"Empire" Season 2 is back on Wednesday with eight remaining episodes after the mid-season finale three months ago. After some critics gave the first half season of "Empire" thumbs down, the Lyon family returns and reunite to recover their empire.
According to USA Today, fans will get to see Lucious (Terrence Howard) with Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) along with the rest of the family planning how to get their empire back from Camilla Marks (Naomi Campbell). To recall, Camilla Marks influenced Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray) to take control of Empire Entertainment.
However, "Empire's" executive producer, Ilene Chaiken, explained that viewers must not be deceived as the reunion didn't really mean "internal peace" within the family. In fact, Ilene Chaiken described "Empire's" Lyon family as people that can "love and kill each other" at the same time.
"Empire" Season 2, unfortunately, didn't turn up to be a must-watch series compare to what it gave in "Empire" Season 1. The Root shared "Empire" Season 2's narrative has been done quickly as well as the music isn't delivered as good as before.
Also, "Empire" Season 2 shows a lot of "weak stunt casting" by letting the story of the new characters surface. This leads to "Empire's" rating to sink from "Empire" Season 2's premier of 6.7 to 4.5 during its midseason finale.
However, USA Today added that "Empire" remains to have a "powerhouse" rating with 17.7 million audiences. "Empire," too, is one of the broadcast TV's top entertainment programs watched by young adults.
"Empire" co-creator, Lee Daniels, recently responded the criticisms at the PaleyFest panel in Los Angeles. Lee Daniels said creating "Empire" Season 2 gives them difficulties in the early stages, but they promised to get back on track.
Ilene Chaiken, on the other hand, addressed the overuse of celebrity guests by saying that fans will see fewer personalities in the upcoming episodes. Ilene Chaiken, too, revealed they will now focus "Empire's" story around Lyon family. "I think [these] are the best episodes we've made," Ilene Chaiken shared.
"Empire" will be aired every Wednesday on Fox at 9 p.m. EDT. Watch "Empire" Season 2 Episode 12, "A Rose by Any Other Name."
