you could be watching something else like criminal minds or smallville, for instance. See more Read all reviews
Empire — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Terrence Howard

Lucious Lyon

Taraji P. Henson

Cookie Lyon

Malik Yoba

Vernon Turner

Jussie Smollett

Jamal Lyon

Bryshere Y. Gray

Hakeem Lyon

Trai Byers

Andre Lyon

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jan 7, 2015 Pilot Lucious Lyon, the head of a music empire, learns he has a disease and must choose one of his sons to take over his reign; Lucious' ex-wife tries to claim her share after being released from prison. Details Episode 2 Aired Jan 14, 2015 The Outspoken King Lucious has to defend Empire's IPO launch after one of his artists is involved in a shooting; Cookie hears about Lucious' plans for a huge performance for Hakeem, but not Jamal; Bunkie's murder is investigated. Details Episode 3 Aired Jan 21, 2015 The Devil Quotes Scripture The Lyons go to Philadelphia, where they see what their lives could have been like if Lucious hadn't been successful; another woman causes tension between Hakeem and hip-hop star Tianna. Details Episode 4 Aired Jan 28, 2015 False Imposition Lucious tries to steal a major artist from his rival; Jamal works on composing original music; Cookie works on her relationship with Hakeem. Details Episode 5 Aired Feb 4, 2015 Dangerous Bonds Cookie receives an anonymous gift she suspects may be a veiled threat from a person from her past; Lucious takes charge of Hakeem's video shoot. Details Episode 6 Aired Feb 11, 2015 Out, Damned Spot Lucious asks Cookie to manage the label's first star, who hasn't produced an album in years; Vernon finds himself in a sticky situation; Jamal's drive and ambition cause trouble in his relationships; a mystery woman from the family's past shows up. Details Episode 7 Aired Feb 18, 2015 Our Dancing Days As Lucious tries to brand Empire Entertainment as a family-run company, tension builds between Jamal and Hakeem; Anika meddles with Elle Dallas; Hakeen struggles with how to move forward with Camilla. Details Episode 8 Aired Feb 25, 2015 The Lyon's Roar Lucious, Jamal and Hakeem must come together to record a legacy album; Cookie and Camilla (Naomi Campbell) face off; Jamal reveals news that surprises everyone. Details Episode 9 Aired Mar 4, 2015 Unto the Breach Cookie uncovers Anika's secret; Lucious must face his rival; the Lyon sons take drastic measures to save Empire Entertainment; Hakeen works with Cookie; Andre is pushed past his limits. Details Episode 10 Aired Mar 11, 2015 Sins of the Father Andre starts a musical relationship with Michelle; a woman from Lucious' past comes back into the picture; Hakeem wants to show his father he's an artist and a businessman; Cookie gets ready to state her own agenda. Details Episode 11 Aired Mar 18, 2015 Die But Once Jamal and Lucious work toward a music-centered relationship, but Lucious has a game-changing secret; Hakeen considers the best move for his career; Cookie works on a plan. Details Episode 12 Aired Mar 18, 2015 Who I Am Jamal and Lucious work toward a music-centered relationship, but Lucious has a game-changing secret; Hakeen considers the best move for his career; Cookie works on a plan. Details

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Empire — Season 1

Empire Empire Empire Empire <em>Empire</em>, Season 1, Episode 3: "The Devil Quotes Scripture" <em>Empire</em>, Season 1, Episode 3: "The Devil Quotes Scripture" View more photos

Season Info

Executive Producer
Lee Daniels, Danny Strong, Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo
Network
Fox
Rating
TV-14 (V|D|L|S)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jan 7, 2015